Category Archives: Politics

From The Political Campaign

Posted on April 8, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Yesterday, DougJ wrote, in a post called “I Am Glad Michael Kelly Is Dead”: Of course, when some establishment asshole dies, the serious people tell us that we’re monsters if we say we’re glad they’re dead. When some asshole they … Continue reading →

Posted in History, News and Current Events, Politics | Leave a comment

Semantic Infiltration

Posted on April 4, 2013 by dedc79

Back in Poison Your Mind’s early days, I wrote about the way Republicans used poll-tested words to reframe political debates.  (Former Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan aptly described this tactic as “semantic infiltration.”)  My target at the time was the word “entitlements”: … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health Care, History, Politics | 4 Comments

But We’ve Got The Biggest Gods Of Them All

Posted on April 3, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

This should certainly impress any omniscient beings who happen to be in the neighborhood. Who could care about a little thing like the Constitution in comparison? A bill filed by Republican lawmakers would allow North Carolina to declare an official … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | Leave a comment

All-Powerful Pipsqueak

Posted on April 1, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

So yesterday there was much sturm und drang from the right, from people upset that Google had a picture of labor organizer Cesar Chavez up on Cesar Chavez Day rather than a cartoon of a bunny or whatever to celebrate … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | 1 Comment

Sincerity is everything. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.

Posted on March 31, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

DougJ writes a lengthy post on David Brooks, concluding: Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin sell gold and guns. David Brooks sells tote-bags and books. Mutatis mutandis, they’re exactly the same. Brings to mind an old McSweeney’s post: I have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Media analysis, News and Current Events, Politics | Leave a comment

Thinking Things Through

Posted on March 30, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Paul Krugman gets back to first principles: In general, market disequilibrium is a sign of prices out of whack; and most people commenting on our mess accept the notion that one or more prices are for some reason not adjusting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, News and Current Events | Leave a comment

I Mean No Disrespect, But Alaskans Are Morons

Posted on March 29, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

They sure can pick ‘em up there: “During a sit down interview with Ketchikan Public Radio this week, I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California,” Rep. Don Young … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | 6 Comments

Everywhere Is War Against Gay Marriage

Posted on March 27, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/316936193495400449 (Sometimes Tweet embedding doesn’t work, so, to repeat, Erick Erickson wrote: “You’re not really loving your neighbor when you’re cool with him staying on the road to hell.”) Being raised post-religious, I used to wonder growing up how genuinely … Continue reading →

Posted in History, News and Current Events, Politics | 2 Comments

Conservative And Republican Proposals To Improve The Economy

Posted on March 27, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

The absence of rational conservatism– even from well-credentialed folks– flows from our polarization, and the (related) absorption of the GOP into the infotainment industry. As I noted in a brief examination of our real-life economic context a little while back, ”Of course, in real life, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, News and Current Events, Politics | 18 Comments

Deviationist Tendencies On The Right

Posted on March 23, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Fox isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions: During a roundtable discussion on Friday, Fox News’ Lou Dobbs agreed with a network contributor who argued that Americans need to access military-style assault weapons to protect themselves from an Iranian invasion. … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | 2 Comments

If only we got to run against both

Posted on March 22, 2013 by nickgb

File under “Awesome What-If Scenarios“: As Mitt Romney struggled in the weeks leading up to the Michigan primary, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum nearly agreed to form a joint “Unity Ticket” to consolidate conservative support and topple Romney. “We were … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 | 1 Comment

The Juice Ain’t Worth the Squeeze

Posted on March 18, 2013 by dedc79

I gave up long ago on hopes that the chief architects of the Bush Administration’s war with Iraq would show the slightest bit of contrition for that debacle.  They either are entirely unapologetic or offer what I’ll call the “non apology apology.” Exhibit 1: … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy, News and Current Events | 4 Comments

Marco Rubio As The Future Of The Republican Party

Posted on March 15, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Deep thinkin’ from the folks at CPAC: Marco Rubio, whose speech didn’t mention immigration and could be summed up in the line that garnered the largest applause–the GOP doesn’t need new ideas, “there is an idea, the idea is America, … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | 2 Comments

Proud To Be A Mississippian, Where At Least I Know I’m Fat

Posted on March 12, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Policy innovations from the South, involving centralized state control over local governments: Mississippi — where about one in three adults is at least 30 pounds heavier than a healthy weight — isn’t on board with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | 6 Comments

Republicans High On Their Own Supply

Posted on March 11, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

I’ve mentioned before that there’s been a complete breakdown between GOP sloganeering and what its elites say and do. This has also come to the attention of renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson: Dr. Tyson said, “I don’t think the country’s … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events, Politics | Leave a comment

Birth Of A New CW

Posted on March 9, 2013 by reflectionephemeral

Reposted from last March. As a kid in the 80s and 90s, I remember hearing the stereotype that Democrats were constantly divided and weakened, beholden to militant pressure groups that led them to support irrational, counterproductive policies. No idea how … Continue reading →

Posted in History, News and Current Events, Politics | Leave a comment

You’ve Got it Entirely Backwards

Posted on March 7, 2013 by dedc79

Senator McCain lashed out at Senator Rand Paul for yesterday’s 13 hour filibuster: “What we saw yesterday is going to give ammunition to those critics who say that the rules of the Senate are being abused,” he said on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Politics | 3 Comments

Ohio Smackdown

Posted on March 6, 2013 by dedc79

Former Congressman and ex-con Bob Ney is out with a new book.  I’m pretty sure John Boehner is not going to like this book: Ney’s most dramatic accusations are against his fellow Ohioan John Boehner,  the man he once saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments