Political Theatre category archive

Elie Mystal explains the Kavanaugh Doctrine and how it differs from the legal concept of “presumption of innocence.” An excerpt:

We are supposed to have state actors who understand the difference between their official functions and their private sensibilities. Unfortunately, a majority of white people decided to elect a chief executive who has a complete inability to distinguish between himself and his office, or his beliefs versus his responsibilities. Donald Trump doesn’t think he represents America, he thinks he’s the only person in America who matters. He doesn’t understand the presumption of innocence as a legal concept, he only thinks that if he thinks a person is innocent, everybody must agree with him: unless they can prove him wrong which they never can because he also doesn’t believe in facts.

Via Job’s Anger.

The coverage of local Virginia Beach races (mayor, city council, and school board) is really pretty bad to the point of being almost nonexistent, as the House and Senate campaigns are soaking up all the headlines. I am disappointed, but I cannot fault the Pilot; like most newspapers, it’s already struggling.

As for broadcast media, someone once said, “If it bleeds, it leads” (the weather corollary is, “if it hails, it prevails”). I have seen no evidence to dispute that statement.

Thanks to Caroline Rye (see the sidebar, over there —–>), I have learned of two places where you can learn more about those races: the WAVY website, which has a “Candidates” section, and the VOTE411 Project of the League of Women Voters (at the VOTE411 site, you will need to enter your address to see local races).

Remember that, even though some Virginia Beach races are “district races,” every Virginia Beach voter can vote for every city council and school board candidate, both “at large” and “district,” for reasons that go back to the formation of Virginia Beach in the merger of the Town of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County.

Shaun Mullen is an optimist.

Writing at Psychology Today Blogs, Adeena Bank Lees offers some suggestions for avoiding drowning in the flood of news (much of which isn’t news, but opinion, and often isn’t even new, but a rehash of a rehash of a rehash).

Here’s one (emphasis in the original):

4. Limit your time consuming all forms of media communications. If you have to set a timer, do it. Being informed about what is happening in our world is important, but being overwhelmed takes away our ability to act constructively.

Follow the link for her other suggestions.

Afterthought:

I would add one. If you depend on “social” media for news, don’t. Verify those tweets and Facebook posts at legitimate, accredited sources before you believe them and for heaven’s sakes before you forward them to others.

Twists and deception spread as fact are bait for the gullible.

The best defense is not to be gullible.

Oh, and speaking of gullible . . . .

Thom and his guest explore the twisted history of the phrases, the “American Dream” and “American first.”

Werner Herzog’s Bear looks at the spread of new Fascism (he calls it “Fascism 2.0”) and is not optimistic. Here’s a bit:

Fascism 2.0 has adapted to our modern world. It knows to avoid flagrant fascist symbolism and to cling to respectability. It knows that once you deny something, i.e., “I was NOT flashing a white power symbol,” the media will automatically report the controversy and give up on finding the truth. Fascism 2.0 is kicking Jean Marie Le Pen out of the party, but still espousing all of the old ideas. Fascism 2.0 uses the fringe nasties like neo-Nazis and Klansmen to pretend that it does not hold the same essential beliefs, that those hated groups are the “real fascists,” not the Stephen Millers of the world (who so clearly are.) It knows not to reach for absolute dictatorship, but to leave just enough wiggle room to say “see, people here have freedoms.”

Please do read the rest.

Via Juanita Jean.

In Wingnut World, “civility” is defined as not opposing Wingnut World.

Because you want to talk doesn’t mean anyone has to listen.

Via Job’s Anger.