Political Theatre category archive
Animal House 2
Der Spiegel takes a look at the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. What it sees is not pretty. A nugget:
It’s not just the two bullies at the top who are to blame. Their rise was made possible through a decline in values such as decency, honesty, tolerance and fairness — a process that has been hastened by the Republican Party more than anyone else. For too long, it has pursued fiscal, economic and social policies that served only companies and the rich, the financial backers of their election campaigns.
I was wondering this morning whether it would be accurate to suggest that the Republican Party is no longer a political party in any recognizable sense, but, rather, large and unruly cabal.
Just thinking out loud, mind you.
The “Panama Papers” . . . 1
. . . contain no revelation, only confirmation.
If you didn’t already know that the system is crooked, you haven’t been paying attention.
Food for the Ears 0
Harry Shearer interviews David Cay Johnston about Donald Trump and related topics.
Johnston has followed Trump’s careen career for almost four decades. The discussion ranges over Trump’s business dealings, apparent ties with the mob, history of–er–prevarication, and much, much more, with a side trip into business tax law in theory and in practice.
Listen up, y’hear.
The Barnum and Bailey Election 2
At The Guardian, Frankie Boyle takes a blistering look at the U. S. Presidential campaign. A nugget:
Just read it.
One Person, One Person 0
A conservative reactionary attempt to create a class of non-persons* for apportionment purposes fails unanimously in the Supreme Court.
Even Clarence Thomas couldn’t stomach this one.
________________
*One suspects that “3/5s of a person” didn’t play well with the focus groups.
Clarence Page Is an Optimist 2
Clarence Page potters about:
Some Twitter users compared Trump to Voldemort in December after the billionaire developer and TV reality show star proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
“How horrible,” Rowling responded in a tweet of her own. “Voldemort was nowhere near as bad.”
Follow the link to observe Page grasping at a straw: the desperate hope that Paul Ryan just might be the sane one in his insane party.
Economics of Fail 0
At The Roanoke Times, John Winfrey, Emeritus {rofessor of Economics and Public Policy, dissects Tea Bag economic mythology reasoning and exposes its internal contradictions. A snippet:
Unfortunately the Tea Party Ideologues seem oblivious that every Eco 101 text also has a Chapter Two.
The Galt and the Lamers 0
BadTux tries to explain the concept of the “common good” to glibertarians (he calls them “libertopians”).
One suspects they won’t get it.
The End of the Trail 0
Daniel Ruth sticks his tongue firmly in his cheek and withdraws from the presidential campaign.
Misdirection Play, Tiny Bubbles Dept. 0
Remember, not every “public interest group” is a public interest group. Witness this “public interest group” that is lobbying against a soda tax in Philly (emphasis added).
I do like my daily diet cola, but, as far as I am concerned, this is like the fellow who, after getting pulled for speeding, turns to the cop and asks, “Why didn’t you pull over that other guy? He was going as fast as I was.”
Flint-Hearted 0
This is contemporary Republican governance writ large, poisoning the poors for profit.