Political Theatre category archive

I gave up watching candidate debates a long time ago. I can always read about them later.

They’re too much like NCAA football games: Three hours of blather surrounding eleven minutes of action under the auspices of some of the worst people in the world.

Here are reports from some brave souls who watched the Republican debate so I didn’t have to.

Werner Herzog’s Bear. (If you follow only one of these links, make this the one.)

Historiann. (If you follow only two of these links, make this the other one.)

Craig Malkin.

Jeb Lund.

Steven M.

A clinical psychologist tries to figure out the appeal of Donald Trump.

More evidence that a Republican majority is incapable of governance, this from down the road a piece (more at the link):

Krista Ricks, a teacher at Beverly Woods Elementary School, wants North Carolina legislators to know that their foot-dragging on the budget has left her homeless.

It’s not that she’s destitute. She’s working and getting paid.

But until the folks in Raleigh pass a 2015-16 budget, it’s not clear what her salary is. Until her lender can verify her salary, she can’t close on her newly built house, which is finished and waiting for her to move in.

But it’s a public school teacher, so why should they care?

In related news, Leonard Pitts, Jr., comments on Trump’s stumped speech.

Steve Watson thinks that Donald Trump may be petering out (full argument at the link).

Trump forces us to revisit the almost-forgotten Peter Principle. In short, he is a textbook case of the successful individual rising in stature and position until he reaches his downfall, at the lofty level of his human incompetence.

I fear he is mistaken. “Competence” and “Republican governance” are distinct and unrelated concepts.

Via The Progressive Populist.

Farron Cousins minces no words.

I fear that he may be optimistic. Hate sells.

Jeb is sandboxed in.

Alfred Doblin sees similarities between a certain two loud-mouthed substance-less bullies. Here’s a bit from the opening of the article; follow the link for the rest.

. . . I clearly recall a conversation we had when Christie was making his first run for governor of New Jersey in 2009. I expressed my frustration over the lack of details from candidate Christie; he was not giving specifics about what he would do if elected. That was intentional, I was told. While Jon Corzine, the not-popular Democratic incumbent, had to defend his record, all Christie had to offer was a promise of change.

The campaign message was: “Trust me. Details to come.”

Christie bested Corzine.

Rock beat paper.

Now Donald Trump is soaring in the polls, while Christie, a politician with a record to defend, is in a free fall. Trump is running Christie’s 2009 campaign. No details. Just loud assurances that if elected, he will fix things.

Rock still beats paper.

I saw a car sporting one of those bumper stickers the other day when I was running errands. I need a word for my reaction. How’s about “creepy” + “icky” = “creecky”?

Via Job’s Anger.

In Japan Times, Jeff Kingston rounds up international views of Donald Trump. It’s not pretty. Here’s a bit:

. . . Michael Cucek, a lecturer at Sophia University, reminds us that “as the essential nation, the U.S. cannot indulge itself with electing a boorish moron as its president. The U.S. has already tried that once this century with devastating results.”

In a Kraft cheese field of ludicrous dolts, Trump stands out like a ripe Gorgonzola.

“Trump is the P.T. Barnum of American politics but with a serious twist: he’s given Americans who are so tired of ‘politics as usual’ and political correctness an outlet to feel free again,” says Nancy Snow, professor emeritus of communications at California State University, Fullerton.

If I were a Gogonzola, I would be insulted. Limburger would have been a more apt comparison. (I purchased a bit of Limburger once, determined to try it, not believing it could smell as noxious as reputed. That was a mistake; I couldn’t get it past my nose.)