Political Theatre category archive
The No-Show 0
Donald Trump, in a fit of pique (does he have any other kind of fits?) is skipping the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Dick Polman thinks this is a good thing. Here’s a nugget from his article:
Trump’s game plan (sold to him by his tutor, Steve Bannon) is to delegitimize the press. Attending the dinner would’ve legitimized it. Playing the good sport, being the butt of jokes about Russia (and so much else) would’ve legitimized the revelatory stories.
Do please read the rest.
Know Them by the Company They Keep 0
Shaun Mullin gives an example.
Town Halls of Horrors 0
At another internet place I frequent, a discussion of Republican Congresspersons’ town halls has been going on the past few days. Someone from another country known for its cheese and roast beef requested clarification. I like my response so much that I will share it. You can follow this link for the full discussion.
- This should give you plenty of reading material.
The short version is that it’s a relatively recent tradition that US Congresscritters during extended recesses hold open meetings for constituents. These are commonly referred to as “town halls,” though they are not town halls in any sense related to municipal governance.
During the February recess (which can be recognized by the fact that Congresscritters are doing nothing in their districts, as opposed to doing nothing in Washington, D. C.), these meetings have not been going well for some Congresscritters, particularly those who have committed to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Some have ducked out of, restricted attendance to, or canceled these meetings because they do not want to converse with or be confronted by constituents opposed to their points of view.
In the US, this is referred to as “representative government.”
An Annointment with Destiny 0
Garrison Keillor explains.
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses
Oh, Forget It, Reprise
0
The Des Moines Register’s Rekha Basu is disheartened at the Trumpling of immigrants and refugees. Here’s a snippet from her column:
Do please read the rest.
Plus Ca Change 0
Dick Polman has seen it all before.
It All Comes Out in the Wash 0
Truth cannot survive the Reince cycle.
Home for the Holidays 0
Our Republican congressman attends his town hall meeting.
At least he attended his town hall meetings.
“Undermined from Within” 0
I don’t know to what extent I buy this, but the truly scary thing is that it does not sound impossible.
You can find another take in the same vein here.
Fantasy Alt-Football
0
This is good for a snicker.
(You can stop listening at about the minute and a half mark; the rest is promo.)
“Five Signs of Totalitarianism” 0
Christopher Lebron lists them at the Boston Review. Do any of them sound familiar?
Sign 1: Leader Insists on Mass Public Adoration.
Sign 2: Regime Controls the Truth.
Sign 3: Regime Suppresses Knowledge Producers.
Sign 4: Regime Invents Common Enemies.
Sign 5: Leader Is Surrounded by Cronies and Sycophants.
Follow the link for a detailed discussion of each one.
Lies and Lying Liars
(and the People Who Love Them)
0
Warning: Language.