Political Theatre category archive

There is no such thing as a “humane” execution.

Most of the time, folks are sentenced to death, not because of what they have done, but because of who they are.

Certainly, the argument can be made that some deeds are so heinous that their perpetrators forfeit the right to live amongst society–I’ve made that argument myself–but I have realized that, until and unless the justice system stops getting it wrong over and over and over, the death penalty must end.

Via Alternet.

Take Dick Polman’s quiz on Hilary Derangement Syndrome.

My two or three regular readers will recall I was no fan of how she conducted her campaign in 2008, but I believe she redeemed herself with her conduct subsequent to the 2008 Democratic Convention and her competent and honorable service as Secretary of State.

Amanda Marcotte thinks the has found a method in the mads. Emphasis added:

It’s the libertarian thing: Paul gets fussy and starts throwing his pacifiers any time someone prods him over what exactly he means by this “libertarian” thing. Whether it’s when they’re prodding to find out where his supposed libertarianism conflicts with the Republican Party platform or whether it’s when they’re exposing the hypocrisy of a “libertarian” who opposes abortion rights and legalized same-sex marriage, Paul gets angry and insists that their job is to simply glide over any of these friction points.

In other words, Paul wants his “libertarianism” to be a cipher. He wants you to believe he’s a freedom-loving freedom freedomer, but doesn’t want you to actually know what he means by that, but instead to just assume that whatever his views are, they must align exactly with yours. As a strategy, it’s actually pretty smart. Paul wants younger, more independent voters to think he’s a different kind of Republican but he also wants older, more religious voters to think he’s the same kind of gay-hating, woman-suppressing Republican they prefer to vote for.

One more time: A Libertarian is a Republican who is ashamed to admit it.

Part One:

Part Two:

Via Kos.

Daniel Ruth eagerly anticipates Mario Rubio’s announcing his candidacy for the Presidency:

Unlike some of his opponents, Rubio can point to a significant piece of legislation he proposed that would have addressed sweeping immigration reform. Bold. Visionary. Courageous. That’s the good news.

But Rubio turned and ran away from his own bill — immigration reform, what immigration reform? — once the tea party crowd started getting all twitchy. Now there’s a profile in quivering for you. And this guy thinks he can stare down Vladimir Putin?

Via Job’s Anger.

Via Juanita Jean.

There’s a new outlet for teabaggery in Minnesota that calls itself Alpha News. Michael Brodkorb reports that they have already prepared themselves for any allegations that their news is made-up news.

In a post for the Star Tribune last month, I wrote about the mysterious launch of Alpha News. The first news of Alpha News came from a post by the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance on Facebook. Many of the initial news stories from Alpha News covered issues which have been advocated by the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance.

Please do not be surprised or concerned, as according to the “Website Terms and Conditions of Use Agreement” for Alpha News, “Alpha News is not responsible for the content of postings and comments” on Alpha News.

Follow the link. It’s get better.

Afterthought:

This Alpha will never make it to beta.

No, we’re not.

Jon Stewart discusses Sam Brownback’s efforts to create a Galtian Paradise in Kansas.

Below the fold in case it autoplays.

Read more »

Emily Badger explores the recent spate of laws, like these, designed to shame and punish the poor for being poor, and tries to understand why persons go for them. A snippet:

Political scientist Suzanne Mettler has called this effect the “submerged state.” Food stamps and welfare checks are incredibly visible government benefits. The mortgage interest deduction, Medicare benefits and tuition tax breaks are not — they’re submerged. They come to us in round-about ways, through smaller tax bills (or larger refunds), through payments we don’t have to make to doctors (thanks to Medicare), or in tuition we don’t have to pay to universities (because the G.I. Bill does that for us).

Mettler’s research has shown that a remarkable number of people who don’t think they get anything from government in fact benefit from one of these programs. This explains why we get election-season soundbites from confused voters who want policymakers to “keep your government hands off my Medicare!” This is also what enables politicians to gin up indignation among small-government supporters who don’t realize they rely on government themselves.

Thom discusses the performance theatre.

One more time: a Libertarian is a Republican who’s ashamed to admit it.