Boy I really thought that was gonna be something different based on the headline.

I think it would be too. I think it sucks that it has to be that way, but there’s no way he could avoid becoming a divisive figure at this point. And it’s definitely not like he’s inevitable or something. The DNC would just prop up someone else against him the way they did with Hillary. So personally I hope he does…

Well typically you’d be carrying more than just a sword. I’m working from the perspective of someone who specializes in the early medieval North Sea region, so Norse, Anglo-Saxons, Celts. Basically all of those people, at least the ones wealthy enough to afford swords, made a habit of carrying other weapons, usually…

I agree, I just would still vote for him over some of the other options available in the event that Gillibrand doesn’t take off. I’m pulling for her above everyone else.

Hard to say. Sword in a lot of cases were symbols of status so you’d avoid using and damaging them if at all possible. Norse sword fights, for instance, involved basically boxing with your shield as much as it did swinging your sword, and you’d be much more likely to see an ax or spear in a proper brawl or battle.

Even pirates weren’t clashing and clanking blades. Striking edge to edge is a good way to ruin a sword quickly. You look at European fighting manuals from before the days of rapiers and a lot of it is like wrestling with the intent of avoiding your opponent’s blade until you get a clean shot. And they’d use every part…

I don’t fucking know that.

Why would a liberal version of the Kochs or Mercers be a good thing?

Well, you could ask that about basically anyone, and you would be right to. There’s no way to say for sure. Bernie could win and have a republican congress and get fuck all done. But at the very least I believe that Gillibrand’s pull is to the left, unlike Clinton’s drifted right basically anytime there was pressure.

I agree with everything you said. I’m pulling for Gillibrand personally, but would still take Bernie over Harris or Booker.

Agree. I’d things stay the way they are it should be the democrats election to lose. Biden would be one way to do it. Personally I’m pulling for Gillibrand or Bernie.

Sorry, just read it as a criticism of my not being thrilled about having to vote for hillary

Yes, and I did that. Doesn’t mean it didn’t feel like the lesser of two evils. Sorry I have ideals and would like us to have better choices.

I voted for Hillary

Did you miss the part where I voted for Hillary?

A bit of hyperbole. Of course some were, but that charge was used to gloss over legitimate policy issues and differences that most people who didn’t vote for her during the primary had. All politicians are ambitious: can we honestly say that her ambitions have produced anything of value in the world?

I mentioned to someone else, if Obama hadn’t “evolved” we might not have legal marriage equality. Now, that said, it’s laughable that he needed to evolve at all, but its still a case of political flip-flopping that came to a good end.

I do think that there needs to be some nuance in how we approach the question of why people voted for Trump. Not everyone did it because they are a slavering racist. That should be acknowledged and studied for whatever it can tell us. THAT BEING SAID: they voted along with slavering racists and you do NOT need to…

A new one came out just a few days ago. Stay tuned I’ll try to dig it up again. But when I say “significantly more liberal than they believe it to be” I don’t mean that all voters are socialists in waiting. I mean that democrats typically approach voters as if they are assuming that they will vote republican unless…

Right, and as you say, that’s what a primary is for. People tend to forget that when they talk about Bernie vs. Hillary, as though it was some kind of affront to her that anyone should have dared to challenge her. Well, folks, thats what primaries are for. I think they just didn’t want to admit that it really broke…