Political Theatre category archive
Putting the “Con” in Conservative 0
Paul Krugman marvels at the number of crooks seeking office as Republicans. A snippet:
Their sustained, invariant agenda has been upward redistribution of income: cutting taxes on the rich while weakening the social safety net. This agenda is unpopular: Only a small minority of Americans wants to see tax cuts for the wealthy, and an even smaller minority wants cuts to major social programs. Yet Republicans have won elections partly by denying the reality of their policy agenda, but mainly by posing as defenders of traditional social values — above all, that greatest of American traditions, racism.
Facebook Frolics 0
In related news, Daniel Ruth points out that Facebook’s targets users are hardly blameless. A snippet:
After all, Facebook is nothing more than a huge, honking privacy violation machine. It is not an egalitarian social network uniting the world in a common bond of friendship and sharing. Like so many other cyber platforms, Facebook has become a propaganda weapon, a troller’s paradise and an opportunity to sell all manner of stuff. It’s the General Motors of hubris.
Owed on Intimations of Immorality 0
I’m not really following the Stormy Daniels affair, because there’s nothing new to see; it’s just one more wreck at a Trumpled demolition derby, and, frankly, if you’ve seen one demolition derby etc. (Except for the gymnastic gyrations of evangelical “Christians” to rationalize their fealty to Donald Trump). Can anyone who has paid attention (not “followed,” simply paid attention to headlines) to Donald Trump’s career be in any way surprised or shocked?
Over at Above the Law, though, Elie Mystal has looked at some of the legal maneuverings and suggests that Michael Cohen may have hoisted himself on his own petard. A snippet:
Cohen claims he paid off Daniels, without Trump’s knowledge. If true, that’s a massive ethical violation. If false, it’s an illegal campaign contribution. By allowing this information to become public, Cohen has shown Mueller’s people a roadmap for how Trump — I mean, David Dennison — might try to launder money. Great job, counselor.
Whether any of that matters is another issue, as the “rule of law” seems increasingly a quaint and passe concept.
Tales of the Trumpling: Snapshots of Trickle-Down Trumpery 0
Trumplers like violence because they smell so nice:
This phenomena is unique to Trump rallies. “Things got vicious, no matter how much Mr Trump liked to claim his events were ‘love fests,’” one observer noted in The Independent.
Follow the link for the rest.
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen offers a timeline.
Twits on Twitter, Facebook Frolics Dept. 0
I am certain I am not the only person who finds that #deletefacebook is trending on Twitter to be somewhat ironic.
In related news, John Aravosis retrieves his data from Facebook and finds that the Zuckerborg has slurped up far more information about him than he imagined.
“Genius at Work” 0
Steven M. explains.
Facebook Frolics 0
Josh Marshall suggests that the Zuckerborg thinks it is a law unto itself.
Follow the link to read why he said that.
Invalid Syllogism 0
In spite of Jonathan Zimmerman’s vacuous argument, “freedom of speech” does not mean “freedom from consequences.”
Twits on Twitter 0
Shorter Elie Mystal: “You think that’s a tweetstorm? This is a tweetstorm.”