Political Theatre category archive
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen adds another troll to the roll of trolls.
Aside:
The trolling would not have had a significant impact if too many Americans were not so uninformed (or, in the case of Fox News disciples, misinformed) nor so gullible.
I Get Mail 0
I received an email purporting to show the most recent donation to Corey Stewart’s campaign for Virginia’s Senate seat. I pass it on for what it’s worth, but it seems credible to me.
Silence Is Complicity 0
Dan Simpson is not amused with the United States’s passivity regarding the Khashoggi case and the Trump “administration’s” seeming wish that it all would just go away. Here’s a snippet from his column:
It used to be that the reliance of the world, including the United States, on Saudi oil served to give the kingdom a pass on humane behavior. In the case of the United States, there was also heavy U.S. oil company involvement in Saudi oil production. In the case of the United States, there was also heavy U.S. oil company involvement in Saudi oil production. U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia also became increasingly important to America over the years. . . .
“Us” and “Them” 0
Nigel Barber looks at the dynamic of tribalism. Here’s a bit:
Read it. It will help you understand our collective descent into the maelstrom.
(Missing link found.)
The Invisible Protective Shield 0
Elie Mystal explains the Kavanaugh Doctrine and how it differs from the legal concept of “presumption of innocence.” An excerpt:
PSA: Who Are the Virginia Beach Candidates? 0
The coverage of local Virginia Beach races (mayor, city council, and school board) is really pretty bad to the point of being almost nonexistent, as the House and Senate campaigns are soaking up all the headlines. I am disappointed, but I cannot fault the Pilot; like most newspapers, it’s already struggling.
As for broadcast media, someone once said, “If it bleeds, it leads” (the weather corollary is, “if it hails, it prevails”). I have seen no evidence to dispute that statement.
Thanks to Caroline Rye (see the sidebar, over there —–>), I have learned of two places where you can learn more about those races: the WAVY website, which has a “Candidates” section, and the VOTE411 Project of the League of Women Voters (at the VOTE411 site, you will need to enter your address to see local races).
Remember that, even though some Virginia Beach races are “district races,” every Virginia Beach voter can vote for every city council and school board candidate, both “at large” and “district,” for reasons that go back to the formation of Virginia Beach in the merger of the Town of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County.
All the News that Fits, Glutted for Punishment Dept. 0
Writing at Psychology Today Blogs, Adeena Bank Lees offers some suggestions for avoiding drowning in the flood of news (much of which isn’t news, but opinion, and often isn’t even new, but a rehash of a rehash of a rehash).
Here’s one (emphasis in the original):
Follow the link for her other suggestions.
Afterthought:
I would add one. If you depend on “social” media for news, don’t. Verify those tweets and Facebook posts at legitimate, accredited sources before you believe them and for heaven’s sakes before you forward them to others.
Twists and deception spread as fact are bait for the gullible.
The best defense is not to be gullible.
Oh, and speaking of gullible . . . .
Going through a Phrase 0
Thom and his guest explore the twisted history of the phrases, the “American Dream” and “American first.”
