Ofse
@ofse.bsky.social
Continuing Lecturer in political science with a focus on European politics and comparative legislatures (particularly bicameralism).
Love board/card games, travel, and mysteries.
Total suit geek 👔🏳️🌈
Love board/card games, travel, and mysteries.
Total suit geek 👔🏳️🌈
Reposted by Ofse
Again, <only Republicans> ever get to talk like this. If a single municipal level Democrat ever did, it would be a national outrage &spark a wave of “civility” discourse, & op-eds about how Dems must Respect Real Folkz & talk across difference.
Democracy is incompatible with this double standard.
Democracy is incompatible with this double standard.
October 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Again, <only Republicans> ever get to talk like this. If a single municipal level Democrat ever did, it would be a national outrage &spark a wave of “civility” discourse, & op-eds about how Dems must Respect Real Folkz & talk across difference.
Democracy is incompatible with this double standard.
Democracy is incompatible with this double standard.
Reposted by Ofse
People who tell you the two parties are the same - on trans rights or any other issue - are lying.
Governor Abigail Spanberger quietly ended a rulemaking process initiated in the waning days of former-governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration. The rule would have limited transgender students' ability to play sports and use facilities.
www.wvtf.org/news/20...
#transgender
www.wvtf.org/news/20...
#transgender
Spanberger quietly kills Youngkin-era transgender rulemaking effort
“There’s no legal authority to move forward with rulemaking and prior administrations may have tried to create lanes and we’re not doing that,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said.
www.wvtf.org
September 16, 2026 at 3:20 AM
People who tell you the two parties are the same - on trans rights or any other issue - are lying.
Reposted by Ofse
I spent six months watching half this website explain away a Nazi tattoo a dude wore for 20 years as no big deal, and now (largely) that same group of people is saying one interview answer's worth of weasel words is absolutely and permanently disqualifying in a candidate.
September 13, 2026 at 11:27 PM
I spent six months watching half this website explain away a Nazi tattoo a dude wore for 20 years as no big deal, and now (largely) that same group of people is saying one interview answer's worth of weasel words is absolutely and permanently disqualifying in a candidate.
Reposted by Ofse
Eleven EU countries have put a necessary reform back on the table in Ireland yesterday: ending the power of a single government to paralyse Europe’s foreign and security policy. Europe needs decisions that match the speed of today’s threats, from Russian aggression to hybrid attacks.
September 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Eleven EU countries have put a necessary reform back on the table in Ireland yesterday: ending the power of a single government to paralyse Europe’s foreign and security policy. Europe needs decisions that match the speed of today’s threats, from Russian aggression to hybrid attacks.
Absolutely gutted. RIP Dolly 😞
Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations has died at 80
Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.”
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Absolutely gutted. RIP Dolly 😞
Reposted by Ofse
As soon as there‘s a Democrat in the White House again, John Roberts will discover all kinds of new limitations on their presidential powers, but for now, President Make-a-Wish gets whatever his little heart desires
Supreme Court chief justice allows work on Trump’s $400M White House ballroom to continue for now
Supreme Court chief justice allows work on Trump’s $400M White House ballroom to continue for now
www.nydailynews.com
August 21, 2026 at 8:14 PM
As soon as there‘s a Democrat in the White House again, John Roberts will discover all kinds of new limitations on their presidential powers, but for now, President Make-a-Wish gets whatever his little heart desires
Reposted by Ofse
My continued theory of this case is that these guys, much like the Obama-era economists who spent 2022-24 savaging Biden’s policies & sowing misinformation about the inflation - do this because they very much do not want us to have a serious conversation about their role in getting us to this point.
what is it with ex obama people and misreading the room lol? this whole thing sparked a news cycle and endless earned media, feels like a slam dunk to me
August 19, 2026 at 4:39 PM
My continued theory of this case is that these guys, much like the Obama-era economists who spent 2022-24 savaging Biden’s policies & sowing misinformation about the inflation - do this because they very much do not want us to have a serious conversation about their role in getting us to this point.
Reposted by Ofse
I think what you’re seeing in WI and the closer than expected Michigan senate race, it’s less about the Dems wanting to go far far left and more about wanting fighters. Completely normal desire in this Trump moment
August 12, 2026 at 2:09 AM
I think what you’re seeing in WI and the closer than expected Michigan senate race, it’s less about the Dems wanting to go far far left and more about wanting fighters. Completely normal desire in this Trump moment
Reposted by Ofse
👇🎯 Cannot endorse this strongly enough. The central cleavage is "fight for democracy or not," not "socialist vs centrist on policy" And again, the other way you know this is to look at & listen to Jon Ossoff:
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
August 10, 2026 at 6:09 PM
👇🎯 Cannot endorse this strongly enough. The central cleavage is "fight for democracy or not," not "socialist vs centrist on policy" And again, the other way you know this is to look at & listen to Jon Ossoff:
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Sad news on what should’ve been a happy day in Berlin. And yet another example of why we still need Pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. Thoughts are with the family and friends of those impacted. 😞
Breaking News: The police in Berlin said a deadly incident in which a car plowed into a crowd during a Pride event was a suspected act of terrorism.
Car Plows Into Crowd at Berlin Pride Event in Suspected Terror Attack
The police said a suspect was involved in local Islamic groups and that there was a “strong suspicion” it was an act of terrorism. At least one person was killed and 16 injured.
nyti.ms
July 26, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Sad news on what should’ve been a happy day in Berlin. And yet another example of why we still need Pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. Thoughts are with the family and friends of those impacted. 😞
Reposted by Ofse
Carney: "I'm going to take this opportunity to thank President Scheinbaum and the Mexican people for sending 200 firefighters to help us with our fires here. That's what friends do when you have crisis and fires." #cdnpoli
July 24, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Carney: "I'm going to take this opportunity to thank President Scheinbaum and the Mexican people for sending 200 firefighters to help us with our fires here. That's what friends do when you have crisis and fires." #cdnpoli
Reposted by Ofse
Correct. I am telling Platner people to suck it up and join a coalition - and your response is that somehow the feelings of the people who created this disaster must be taken into account
You love lectures about sucking it up and doing practical politics, much like bullwinkle here, until that interferes with your “I told you so” celebration
July 8, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Correct. I am telling Platner people to suck it up and join a coalition - and your response is that somehow the feelings of the people who created this disaster must be taken into account
Reposted by Ofse
Geezus what an entitled shithead.
"We engaged in electoral politics. We motivated people. We banded together. We did it the way that we were told we are supposed to make change, and we won, and now they are not going to let us have it," Platner says.
July 9, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Geezus what an entitled shithead.
Reposted by Ofse
"Platner is/was the single worst Democratic candidate for Senate in 2026 as per current polling and the 50+1 nowcast."
And that's BEFORE yesterday's news came out.
And that's BEFORE yesterday's news came out.
Here's the definitive numbers take on Graham Platner: He's bad. Specifically, he's running about 10 points behind expectations — and in a race that decides control of the Senate about 10% of the time (the third most likely tipping point).
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/2026-07-07...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/2026-07-07...
July 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM
"Platner is/was the single worst Democratic candidate for Senate in 2026 as per current polling and the 50+1 nowcast."
And that's BEFORE yesterday's news came out.
And that's BEFORE yesterday's news came out.
Reposted by Ofse
We need an autopsy of how Graham Platner was recruited and how his campaign was propped up so that those people responsible can be permanently banned from Democratic Party politics.
July 6, 2026 at 8:14 PM
We need an autopsy of how Graham Platner was recruited and how his campaign was propped up so that those people responsible can be permanently banned from Democratic Party politics.
It’s far past time for him to drop out and endorse someone else to take on Collins.
BREAKING: Graham Platner said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his candidacy minutes after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated him said he forced her to have sex with him, which he denies.
www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Platner says he is ‘taking the time to reflect’ on his candidacy
The Maine Democratic Senate nominee posted the statement after POLITICO published allegations that he forced a woman to have sex with him, which he denies.
www.politico.com
July 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
It’s far past time for him to drop out and endorse someone else to take on Collins.
What a difference a year makes! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Saturday's Budapest Pride march came a little more than a year after Viktor Orbán's nationalist-populist government passed legislation and a constitutional amendment to outlaw the event. https://to.pbs.org/4ezPIDs
Tens of thousands march in the first Budapest Pride since Viktor Orbán was voted out
Saturday's Pride march came a little more than a year after Orbán's nationalist-populist government passed legislation and a constitutional amendment to outlaw the event, drawing criticism from human ...
to.pbs.org
June 27, 2026 at 9:39 PM
What a difference a year makes! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Buttigieg is absolutely right. A country the size of the US should have a larger Supreme Court and House of Representatives. There is also no (good) reason why US citizens in DC shouldn’t have voting representation in the House + Senate.
Senate + Electoral College need work too, but I digress 😃
Senate + Electoral College need work too, but I digress 😃
Buttigieg: We sit in a in a country that's got the wrong number of people on the Supreme Court, possibly the wrong number of representatives in the House of Representatives. And by the way, when you consider the disenfranchisement of the people of DC, we have the wrong number of states in the US
June 11, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Buttigieg is absolutely right. A country the size of the US should have a larger Supreme Court and House of Representatives. There is also no (good) reason why US citizens in DC shouldn’t have voting representation in the House + Senate.
Senate + Electoral College need work too, but I digress 😃
Senate + Electoral College need work too, but I digress 😃
Reposted by Ofse
The only message not voting sends to a politician is that your opinion can be safely ignored because you will never hold them accountable. That's it.
You can tell yourself not voting is good for your personal brand or your moral well being, but never pretend it makes a difference in the real world.
You can tell yourself not voting is good for your personal brand or your moral well being, but never pretend it makes a difference in the real world.
If you believe that not voting sends a message, you’re wrong. It just shows you’re out of touch. If you want change, you must go to the voting booth.
Voting is your constitutional right to make changes to your government. Register to vote, help a neighbor, help someone get ID and register to vote
Voting is your constitutional right to make changes to your government. Register to vote, help a neighbor, help someone get ID and register to vote
June 1, 2026 at 5:29 PM
The only message not voting sends to a politician is that your opinion can be safely ignored because you will never hold them accountable. That's it.
You can tell yourself not voting is good for your personal brand or your moral well being, but never pretend it makes a difference in the real world.
You can tell yourself not voting is good for your personal brand or your moral well being, but never pretend it makes a difference in the real world.
Reposted by Ofse
Years later, I’m not sure I would have had the chance to serve if Barney Frank hadn’t demonstrated that courage, commitment, and skill can matter more than others’ imagination about what voters are “ready” for.
He will be missed, and remembered, for generations.
He will be missed, and remembered, for generations.
May 20, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Years later, I’m not sure I would have had the chance to serve if Barney Frank hadn’t demonstrated that courage, commitment, and skill can matter more than others’ imagination about what voters are “ready” for.
He will be missed, and remembered, for generations.
He will be missed, and remembered, for generations.
Reposted by Ofse
I'm a little tired of the appetite here for "Disqualified!" and "Do better!" and "If you [fill in the blank] you're complicit!" to people who are 90% with you. The number of people on Bluesky who need your policing is possibly lower than some of you imagine.
February 23, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I'm a little tired of the appetite here for "Disqualified!" and "Do better!" and "If you [fill in the blank] you're complicit!" to people who are 90% with you. The number of people on Bluesky who need your policing is possibly lower than some of you imagine.
Reposted by Ofse
Olympic update:
Blink has discovered curling. She's a fan!
She occasionally tries to help the rock. I'll have to get her a broom
Blink has discovered curling. She's a fan!
She occasionally tries to help the rock. I'll have to get her a broom
February 17, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Olympic update:
Blink has discovered curling. She's a fan!
She occasionally tries to help the rock. I'll have to get her a broom
Blink has discovered curling. She's a fan!
She occasionally tries to help the rock. I'll have to get her a broom
Reposted by Ofse
I’m begging folks to understand that not everything Dems do is because they’re weak/craven/evil/hate Americans. Everything that happens in Congress is part of a negotiation.
January 29, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I’m begging folks to understand that not everything Dems do is because they’re weak/craven/evil/hate Americans. Everything that happens in Congress is part of a negotiation.
Reposted by Ofse
"In the space of a generation, then, the Supreme Court’s attitude toward partisan gerrymandering has shifted from tolerating it as a necessary evil to embracing it as savvy politics."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
December 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"In the space of a generation, then, the Supreme Court’s attitude toward partisan gerrymandering has shifted from tolerating it as a necessary evil to embracing it as savvy politics."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...