Political Theatre category archive
Decoding De Code 0
Headline:
Translation:
L’Etat, c’est moi.
Use Time Wisely 0
No, I did not watch the SOTU (or, as Juanita Jean aptly dubbed it, the STFU).
As I have mentioned before in these electrons, I refuse to spend hours in front of my telly vision for something I can read about in ten minutes the next day.
The Lies of the Land 0
Aside:
I saw a news story saying that the State of the Union address would be about Donald Trump’s “policy priorities.”
As far as I can tell, Donald Trump does not have “policies.” He perhaps has whims, obsessions, phobias, and fixations, but he does not have “policies.”
Image via Job’s Anger.
What’s Going on in Venezuela? 0
David takes a look at what’s happening in Venezuela. He suggests that
(a) disturbingly large portion of “the left” is getting events in Venezuela really wrong, opting to stand behind Russia-backed strongman authoritarian Nicolas Maduro.
I’m posting this because I have no idea what’s going on there, except that I know it’s not good, and I know also that the U. S. press has a horrible record of misreporting events in Central and South America, so I think a perspective would be welcome. I will also note the David has some credibility regarding South American politics, as he’s originally from Buenos Aires.
(Here’s another perspective from Badtux.)
Twits on Twitter 0
Eugene Robinson considers an untethered twit.
The Rule of Lawless 0
Joe Patrice sees eerie similarities between Donald Trump and the New England Patriots.
Ralph Northam 0
I waited a bit before commenting on this story, as I have found that initial reports are often flawed, especially when promulgated by twits on Twitter and frolickers on Facebook. He is the governor of my state and I supported him.
And he has been a decent and reasonable governor.
My primary reaction is disappointment. Plunging-to-the-bottom-of-the-well disappointment.
As my local rag pointed out in an excellent editorial, these events happened in 1984, not in 1924, and there’s no conceivable excuse for someone over the age of consent not knowing that blackface and Klan robes are vile and racist.
Hell, I’m two decades older than him, and I knew that when I was still in high school.
Should he resign? Not for me to say–who am I to call for resignation? I’m just a third-tier blogger with opinions and a keyboard–but I suspect he likely will eventually do so.
It’s frustrating, though, as Republican office-holders with track records of overtly racist conduct while in office serve out their terms and, indeed, seek higher office, with impunity.
Are his political career and his effectiveness as a leader toast? Oh, yes-indeedy-do, with butter and marmalade.
Afterthought:
I’m from the Eastern Shore, as is Northam (though I never knew any Northams when I was growing up). I’m still scratching my head about why my local rag decided to describe the Shore as “rural and rugged.” It is a lot of things, including rural, but “rugged” isn’t one of them.
A Picture Is Worth, Democracy Inaction Dept. 0
Headline: McConnell: Making It Easier to Vote Is Undemocratic
An illustrative rendering thereof:
Image via Job’s Anger.
“Those Words Don’t Mean What You Think They Mean” 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear decodes de code.
The Bullied’s Pulpit 0
Jim Wright is somewhat taken aback that Howard Schultz, the Man Who Ruined Coffee, is now complaining of being bullied because some persons had the unmitigated gall, the unutterable cheek, to ask him questions which were not of a fawning and obsequious nature. Here’s a nugget:
And that’s it, right there.
That’s the thing.
That is what makes Howard Schultz, and his ilk, ultimately unqualified to lead this nation.
It is not just that he doesn’t know how to handle that scrutiny, it’s that he doesn’t think he should have to handle it at all.
Do read the rest.
The Art of the Con, Trickle-On Economics Dept. 0
Thom explains to a caller:
