So, Warren takes a position on a thing that has absolutely no chance of happening, but that does feed into Republican drum beating about how Democrats have abandoned the Rust Belt/Rural America (in advance of an election where Democrats need to win at least some of the Rust Belt).

Imagine defining yourself solely by what and who you hate, then thinking this is healthy because what and who you hate are people it is acceptable to hate.

I feel sorry for you. 

You are cynical and dislike things when other people like them. It is a defense mechanism for you. 

Re-reading your comments, I’m now grasping the heart of your point. Which seems to be that I’m willing to criticize, in the comments section, left-leaning sites but not right-wing hate sites.

I don’t think I said it made me “smart.” I said, in effect, that it made me informed on what people like Paul Blest are saying about people like Beto O’Rourke.

If you’re such a child that you can’t understand why someone would draw the line at nasty hate speech, then I’m not sure I can help you.

I don’t read Breitbart because I’m a functional human being who generally tries to avoid content that is intentionally repulsive. There’s a line. Splinter’s writers are amusing for their lack of self-awareness and their utter belief that what they’re writing is moving the needle. Breitbart’s content is designed to…

They’re giving you that answer to point out to you that smart people often try to read stuff from people they disagree with.

My favorite thing about this is that the writers at Splinter are so unlikeable and anti-persuasive that their incessant shitting on O’Rourke will make much of their readership like O’Rourke more. You know you fucking suck when you give endorsements through criticism. 

“Alright, who wants to cover Beto O’Rourke from this seventh different angle—the one that definitely no one gives a shit about and is even more petty than the shit written by Libby Watson.”

“Unpaid athlete.”

“Nike, which pays Duke an undisclosed sum to use its apparel but doesn’t have to pay Williamson for the privilege”

You kind of missed the point of that series then. The part where Conway would have been president if a series of serious felonies hadn’t been committed to prevent it.

That’s because you do not understand the job you are hiring for. The chief role of president, outside of the ability to find and listen to smart people on foreign policy, is being well-liked such that one can throw his persuasive ability behind a set of policies and pressure those on the fence into supporting those…

This ignores the very important point that no one fucking likes Julian Castro. 

Perhaps his campaign’s website is demonstrating his understanding that no one goes to campaign websites to learn about a candidate’s positions unless their intent is performative—to use the lack of policies on that website as some sort of weapon.

You’re like super fixated on the fact that O’Rourke goes by the name he was given by his parents. O’Rourke doesn’t make a habit of writing off potential voters, but I’m quite sure he’s not angling for the bitter, purpose-less Internet Left.

The job of president requires one to persuade the nation to support a set of policies. Not just when running for president, but for four years. It requires one to be so compelling and persuasive that others in the political world must bend to that will or risk that they will be voted out of office because they’re…

You’re angry and confused. That seems hard. I’m sorry.