From Pine View Farm

Political Theatre category archive

The Rule of Flaw 0

Josh Grohlke is–er–less than optimistic about Kevin McCarthy’s coming tenure as Speaker of the House. Here’s a bit of what he has to say:

McCarthy’s compulsive dishonesty, habitual servility and enthusiasm for groveling before authoritarians were never stellar credentials for a man hoping to be entrusted with the leadership of a democratic institution. But McCarthy’s ritual humiliation transcends his person and serves as an indictment of his party.

Follow the link for the rest.

Share

Resolved 0

A life-long Republican shares his New Year’s resolution at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Like most Americans, I usually make the time-honored New Year’s resolutions — eat better, exercise more and write the Great American novel.

Not this year. I have made only one resolution — never, ever again will I vote for a Republican candidate for anything until the Grand Old Party — that I once enthusiastically supported — has succeeded in purging the MAGA craziness from the party.

Follow the link for his reasoning.

Share

“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

At the Tampa Bay Times, Daniel Ruth comments on the antics of Florida Man.

Share

A Tune for the Times 0

Mangy comments at the Youtube page:

Kevin McCarthy is about to learn a lesson that has been learned by many who’ve finally had their dream come true. Just like those who finally got a large face tattoo, married the hot mean girl half their age, or quit their job and joined the circus, Kevin is about to learn that sometimes getting what you dreamed about can be WAY worse than you ever imagined.

Share

The Function of Dysfunction? 0

Even as normal persons might be tempted to point and laugh (“Republicans in disarray!”) at the Republican Party’s inability as of the time of this writing to select a Speaker of the House, Grung_e_Gene argues that their own dysfunction perversely reinforces their narrative. A snippet (emphasis added):

Towards that goal of destroying the functioning administrative state is making it look like Democracy and the functionality of the institutions have failed. We see this as today we entertain the 13th vote for Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy having failed to garner sufficient support in the previous 12 and having received less votes than Hakeem Jeffries in 11 of the 12 votes. But, by grinding the gears of the administrative state to a halt, as they are right now, Republicans and Rightwingers can point and shout “See Government Doesn’t Work!”

I commend the rest of his post to your attention.

Also, too.

Share

Misdirection Play, Multiple Motions Dept. 0

New York Judge Justice Arthur Engoron orders Trump lawyers to stop with the frivolous filings. At Above the Law, Liz Dye translates the legalese:

In plain English, the court would like these people to stop filing obnoxious, dilatory motions screaming that Tish James is conducting a witch hunt motivated by personal bias and her own political ambitions.

Follow the link for context.

Share

Speaker Squeaker, Reprise 0

Share

Boebert Is the New Gohmert 0

(Warning: Short commercial at the end.)

Today’s Republican Party is a vile and loathsome thing.

Share

Much Ado about Who Knows What? 0

Noz tries to figure out why some House Republicans don’t want Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker of the House and concludes that some House Republicans just don’t want Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker of the House.

Meanwhile, on the same topic, Nick Carraway suggests that it’s much ado about a hollow man who stands for nothing.

Me, I suspect it’s just mean for the sake of mean.

We are a flailing state.

Share

The Speaker Squeaker 0

Seth takes a look at Republicans in disarray. An excerpt:

. . . the current Republican Party simply isn’t fit to govern and, when it comes to Congress, they shouldn’t even be allowed in the doors . . .

Share

Believe It or Don’t, Republican Style 0

Share

The Contortionist 0

Kevin McCarthy playing

Click for the original image.

PoliticalProf has commentary. Also, too.

Share

Precedented 0

Michael in Norfolk proffers a unexpectedly artful precedent for the present Donald Trump.

Share

Patriot Gamers 0

Tom Moran of the Newark Star-Ledger argues forcefully that patriotism does not mean boosterism, nor does it mean turning a blind eye to a nation’s faults. An excerpt:

But for me, patriotism is deeper than boosterism. I grew up as one of nine kids, a great blessing. But I don’t love my siblings because they are the best people in the world; in fact, half of them can be nuts half the time. I love them despite that.

Share

Another Special Election in Georgia 0

A newly elected Republican state legislator won’t even make it into office, in yet another example of Republican family values.

Here’s the lede from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

A newly elected Republican state lawmaker has withdrawn from office after he was charged with swiping prescription narcotics from a retirement complex where he works.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Share

How Stuff Works, All the News that Fits Dept. 0

Goat and Pig look at Rat, who's inside a glass dome.  Goat asks, 'What are you doing, Rat?

Click for the original image.

Share

The Sound of Silence 0

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s editorial board argues that the Republican Party’s silence about George Santos speaks volumes. A snippet:

Republican leaders’ attempt to shrug off Santos’ pathological dishonesty and move on drives home just how much damage has been done to the party after a half-dozen years in thrall to a fabulist former president who remains the party’s 2024 presidential frontrunner.

Share

Caught with Your Hands in the Cookie Jar? 0

At the Idaho State Journal, Chris Huston offers some advice for if (or when) you get caught red-handed.

Share

Dis Coarse Discourse, Misdirection Ploy Dept. 0

Title:  Politicizing.  Image:  Television show called

Click for the original image.

Share

Misdirection Plays 0

At NOLA.com, the writer of a letter to the editor calls out a ludicrous litany of poisonous, perfidious propaganda ripped from the right-wing’s misdirection playbook.

I commend his letter to your attention.

Share
From Pine View Farm
Privacy Policy

This website does not track you.

It contains no private information. It does not drop persistent cookies, does not collect data other than incoming ip addresses and page views (the internet is a public place), and certainly does not collect and sell your information to others.

Some sites that I link to may try to track you, but that's between you and them, not you and me.

I do collect statistics, but I use a simple stand-alone Wordpress plugin, not third-party services such as Google Analitics over which I have no control.

Finally, this is website is a hobby. It's a hobby in which I am deeply invested, about which I care deeply, and which has enabled me to learn a lot about computers and computing, but it is still ultimately an avocation, not a vocation; it is certainly not a money-making enterprise (unless you click the "Donate" button--go ahead, you can be the first!).

I appreciate your visiting this site, and I desire not to violate your trust.