October, 2016 archive
Trumpling the Social Contract 0
Professor Wayne Reilly is dismayed. A snippet:
The current presidential campaign presents some disturbing examples of a rejection of this essential element of democracy. When Donald Trump suggests that those who worry about their Second Amendment rights in the event of his loss of the election might resort to violence or when he suggests that the only way he could lose in Pennsylvania would be if the voting process were “rigged,” he is not only indulging in conspiracy theory, he is undermining the whole democratic process.
Read it.
They Are Afraid, but of What? 0
You have seen and heard examples of the magnetic hold Donald Trump has over many of his supporters. The Republican rank and file continue to support him, even as establishment Republicans jump from Trump. Indeed, the loyalty of many defies reality, such as the woman my brother told me of seeing on television:
She said was afraid it was her last opportunity to vote for a man with morals and ethics.
The premise of that statement, that Trump has “morals and ethics,” is not simply insupportable, it’s jaw-droppingly discounted from reality.
In Sunday’s Inky, John Kaag and Michael Ventimiglia delve into the seemingly magnetic hold Donald Trump has over his core supporters. Their conclusions echo the conclusions that Richard Hofstadter reached about American political extremism the almost 70 years ago: status anxiety and fear of loss of privilege. Here’s an bit:
This explains, at least in part, the visceral reaction that Trump and his supporters have to “political correctness.” Politically correct language is, to their ears, the soundtrack of an alien uprising . . . .
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Set an example of politeness to the youth of our nation.
The child was struck by a bullet fragment from a gun fired about 6:15 p.m. at a Reynolds Drive residence, Petaluma Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Schach said.
(snip)
Savano said police have not arrested anyone because at this point it appears the weapon was accidentally discharged inside the house . . . .
Oh, well, the shot came from inside the house, so it’s okay.
“He’s No Quitter” 0
Josh Marshall tries to assess the Republican Party’s options as more Republicans jump from the Trump ship. He seems to think that, by giving in to the Republican id, they are boxed in. Here’s the crux:
“The Honor Syndrome” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Ryan P. Brown explores how Trump gets away with exploiting women while keeping the loyalty of “values voters.” A snippet:
Here’s how.
One of the most powerful and oldest facets of American culture, one that goes back to the founding of the country, derives from the beliefs and values of what social scientists refer to as the honor syndrome.
Follow the link for his explanation of how that works.
Symptomatology 0
Trump is the symptom, the boil on the body politic, that has brought America’s worst to painful prominence in the polity.
If anyone can be named as the cause of the eruption, it’s Richard Nixon, Lee Atwater, Roger Ailes, and their vile vortex of villainy that valued victory, however venal the vector, over virtue.
The Trumpularity 0
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has had enough.
For the sake of the Republican Party and the nation — for god’s sake — enough. Enough altogether. Trump should immediately relinquish his nomination and allow, for a short month at least, the country to have a campaign that’s closer to representing its legitimate interests and actual divisions.
No nation should toy with electing a leader who beholds more than half of its population with disrespect. No party should be represented by a candidate whose ersatz positions bear such little coherence with its own. And no one should countenance a man who declares that, because he’s a star, he can prey on women, regardless of their consent, and speak of grabbing them by the genitalia.
That’s just the beginning.
The reason I didn’t expect to see such an editorial has nothing whatsoever to do with the Star-Tribune. Both major parties have been known to nominate candidates that were less than ideal. Nevertheless, I would have never expected to see such an editorial in a major mainstream newspaper regarding a major party nominee in a United States Presidential election. Full stop.
The Republican Party has achieved the Trumpularity.
Or something.
I have one quibble. When the Star-Tribune says, “For the sake of the Republican Party,” it neglects to mention that Donald Trump perfectly represents today’s Republican Party.
I could say more, but words fail me.
Projection 0
Shaun Mullen reacts to the Trump tapes, marveling at the alternate universe of the “Trumpkins,” who are trying to make Trump’s glorification of his license to assault and abuse women, arrogated to himself in his self-anointed role as a “star,” somehow just go away. To my mind, though, this is the best line:
Follow the link for all the other lines.
Full Disclosure:
I have not watched “The Apprentice.” Indeed, the only “reality show” I have ever watched was one episode of “Survivor” because I was visiting my daughter and she liked it. It was so long ago that the Pontiac Aztec, arguably one of the ugliest, stupidest cars ever created, was a thing.
Until this weekend, I would have said that nothing in real life could be as unreal as a “reality” television show.
Clearly I was, as my first boss would have said, “in error.”
A Poem, Not by Henry Gibson 0
Oh, hell. I couldn’t resist.
- This is your weapon.
This is your gun.
This one’s for fighting.
This one’s for fun.
Extra-Special Bonus QOTD 0
Historiann:
Who ever would have predicted that it was a bad idea to nominate a Human Stain for president?
Do follow the link.
I’m taking the rest of the day off.
The Tarheel Potty Police 0
One wonders whether those who see God’s revenge in random weather events will see this as God’s revenge for North Carolina’s HB2 Pervy Potty Patrol Peeper Law.
Nah.