Political Theatre category archive

Thom reviews the Republican ransom demands, one by one.

Listen:

It turns out that Fox News has one.

As Chris Honore points out in the Ashland, Oregon, Daily Tidings:

As irrational — some say darkly Quixotic — as their (Republicans–ed.) quest seems, that is where they are headed. And here is what further baffles: though they have taken ACA hostage, their threat isn’t that if the White House and Dems fail to do their bidding that they will shoot the hostage. What they’ve done instead is sent a bizarrely convoluted ransom note to the White House and the Democrats with the demand is that the Dems shoot the hostage, meaning ACA. And failing to do so, these same House conservatives will set in motion a series of reprisals. Surreal to be sure, but truly, you can’t make this stuff up.

Warning: Language.

Late night tidbit:

Via Balloon Juice.

In the usual bad taste.

It’s a wandering discussion, but listen to Senator McCaskill try to talk sense about health care and politics on Morning Joe.

The one thing that has become clear about Senator Ted Cruz is that he suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder as defined by Chez Pazienza:

Mr. Cruz cannot stand a deficit of attention.

Via Delaware Liberal.

The Tampa Bay Times goes Seussian.

Just read it.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Jim Taylor surveys the evidence and concludes that the two most important factors in successful schools are the affluence of the school district and the skill of the teachers

Nevertheless, as he points out, the current rage is tech, not teach. A nugget:

Yet, the “faith-based” technology approach to public education reform is moving full steam ahead, particularly for disadvantaged students. There is this fantastical notion that giving poor kids iPads just like rich kids will somehow magically transform them into great students. So, while their schools are crumbling around them, they will have shiny new tablets that will reverse years of physical, psychological, cognitive, and economic neglect.

Why the fascination with iJunk? Follow the link for his take on it.

iJunk sales, of course, are part of it. The rest, I think, is magickal thinking augmented by a misdirection play, hope that glitzy iTois will somehow make up for poverty, hunger, underpaid and mistreated teachers, decaying buildings, and anything resembling public accountability for the public good.

. . . also known as World War I, continues to spawm more wars.

Shaun Mullen explores its continuing legacy of bloodshed, augmented by the perfidy of the British in betraying their Arab allies against the Ottoman Empire.

Just read it.

Via Bob Cesca’s Awesome Blog.

No billionaire left behind.

Below the fold in case it autoplays.

Read more »

Via BartCop.

A person who stands against the haters.

BRADDOCK, Pa. In this gritty borough near Pittsburgh, Mayor John Fetterman is doing what the Philadelphia and New Hope mayors won’t – officiating at weddings of gay and lesbian couples who got their marriage licenses in Montgomery County.

Last week’s Commonwealth Court ruling ordering the county to stop issuing licenses won’t stop him, either, as long as the couples got their licenses legally.

“If a couple wants to go ahead and do it, I would as well,” Fetterman, 44, said after the ruling Thursday. “If the Health Department wants to send the gay police to come and get me, they’re more than welcome to do that.”

Speaking of the haters, a letter writer to my local rag pretty much summed it up.

Via Bob Cesca’s Awesome Blog.

Via Escape from Whitemanistan.

With apologies to Larry, Curly, and Moe.

Via C&L.