Political Theatre category archive
Words and Deeds 0
Juanita Jean notes the discrepancy.
The Fifth Freedom 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times has a question (follow the link for the entire lettter):
Popularizing Populism 0
“Populism” in American politics has meant many things, from legitimate reform movements intended to improve the economic status of the “populace” to those designed to appeal to its prejudice and bigotry. Lately the latter meaning has been dominant, so much so that in much of what passes for discourse, the former meaning has been forgotten.
In a longish article at Psychology Today Blogs, Eyal Winter considers the latter meaning–the appeal to prejudice and bigotry–and the tactics that its exponents use to attract, keep, and mobilize their followers. Here’s tiny little bit:
I commend his piece to your attention. It is a timely read in these viral times.
Rand Gestures 0
Rand Paul said it out loud: Republicans don’t want citizens to vote.
An Authority on Authoritarianism 0
Thom and his guest discuss the workings of authorianism.
Six Degrees of Dr. Jill Biden 0
Paths cross can be adjacent in unexpected ways.
Second son met Dr. Jill Biden when he was taking courses at our local community college when we lived in Delaware, where he was born and raised, though I don’t know that he took any classes from her. At the time, Joe Biden was Vice President, so she had Secret Service protection, but she was still teaching.
I trained as an historian and, at one time, aspired to get a doctorate. I didn’t, because I found in graduate school that academia and I were not a good mix (honestly, some of those folks will fight to the death over a semicolon), but I never lost my love of history as a discipline.
But, by heavens, had I earned that doctorate, I would not have eschewed the title, because it means something.
I learned how much it can mean in my year of graduate school (and from the many professors I had who had a “Ph. D.” after their names and who taught me well at The College of William and Mary in Virginia and at the University of Virginia.)
Afterthought:
It is never gracious to belittle the accomplishments of others.
Courting Disasters 0
David discusses Donald Trump’s reaction to the failure of the Supremes to “do us a favor though.” (Warning: short ad at the end. I have no knowledge of the product in question.)