Author's archive
Break Time 0
Off to drink liberally.
Misdirection Play 0
Robert Reich theorizes that Donald Trump by what I would call a misdirection play. Here’s a bit of his article (emphasis added). Follow the link for context; it’s a worthwhile read.
Wrong. Trump has been able to channel the intensifying anger of the white working class away from the real causes of working-class distress — away from the big corporations, wealthy individuals, and denizens of Wall Street whose money has rigged the game against average working people.
It was not the first time in history that a demagogue has used scapegoats to deflect public attention from the real causes of their distress, and it won’t be the last.
Aside:
Where Reich says “wrong” in the bit I quoted, I might have said “right.” The elements cited in the first paragraph above were not irrelevancies.
They were the bait.
A Cabinet of Horrors 0
Farron reviews the resumes.
Not to mention Matt Gaetz for Attorney-General.
And PoliticalProf predicts the next ones.
Campaign Promises 0
At the Colorado Sun, Mike Littwinn offers an interesting theory as to how Donald Trump garnered enough votes to win. Given the nature of dis coarse discourse, methinks he may have something.
Meaning, they voted for Trump because they figured he’d cut taxes or he’d bring down the price of eggs or because he’s on their team — and not because they believed Trump when he said, repeatedly, that he will turn American democracy on its head.
He goes on to explain why he thinks they will be proven to be, as my old boss would say, in error.
It’s the Stupid, Economy 0
Der Spiegel interviews economist Barry Eichengreen on the like effect of Donald Trump’s election. Eichengreen is not sanguine.
Here’s a tiny bit.
Eichengreen: The Silicon Valley gods will live to regret their support for Trump. Eventually, they will come to understand that tariffs hurt the economy as a whole and that their business models depend on globalization. But I’ve given up trying to understand these guys and their motives. You have to be a psychologist, not an economist, to do that.
The Party of Tax and Spin 0
Michael in Norfolk finds it somewhat–er–disquieting that many persons cited prices as their reason for voting for Donald Trump, while ignoring his plans to impose tariffs, which will lead to even higher prices. In a longer article detailing the likely consequences of Trump’s “policy,” sums up its likely effects quite succinctly:
Aside:
Methinks “little benefit” an understatement.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Way out west, one of those self-styled “responsible gun owners” chooses to be polite to a palomino.
Tales of the Trumpling 0
Woman trumpled at a Mickey D’s for having a Harris bumper sticker.
Afterthought:
Methinks that persons who would vote for someone who has no respect for the rule of law or for norms and traditions will themselves have no respe–oh, never mind.
Establishmentarians 0
Writing at Above the Law, Kathryn Rubino suspects that those who would establish impose their faith might have an appeal.
Look in the Mirror, Boy!* 0
At The Seattle Times, Carlton Winfrey argues that the recent election tells us more about ourselves than we would like. And it ain’t pretty.
A snippet:
Follow the link for his reasoning.
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*With apologies to the Who.