Political Theatre category archive
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen explores Mitch McConnell’s ties to Russia. A snippet:
Follow the link to learn more about the vice of the turtle.
Disparate Treatment, The Politics of Fear Dept. 0
At AL.com, long-time Republican lobbyist John Meredith, who has been named as one of the country’s 100 most influential Black Republicans, argues that our current state of political paralysis stems from fear and the exploitation of fear for political gain. He goes on to suggest that some fears are more important than others.
A snippet:
By comparison, if you fear illegal immigration, terrorism or drugs — bread and butter GOP issues, your fear must be addressed even if it means shutting down the federal government.
The column is worth your while.
Meanwhile, Off the Radar . . . 0
. . . our local NOAA weather station’s radar is broken (that’s the one linked to over there—->, on the sidebar), and, due to the Trumpian temper tantrum, repairs are blowing in the wind.
It Can Happen Here 0
Indeed, the writer of a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggests that it already has.
Aside:
The Republican Party has chosen unilaterally to abrogate the social contract.
Q. E. D.
Food for Naught 0
Farron discusses how the Trumpian temper tantrum is starting to take food out of the mouths of the hungry.
Honest to Pete, this is the Presidency of mean for the sake of mean.
Wall-Eyed Piker, One More Time 0
Gary Drummond discusses former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean’s suggestion of a “compromise” on Donald Trump’s wall, noting a point that many who are making similar proposals overlook: this is a hostage situtation, not a negotiation. A snippet:
Who’s at the Table? 0
PoliticalProf reads the guest list.
Priced into Penury 0
Farron discusses the cost to American consumers of Donald Trump’s trade wars.
Both Sides Not 0
David Atkins skewers the narrative that somehow Democrats bear some–indeed, any–reponsibility for the Trumpian temper tantrum. A nugget:
Originalism Sin 0
David and his guest discuss the phony rationales for Constitutional “originalism.”
The Letter of the Lawyer 0
Joe Patrice parses an electronic epistle that Matthew Whitaker’s wife wrote in protest of a Slate article questioning the legitimacy of Whitaker’s position as “acting” Attorney-General. Here’s a bit; the italicized parts are from her email.
Are you hoping that all future appointees’ qualifications are to have sat at a desk and pushed paper around for 30 years?
Like a committed career government servant instead of a political grandstander? Is this supposed to sound like a bad thing?
It is a small comfort to me that the people who will want to work with him in the future are, let’s hope, really unlikely readers of Slate and similar publications.
Yes, we live in a world of media silos and thankfully for Whitaker the people who will want to work with him are too busy watching Alex Jones.
This is only a partial parsing; follow the link for the full treatment.
Walling a Wall-Eyed Piker 0
Mike Littwin comments on Nancy Pelosi’s and House Democrats’ strategy. A snippet:
Pelosi’s power play — to deny Trump his night of pomp and circumstance, a night in which he asks the nation to accept the notion that he is somehow fit to be president, a night he would surely spend slamming Democrats for refusing to pony up the $5.7 billion for a border wall — won’t end the shutdown. But for someone who has dreamed of a full-on military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue as he watches from his seat of honor, Trump must be enraged. As I write this, I await the rage-tweets to come.
Follow the link for the rest.