Political Theatre category archive
Responsible Fiscals 0
Donald Trump proposes to run the United States the same way he ran the Trump Taj.
His campaign staff is trying to un-say it.
There are no clown shoes big enough . . . .
How long before this sort of idiocy becomes the new normal?
Purists, Reprise 0
John Aravosis takes on the Bernie purists. A snippet:
He’s quite correct.
Elections are not about purity, they are about winning. I say to the purists, “Grow up and vote in the real world. It’s the only world we have.”
Follow the link for the whole thing. It’s worth your while.
T(TP) Party 0
Governments who wish to snoop on their citizenry are fond of expressing the thought that, if you have nothing to hide, you won’t mind the intrusion (which is a fallacy, natch; some things should be private because they are nobody else’s damn business). Just for grins and giggles, let’s suppose the reasoning is valid and ask, does it cut both ways?
Read a bit of Trevor Timm’s remarks about the negotiations for the TTP and TTIP trade deals:
What progressive champion Senator Elizabeth Warren said then is even more true now: “If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States.”
Follow the link for much, much more.
Eyes on the Prize 0
Alfred Doblin doesn’t think much of Cracker Jacks’s new prizes, which will require access to either an Android or iJunk device to use, for Pete’s sake, or of what they may indicate. A snippet:
A 5-year-old boy should not need a smartphone and app to delight in a cheap prize. The prize was never the actual thing; it was in the unwrapping of the thing, the discovery of it, the touch and feel of it.
Take that away and we are diminished as people. We see a bunch of angry Americans pushing police cars not because of racial injustice, but because they dislike Donald Trump, and we call that “chaos.” We witness a tidal wave of refugees who want nothing more than a chance to live and we call that none of our business.
The Scalias of Justice 0
Dick Polman reports that some conservatives are now singing, “Gather ye Garlands while ye may.“
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
(Warning: Pap has been feeling the Bern. Take what he says about Hillary Clinton and down-ballot candidates with a grain or maybe even a whole damn lick of salt.)
Shaun Mullen offers his own take on the role of the media. Here’s a snippet:
Did Not! Did Too! Did Not! Did Too! 0
The Guardian looks in on the circular firing squad: Republicans attempting to figure out who’s to blame for Trump.
This is the same bunch who have spent the last eight years pandering to the worst of America. They shouldn’t be surprised that, now, they’ve got it.
P. M. 0
Ed, at Gin and Tacos, reflects on the Republican Trumpocalyse. It’s a biting summary.
Here’s how he concludes it; follow the link to see why:
He’s quite correct, you know.
Style over Substance Something or Other
0
Now that Ted Cruz is off the island, I reckon that the Republican Party is now officially the reality show party, which prompts the question, is the Republican Party most akin to Survivor or Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo?
I’m voting for Honey Boo-Boo.
Will Bunch tries to figure it out. Here’s a bit from his post (follow the link for the rest):
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Plus Ca Change 0
Brian Greenspun points out that history matters.
In a related thought, I am somewhat bemused by the spectacle of Charles Krauthammer, David Brooks, Cal Thomas, George Will, and their like agonizing over the rise of Donald Trump. This is the same lot that has twisted itself into pretzels to justify everything Republican, however noxious, for 30 years or more (see Exhibits A-Z).
In the words of the Who, I say to them, “Look in the mirror, boy.”
Hope Springs Eternal 0
Michael Smerconish refuses to learn from experience. Column ensues.