Political Theatre category archive
A Rhyme for the Times 0
Warning: Some language.
Republican Thought Police 0
The EFF argues that (emphasis added)
(snip)
The right to speak anonymously is essential. It preserves privacy and shields critics from government retaliation. In the past year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued grand jury subpoenas to social media companies for their users’ personal data. This is frequently done for improper purposes and without really showing that social media users have committed any crime. These subpoenas have the effect of intimidating and chilling critics, as immigration authorities have engaged in invasive, unconstitutional, and sometimes violent conduct.
Stray Thought 0
One of the, if not the, most poisonous notions in our polity is that politics is a spectator sport that somehow exists apart from day-to-day lives, not to be participated in by, say, for example, exercising one’s right duty to vote.
Petty Cheesey 0
David marvels at Donald Trump’s meltdown in response to a casual remark by President Obama.
Republican Thought Police 0
Yet another Trump acolyte attempts to exercise the freedom of repress (and is now being sued over it).
The Rule of Lawless 0
One more time, we seem to live in retaliation nation.
In the Trump maladministion, “mal” not only stands for bad, it stands for “with malice aforethought.”
The View from Afar 0
Via the Las Vegas Sun, Jackie Calmes reports that she recently had occasion to go abroad. From the perspective of distance and away from 24-hour relentless cycle of headlines, she found a renewed perspective on the Trump maladministration. Here’s her list of things that stood out; follow the link for a detailed exploration of each one.
- His embarrassing and willfully provocative obsession with branding things, buildings (even adding his name to a memorial of a slain president!), bodies of water and now states.
- His antidemocratic refusal, despite his oath, to be president of all Americans.
- His pathological narcissism and companion sense of monarchical entitlement.
- His anti-constitutional undermining of a free press.
- The top-down model of incompetence and corruption in Trump’s administration.
- Trump’s traitorous bear-hug of Russia and betrayal of Ukraine, U.S. allies and the 80-year-old world order that is among the proudest legacies of the United States.
A (Hopeful) Tune for the Times 0
Warning: Language
Unchecked and Unbalanced, the Rule of Lawless Dept. 0
Via the Miami Herald, Boise State University’s Stephanie Martin observes that the Republican-controlled Congress is failing to do its job in reigning in the Trump maladministration’s violations of the law. She–er–suggests that that is not a good thing. Here’s snippet:
Trump’s influence over Republican voters intensifies these incentives. Lawmakers who oppose him risk public ridicule, primary challenges and diminished political support . Defending congressional authority may therefore carry greater immediate – and personal – political costs than allowing presidential power to expand.
The result is a political system in which a president can act in ways that may violate federal law, undermine democratic norms and encroach on Congress’ constitutional authority.
I think she is–er–understating the danger facing our polity, but I still think her article is well worth the few minutes it will take to read.
Trading Secrets 0
Heaven Trumpettes forbid that the public should learn about the stock manipulation.
At a Crossroads 0
Driftglass is not sanguive. Here’s a bit of his article (emphasis added):
It put me in mind of the lesson my father taught me through example:
I commend the entire piece to your attention.