From Pine View Farm

Political Theatre category archive

“Vengeance Is Mine” 0

At the Sacramento Bee, law professor Erwin Chemerinsky looks at Donald Trump’s quest for retribution from law firms that have incurred his wrath. A snippet:

I am convinced that something even more insidious underlies the Trump administration’s actions. In its first months, Trump has issued countless executive orders that violate the Constitution. I believe that his targeting of law firms is to chill them from bringing challenges against his policies and actions. The message to law firms is clear: If they draw the ire of the president, he will exact retribution and put their firms in serious jeopardy.

This is the playbook of a dictator, not a president in a democracy under the rule of law.

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A Tune for the Times 0

Warning: Mild language.

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Muskrat Love 0

A quote:

This is authoritarianism hiding behind an American flag.

Warning: Short commercial at the end.

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Republican Thought Police 0

In the midst of a longer article about the right-wing propaganda machine, Yastreblyansky makes the following observation, which methinks is right on the mark:

Meanwhile, the Republican White House is openly blackmailing the country’s public school system, public and private universities, medical research institutions and hospitals, museums, national parks, armed services, federal and state judges and prosecutors, numerous prestigious law firms, and the privately owned press and public broadcast media to adopt its ideological positions on everything from history to biology and energy production, for which Twitter now, acquired by a multibillionaire who appears to have become literally the president’s single-dad housemate . . . .

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A Tune for the Times 0

From the Youtube page:

From mass deportations, to mass firings to the crippling of our social support institutions, in two short months we have changed into something unrecognizable; Something we could accurately call “The Broken Promise Land.”

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The Votes Are In 0

Political cartoon stating the Republicans are willing to put party over country and that Democrats are not.

Click for the original image.

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Still Rising Again after All These Years . . . 0

. . . and they’re not even trying to pretend about it any more.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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Signal Achievements, Reprise 0

Emma and the crew discuss the increasingly obvious incompetence of the Trump maladministration, with a focus on “signalgate.” (Warning: Short promo at the end.)

Afterthought:

In a video clip, Donald Trump says, “To be honest with you.”

Yeah. Right.

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Judicial Restraint Restraining the Judiciary 0

The EFF does not think much of Republicans’ latest strategy to help Donald Trump avoid legal defeats by hamstringing federal courts.

Here’s a bit of their article (emphasis added):

Earlier this week, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1526, a bill by Rep. Darrell Issa to prevent courts from issuing nationwide injunctions. This bill could receive a vote on the House floor as early as next week. Senator Josh Hawley recently introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills would prohibit district courts from handing down injunctive relief orders that apply to parties that are not involved in the case.

EFF opposes both bills. We see this legislation for what it is: a transparent attempt to limit courts’ ability to act as an effective check on the Trump administration’s recent flood of illegal orders and actions – some of which EFF itself is challenging. Congress should firmly oppose any effort to prevent the judicial branch from fulfilling its constitutional duty.

Afterthought:

I guess Republicans’ idea is, if you can’t beat ’em, castrate ’em.

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The Bidder’s Bidding 0

The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini looks at Elon Musk’s attempt to bribe persons to vote for lubricate the election of a judge in Wisconsin.

Just go read it.

Learn more here.

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Signal Achievements 0

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This New Gilded Age 0

At the Bangor Daily News, Greg Rossel points out the Donald Trump loves the talk about the first Gilded Age, specifically how great a president William McKinley was, and speculates as to why.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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Stray Thought 0

I never expected that I would be living in a rogue state.

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“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0

Frame One, captioned

Click to view the original image.

__________________

*Mark Twain.

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The Chaos Agent 0

Writing at northjersey.com, Arlene Murphy offers a theory as to Donald Trump’s M. O. for maladministration. A snippet:

President Donald Trump is running this country as if it were his own personal reality TV show. He understands that the surefire way for a reality show to be successful is that in every episode, which airs every day, there must be chaos.

Follow the link for her reasoning.

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Under the Influence, Reprise 0

Speaking of gaslighting . . . .

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Easter Yeggs, Reprise 0

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Under the Influence 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Susan Krauss Whitbourne takes a deep dive into the gaslighter’s play book. She identifies six specific tactics that gaslighters use:

  • Manipulation of reality
  • Denial
  • Inconsistency of behavior
  • Isolation
  • Coercion
  • Creating self-doubt

Follow the link for a detailed discussion of the topic. Then ask yourself, does this list remind of anyone either in the news or reporting the news?

Aside:

It occurred to me last night, as I was browsing my favorite online forum, that, just like “responsible gun owner,” “Fox News” is an oxymoron.

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