Political Theatre category archive
Bandwidth 0
Jim Wright, who had a career in intelligence work, theorizes as to why the American polity is vulnerable to dis- and misinformation. It is worth your while. Here’s a bit:
More powerful, more far-reaching, more scalable, more destructive to the very fabric of our society than any nuclear bomb.
This form of warfare is incredibly powerful, far more so than any other weapon – because it reaches directly into your mind and shapes how you see the world.
Information warfare is infinitely scalable, it can target a single individual, or the entire global population, it can target a single decision-maker, a government, a population, or alter the course of history.
For example: The president of this country watches a certain news/talk/infotainment show. Every day. Without fail. And that show, the information presented there, directly shapes how he sees the world. You can watch this happen daily in real-time. Those who control that show, has direct and immediate influence on the president, and thus on the country, and thus on a global scale. It is a astounding national security vulnerability. One our enemies are well, well aware of and one, a vulnerability that our own counter-intelligence people cannot plug due to the very nature of their own Commander-in-Chief.
This is unprecedented in our history.
Taylor-Made 0
My local rag digs into a story about a signature accomplishment.
Presidented and Unprecedented 0
Mike mulls the implications of thirteen former intelligence heads’ decision to sign a statement criticizing Donald Trump’s revocation of John Brennan’s security clearance (warning: language).
Fantastic Viewerage 0
At The Guardian, two Amherst professors imagine how today’s Republicans would respond if Donald Trump did, indeed, shoot someone (say, maybe, just for instance, Michael Cohen) on Fifth Avenue in plain view of passers-by. Here’s a snippet; follow the link for the rest:
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders:
Associated Press: “Ms Sanders, did the president shoot his former lawyer in an effort to stop him from testifying against the president?”
Sarah Sanders: “No, he did not.”
AP: “Are you saying that the shooting was not motivated by Mr Cohen’s recent plea deal, or rather that the president did not shoot him?”
SHS: “You’ve got my answer, Jim. No, no, no.”
AP: “Ms Sanders, I’m still not clear what –”
SHS: “The answer is no. No as in no. N. O. It’s these kinds of questions that have turned the American people against the press.”
Via Juanita Jean.
Married to the Mob 0
Field describes a match made in Manhattan.
Bewitched 0
In the context of considering the statements of the Manafort juror who spoke to Fox News, Kathryn Rubino calls out the weird “logic” of those who have convinced themselves that Donald Trump and his Trumpettes are somehow the victims of a “witch hunt”
(Missing link fixed.)
Clouds of Witless 0
Shorter Shuan Mullen: Know them by the company they keep.
“They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Bobby Azarian explores how the Dunning-Kruger Effect may help Bolster Donald Trump’s support. A snippet (emphasis added; follow the link for the rest):
These findings are fascinating but equally troubling. How do you combat ignorance when the ignorant believe themselves to be knowledgeable? Even worse, how do you fight it when America is becoming increasingly polarized, which certainly increases the salience of partisan identities?
(snip)
This effect may help explain why certain Trump supporters seem to be so easily tricked into believing proven falsehoods when the president delivers what have become known as “alternative facts,” often using language designed to activate partisan identities. Because they lack knowledge but are confident that they do not, they are less likely than others to actually fact-check the claims that the President makes.
Add the white-wing proganda machine, and voila!, Donald Trump.
“All the President’s Men” 0
Shaun Mullen discusses the implications of Michael Cohen’s copping a plea.
A Legend Comes to Life 0
A tale of ancient Greece materializes in modern dress.
A Request:
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What Is Truth? Reprise 0
Steven M. argues that, for the right-wing, truth is not a thing. A snippet:
Follow the link to see the evidence he adduces for that statement.
