Brooks D. Simpson

Brooks D. Simpson

@bds77.bsky.social

Historian. Islanders/Yankees fan. Opinions are my own. Has it ever been otherwise?

503 followers129 following791 posts

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Somehow locating a sniper's nest within sight of the gravesite of one president who was assassinated by a sniper and a monument to another assassinated president is so Trump.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Well, he's right about their lack of intelligence.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Rick Scott: "With regard to destroying mankind, these companies need to do the right thing on their own. We're not going to get smart enough to regulate them. We're not going to get something done up here."

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Incredible. Thank goodness he doesn't get to tell these lies at the 9/11 ceremonies.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump claims he was basically lifted out of the rubble on 9/11: "Two fireman, big strong guys, they grabbed me under the arms -- 'got to get our of here!' -- and they literally lifted me up, and they started running with me."

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Watch his nose grow.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Mike Johnson: "We are now quite literally locked into a contest to determine whether we're gonna keep our republic, keep the country as it is, or break this down to the foundation and go down an entirely different road toward communism."

View full thread
Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Near the end of the war Lee completed his contribution to the destruction of slavery by advocating for the enlistment of black men (including enslaved men) into CS ranks. Lee realized that such recruits would be recognized as free men. The experiment was too little, too late, but unrecoverable.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Make what you will of these facts. Lee was no foe of slavery, seeing it as a burden on white people such as himself. He was no friend of black equality. Yet the impact of his decisions and his career facilitated the destruction of slavery. It was not his wish that such was the case.

View full thread
Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Lee fought McClellan to a tactical draw at Antietam, depriving the US of a decisive battlefield triumph. His decision to withdraw south across the Potomac, however, gave Antietam the appearance of a US victory, enabling Lincoln to issue his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation days later.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Lee's triumph at Fredericksburg, defensive in nature, was not significant enough to stike a blow that would have rendered the Emancipation Proclamation a desperation measure. Lee always found it challenging to transform battlefield successes into lasting strategic triumphs. He admitted this.

View full thread
Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Second, Lee's generalship for the CS in 1862 deprived the US of the decisive victory it sought in Virginia. Had McClellan taken Richmond and defeated the Army of Northern Virginia, US victory might have been secured without a resort to escalation, including emancipation. Lee prevented that.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Lee's successes in thwarting US initiatives meant that the US believed it had to escalate the conflict in order to prevail, and that included striking at slavery. Then Lee completed the job at Antietam.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

First, he declined a field command in the US Army. Although Lee as a US general need not have found it necessary to take the risks he did as a CS general, this favorite "what if" deprives the Confederacy of Lee's gneralship, which bears directly on the question.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Indeed, one could see an earlier US victory, one obtained without the need to embrace emancipation as a war aim. Slavery remains intact in this scenario. Lee's first decision was adverse to that outcome.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

When presidents enter into a term, it is normal for them to blame their predecessor for the situation in front of them. People eventually tire of this. Not in MAGA land.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Lutnick and he simply don't know much and are not up to their jobs.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Bessent on the latest bad jobs report: "After the deportations that we've seen and the closing of the border, we don't need to produce as many jobs"

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Trump a loser?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

NEWSNATION: Trump says people aren't angry at him. Does the president have to look inward a bit? RNC CHAIR JOE GRUTERS: No. The reason we're going to win in November is because the president is still super popular with our base. Our midterm convention is going to be a Trumpapalooza

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Unconditional surrender.

T.J. Stiles@tj-stiles.bsky.social

It’s tragically hilarious that Iran is serving up the Trump Treatment. Trump favors rule of the strongest over the international rules-based order. Iran closed international sea lanes because it can. Trump believes in coercion not diplomacy. Iran handed him a list of demands. It has the power.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Someone has self-inflicted problems. What a father.

Kristy Greenberg@kristygreenberg.bsky.social

Hurling F-bombs at an 85-year-old scientist who won’t fight back doesn’t make you tough. Staying silent after your own daughter accused Rep. Max Miller of holding a gun to her head, pushing her against a wall, and fracturing your granddaughter’s collarbone makes you a coward.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Wow

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social

A GOP senator recited the Declaration of Independence — next to a Confederate flag. As he stood feet from the flag, Sen. Dan Sullivan spoke about the principle that all people are "created equal" and guaranteed the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." www.ms.now/news/dan-sul...

ms.nowGOP senator recites Declaration of Independence — next to a Confederate flagAs he stood a few feet from a Confederate flag, Sen. Dan Sullivan noted that everyone is guaranteed the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Trump's not going to change any minds tonight. Highlighting that foreign governments have tried to influence elections won't prove that he lost because of that. Watch him try to build an argument you can follow. Not his skill. Not does he stay on point. The convert will applaud, others will shrug.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Tim Scott has always been very flexible: a "go with the flow" guy. Just like Lindsey.

Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

L - Tim Scott right before Trump announced that he wanted Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to his seat. R -Tim Scott right after Trump made his post.

Brooks D. Simpson
@bds77.bsky.social

Imagination is a very important part of being a historian. So I imagine Abraham Lincoln sending an angry tweet when he pocket-vetoed the Wade-Davis bill. But imagination has its limits. I can't.