After about 18 months, of which I've spent more than a month of time on Atlas, I've decided to leave. There's nothing particularly wrong with Atlas, but I feel like politics is going to be really really frustrating for me over the next few years. I'm a policy wonk who places a lot of value on integrity and practicality, and American politics in both parties seems to be sliding further and further into a mess of complete fantasy policies, self-delusion and totally fake news. Over the last couple years I've become more and more separated from the part of my life where politics was actually important and something I needed to be on top of, and the level of involvement and strategic analysis I committed to in this election cycle was really just a hobby more than anything. Maybe one day I'll follow my heart and become a campaign manager or chief strategist, although right now I'm very satisfied with my career. But for now this is likely the end of my close involvement in politics.
Most of y'all are good people and I'll miss posting here, if anyone is ever in Seattle feel free to send me a message and I'll buy you a beer. Here are some of what I think were my best posts or the ones I put the most effort into:
General election post-mortemDemocratic primary post-mortemDebate 1 excusesDebate 2 analysisDebate 3 recapAmerican swing voters parody thread4 AM drunk ramble about how much I love HillaryTales from the WA caucusesIn anticipation of a Trump presidencyThe real Trump historical comparisonAnalysis from 2010 on the dangers of anti-establishment, anti-elite fervorTop ten biggest factors destroying American politicsHow leaks are used to create scandals out of thin airHow self-delusion and bubbles are creating cyclical conflictsHow the forces on the right intersect to create our current political environmentWhy Hillary didn't commit a crime in Emailgate (four months before Comey speech)The sad saga of FiveThirtyEightWorst area of the world threadA reflection on John KasichCriticism of Trump's health care planCriticism of Trump's "take the oil" policyCriticism of Hillary Clinton's characterCriticism of Hillary Clinton's candidacyCriticism of Bernie SandersCriticism of Ted CruzCriticism of Marco Rubio's candidacyCriticism of the campaigns of the other primary contendersCriticism of university protestsPeace out Atlas