Political Theatre category archive
Institution Flailure 0
Josh Marshall steps back for a closer look at the Trump wiretapping scamdal. A snippet:
I would say that this ability – both the President’s pathological lying and our institution’s inability to grapple with it – is the big, big story. The particulars of the accusation basically pale in comparison.
Deep Thoughts 0
David Spence tries to demystify the “deep state,” which has been much in the headlines these latter days, by pointing out there is, indeed, no such thing. Rather, there are civil servants who are trying to do their jobs, lately in the face of opposition from certain officials who would rather they not. Here’s a key paragraph (emphasis added).
All Guns, No Ifs, Ands, or Butter 0
Will Bunch considers Donald Trump’s budget proposal. He does not like what it portends. Here’s a bit (emphasis added):
Because war is just what authoritarians do. So is this budget — a tinhorn dictator budget, the budget of an immature boy-king who’s in love with the cold steel of tanks but has zero empathy for America’s humanity, let alone the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Clearing the Air No More 0
Daniel Ruth summarizes the administration’s environmental outlook in a few little paragraphs:
Phffft! Folks with Ph.Ds in science. Please. They’re just a cabal of showoffs. What do they know? Lead is actually good for you. It strengthens your bones.
It’s about time we had a presidential administration with the courage to be clueless when it comes to stuff like pollution, climate change and clean water.
Who needs clean water, anyway? It just encourages people to drink it, when gin (which looks just like water) tastes even better.
More paragraphs at the link.
“Pre-Planning”* 0
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*One more time: Is there any other kind of planning?
Portrait of the Con Artist as a Younger Man 0
Mythbuster 0
In the Bangor Daily News, Gordon Weil busts some myths. Here’s one:
In his confirmation hearing, Sessions swore he would tell “the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The term “the whole truth” ought to mean he left nothing out.
But in denying he had talked with Russians during the presidential campaign, he omitted two meetings with the Russian ambassador. Later, he said those meetings had nothing to do with the campaign but only with his job as senator. Fair enough, if true, but still his answer was not “the whole truth.”
He might have avoided subsequent controversy if instead of telling “the truth,” he had revealed “the whole truth.” As a lawyer, he should have known better.
Follow the link for the other four.
“Suffer, Baby” 0
A writer to editor of The Roanoke Times recalls the suffering of a nephew stricken with cystic fibrosis at the age of six weeks and marvels at Republican efforts to gut health care coverage.
A snippet: