Elections 2025

[liberty]

COMMUNISM IS COMING!!!!!!


Just kidding, fingers crossed for NYC’s first democratic socialist mayor.

Anyone on the left could be accused of being a closet communist. And even if someone with those leanings gained real power such as, the office of Mayor of New York, it might be hard to tell how much they could actually change. After all, in the U.S. system, the more extreme hallmarks of communism, like murdering opponents, aren’t so easy to pull off. Sure, a mayor could try something radical, like disbanding the NYPD and replacing it with a loyalist force, but would he really have the courage (or the political capital) to attempt it? That’s the real question.

[BoSoxGal]

[Scooter]

[BoSoxGal]

[Scooter]

The woke strike back:

Downingtown elects Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor

A small town just a few dozen miles west of Philadelphia made history Wednesday morning by electing Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor.

Unofficial results show that Democrat Erica Deuso defeated Republican Richard Bryant, becoming the mayor-elect of Downingtown in Chester County.

“Tonight, the numbers are clear,” Deuso said in a statement early Wednesday morning. “We won. Voters chose hope, decency, and a community where every neighbor matters. I am honored to be elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor. I carry that responsibility with care and with purpose.”

Home to about 9,000 people, Downingtown is governed by a six-member council. The mayor casts tie-breaking votes, oversees police and fire personnel, and performs ceremonial duties. Sitting Democratic Mayor Phil Dague declined to run for a second term — opening the door for the historic race.

Deuso scored the local Democratic Party’s endorsement and defeated challenger Barry Cassidy during May’s primary. She focused her campaign on issues such as housing affordability, domestic violence and combatting teen suicide, rather than her identity.

“This victory is not about one person. It is about what happens when people choose progress over fear, facts over noise, and results over excuses,” Deuso said. “Leadership can be compassionate, practical, and focused on what works.”

Bryant, the GOP nominee, has a background in cybersecurity. His campaign focused on preventing “overdevelopment,” solving Downingtown’s flooding issues and fortifying public safety. Bryant ran unopposed during the primary election.

“While the result was not what we hoped for, I accept the outcome with humility and deep respect for our democratic process,” Bryant said in a statement. “I also extend my sincere congratulations to my opponent and wish them wisdom and success in leading our borough forward. This campaign was never about politics — it was about service, community, and integrity. Together, we shined a light on the challenges that truly matter flooding, overdevelopment, and preserving the small-town character that makes Downingtown so special.”

Deuso, who handles personnel and process quality management at Johnson & Johnson, is originally from Vermont. The Drexel University alumna moved to Downingtown in 2007. She is a committeeperson with the Chester County Democratic Committee and previously ran to become a state legislator.

Election Day in Chester County was far from drama-free. A poll book error left off third-party voters, forcing some voters to cast provisional ballots. County officials rushed to provide accurate, supplemental poll books. A judge extended voting hours in the county to 10 p.m.

“Thank you to the poll workers, and every volunteer who persevered through unprecedented challenges,” Deuso said. “To Independent voters who used provisional ballots, thank you for your patience. To the voters of Downingtown, thank you for a record turnout and your commitment to civic life. And to my campaign team, we pulled off something that would have been unthinkable in Chester County just a few years ago. Now the work begins. We will build a Downingtown that is safe, sustainable, and strong for everyone who calls it home.”

[Burning Petard]

I don't regularly or sporadically check Philly or Pittsburgh newspapers. the NY Times and WaPo did not give much 'analysis' of the vote in Pennsylvania on retention of three State Supreme Court judges. I think PA has something like what is called 'the Missouri System" for judges: Appointed by some process, then after serving a while, public vote can fire them. Then the replacement comes from the same appointment process. Three judges were up for this 'retention' vote. All three came from a Democratic party background, but the system pretends that it is a non-party process. There was a tremendous pile of money from GOP sources promoting they be voted out. 'Normally' there is relatively little public attention on this stuff. It is 'unseemly' Judges are supposed to be above this sort of thing. But not this time. Even the tv time in Delaware was flooded with ads urging vote for or against this gang of three.

They were not voted out. I was hoping for some éminence grise [according to Louise Penny this phrase originally meant old drunk] would tell me where all the money came from and what they probably are gonna do next to recoup their financial loss.

Other wise, an interesting evening. The Virginia Dems even held their nose and voted in the new VA Attorney Genl. I don't think Kamala Harris was eligible as a write in. As Veep, I don't think she changed her residence to Virginia.

snailgate.

[Scooter]

Jay Jones probably owes his election to Donald Trump being able to skate past his "grab 'em by the pussy" comments and mocking a disabled reporter. Saying really nasty shit doesn't seem to be disqualifying anymore.

[Big RR]

Saying really nasty shit doesn't seem to be disqualifying anymore.

I think you're right, and it's pretty sad. Not that I wanted the MAGA backed guy to win, but it's still a sad state of affairs.

[BoSoxGal]

Interesting piece about Sadiq Kahn and Zohran Mamdani.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ni-message

[liberty]

I understand: Mamdani wants the federal government to pour money into New York City for housing construction—specifically low-income housing. The question is, why should they? New York City's housing is not the federal government's problem. If it's anybody's problem, it's the state of New York. A city should be able to take care of itself; that's what the charter is all about: self-rule, self-responsibility, self-support. And especially since the federal government sees Mamdani as a communist, it would make no sense to provide him with support. Why would you shore up Fidel Castro, the enemy?

And another thing: I understand that Mamdani doesn’t want to punish misdemeanor crime in New York. That would mean there’d be no crime against assault. You could beat somebody up on the streets, you could fondle a woman’s breast in public, you could speed, you could steal, break windows, flee from the police, and even assault the police. I believe that’s a misdemeanor. Sounds like a recipe for anarchy.

I don’t even think he can raise taxes in New York City unless he gets approval from the state of New York. And if he did, there’s a limit to how much you can tax people. Tax them too much and they’ll just leave—all they have to do is go across the river.

Now, the city-run grocery stores—that’s an idea. It could help and could work, but you’d have to run them at a profit. It’s hard to see how you could run them at a profit small enough and still be viable. Still, they would make a difference to the population if it worked.

[Scooter]

I understand
I don't understand a fucking thing about anything and I never will.

[BoSoxGal]

[Scooter]

[liberty]

Elon Musk accuses the mayor-elect of New York City of being a liar. The reason he should give for the accusation is that Mamdani knows, or should know, that he cannot deliver the things he promised. If he says something and it turns out he is wrong, then by the George Bush standard, that's a lie.

I wonder if the new mayor is already making plans to defund the New York City Police Department. I'd like to see him do it. I think it would be a very interesting sociology experiment. I remember BLM saying they didn't need much policing. We Would see.

[BoSoxGal]

So I had no idea that Zohran Mamdani’s mama is one of my favorite film directors! I’ve seen and loved all her films but obviously didn’t follow Mamdani’s bio close enough to realize the connection. With a mama like Mira Nair, it’s no wonder he’s a good egg.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/n ... nair-films