Political Theatre category archive
The Dearth of Expertise 0
Writing AL.com, Frances Coleman is taken aback by the proliferation of self-appointed experts, which she thinks can be attributed in large part to “social” media. Follow the link for some examples of said expertise (under the circumstances, though, I shall proffer “expertism” as a more appropriate term).
Aside:
Many of these self-appointed “experts,” of course, meet the classic definition of the term, in which
- “x” is the mathematical symbol for an unknown quantity,
- “spurt” is a drip under pressure, so, therefore,
- “expert” is an unknown drip under pressure.
(Grammatical error corrected.)
“The Zombies Are Coming” 0
Sam and his crew marvel at the latest Republican nutbag QAnon-believing candidate.
As one who trained as an historian, I must say–well, I don’t know what to say.
It’s Bubblicious 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear explores what he calls the “reality gap.” An excerpt (emphasis added):
(snip)
It’s not merely the fact that so many live in an alternate reality, it is that they CHOOSE to live in that reality. That is an absolutely crucial point that a lot of people don’t seem to get.
Decoding De Code, Reprise 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Jesse Robison wonders about that dreaded word.
The Privatization Scam, Chartering a Course for Disaster Dept. 0
At the Orlando Sentinel, Scott Maxwell explores a race for a seat on the Orange County, Florida, school board that you couldn’t make up.
You gotta read this one for yourself. Words are still failing me.
Traumatized 0
Much lauded researcher William Hazeltine explores the “moral trama” the United States if facing due to its incompetent and ineffective–nay, counter-effective–response to the coronavirus. Here’s a bit from his piece at Psychology Today Blogs (emphasis added); I commend the entire piece to your attention.
Our moral trauma is witnessing death, contagion and economic destruction around us, knowing full well it is unnecessary. Our country has been deeply morally traumatized – by the President through his denials, incompetence, and finger-pointing, and by his administration, his Republican enablers in Congress and compliant state governors.
The Island Flip 0
David’s comments at the end, starting about the four minute mark just before the ad at the 4:51 mark, are quite on point.
The Reopening 0
At the Hartford Courant, a Connecticut teacher shares her plans for returning to school in these viral times. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the complete article:
When I return home this afternoon, however, I will no longer be able to set foot inside our home. My husband’s medical conditions put him at greater risk for grave health repercussions or death from COVID-19, so I will be sleeping in a tent in our backyard and isolating myself from my husband and young son. We live in a modest home, not configured for quarantine.
(Syntax error fixed.)
Collateral Damage 0
Anyone who has been paying attention has heard reports of persons whose health and livelihood are threatened by the Trump administration’s attempts to destroy the United States Post Office; reports that veterans are not receiving prescription refills from the VA in time have been the most common.
But did you also know that Trumpling the Post Office has also led to cruelty to animals?
Henderson, who owns and operates Pine Tree Poultry, a family farm and chicken meat processing facility that specializes in chicken pot pies, said all 800 chicks sent from a hatchery in Pennsylvania were dead.
Much more at the link.
Aside:
I remember my father, when I was very young and he was still farming, receiving shipments of chicks via railroad postal cars.
Unpresidented 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Mike Murphy opines that Donald Trump’s comparing himself favorably to Teddy Roosevelt, like much of what Donald Trump says, flies in the face of fact. Here’s a bit of his article:
That is the second time this summer that someone has compared Donald Trump to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. Back in July, as South Dakota governor Kristi Noem introduced Trump prior to his speech at Mt. Rushmore, she likened him to Teddy Roosevelt as a man who “braves the dangers of the arena.”
I have recently read two Theodore Roosevelt biographies and, to paraphrase 1988 vice presidential candidate Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, “Mr. President, you’re no Teddy Roosevelt.”
Follow the link for his reasoning.