From Pine View Farm

Political Theatre category archive

A Tune for the Times 0

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The Back-Up Plan 0

At the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Gene Collier offers his take on Donald Trump’s campaign–er–strategy. A nugget; follow the link for his reasoning.

. . . Trump is not try­ing to win. He’s try­ing to en­rage his loy­al­ists to fight for him when he doesn’t.

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“The Last Firewall” 0

Just in case you wondered why Republicans are so determined to gut out the vote . . . .

Frame One, title:  The Last Firewall.  Frame Two, captioned

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“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes.”* 0

Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman hears a rhyme.

So too does Yastreblyansky.

________________

*Mark Twain.

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A Tune for the Times 0

Via C&L, which has commentary.

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The Confluence 0

Steve M. takes a look at this weekend’s Trump rally in Madison Square Garden (which, I must note, is neither square nor located at Madison Square, but I digress), where Trump’s supporters openly flaunted their racism, and notes an overlap. Here’s a bit about the overlap:

Did yesterday’s rally seem like the work of an organized, dangerous fascist party? Yes — but the rally’s rhetoric also seemed like ordinary casual conversation among bigoted white men when they think no one can hear them.

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Issues Voters . . . 0

These voters seem to have issues.

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Choosing the Dark Side 0

The Washington Post’s slogan is “Democracy dies in darkness.”

The same newspaper that once famously shined a light on the misconduct of Richard Nixon has chosen not to endorse a candidate for president (or, to put it another way, has chosen to go dark) in what might be the most important election since 1860.

Dick Polman offers some thoughts as to why the Post has chosen darkness.

I commend them to your attention.

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It’s Bubblelicious 0

Frame One:  Donald Trump repeats insane gibberish.  Frame Two:  Dick Cheney says,

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The Wake-Up Call 0

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The Wannabe, One More Time 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, David Kyle Johnson identifies characteristics common to fascist movements (note that he does not claim this to be a complete list) and asks whether it reminds us of anyone in the news.

Here’s the list; follow the link for a detailed discussion of each item.

  • Nostalgia for a Mythical Past
  • Leader Cult and Hero Worship
  • Us vs. Them Thinking
  • Anti-Intellectualism and Distrust of Expertise
  • Victimhood and Conspiracy Thinking
  • Glorification of Violence and Aggression
  • Obsession with Purity and Control

Afterthought:

In a related vein, Steve M. offers some thoughts as to why so many persons seem willing to overlook the warning signs that Donald Trump, if given the chance, will try to become America’s Hitler.

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The Wannabe, Reprise 0

Seth suggests that the media is missing the point in its (lack of serious) coverage of Donald Trump’s documented admiration of Adolph Hitler (and of dictators in general).

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A Trumpled Presidency . . . . 0

. . . deserves to be suitably memorialized.

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A Tune for the Times 0

Mangy’s voice is a bit off, but his lyrics are spot on.

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In Translation 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Nikolay Kukushkin offers insight into the thought processes (sic) of Donald Trump.

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It’s in the Cards 0

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The Wannabe 0

Seth takes a closer look at the news that Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, has attested that Trump meets the definition of a fascist and that Trump has praised Hitler in his presence.

My father fought against Hitler in the Ardennes.

He did not do that so we could elect a wannabe Hitler to be our president.

Please watch this. It is worth your while.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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A Palmer Reading 0

Robert Reich, in a longer piece about Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Arnold Palmer, reports an item which leapt out at me. He notes that Palmer was no fan of Trump. Here’s that excerpt:

Arnold Palmer’s daughter told The Sporting News in 2018 that the golf legend was so incensed by what he saw as Trump’s lack of civility that he made noises of disgust when Trump appeared on the television “like he couldn’t believe the arrogance and crudeness of this man who was the nominee of the political party that he believed in.” She added, “My dad had no patience for people who demean other people in public. He was appalled by Trump’s lack of civility and what he began to see as Trump’s lack of character.”

Follow the link for context.

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Those Who Do Not Learn from the Past Are Condemned To Repeat It* 0

Man and woman walking dog.  Man says,

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__________________

*With apologies to George Santayana.

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