My responsibilities to my Gentle Readers are more extensive than you might imagine. Yes, I’m here to provide analysis and commentary. Yes, I’m here to dissect the statements of others who don’t always express themselves clearly. But alongside those duties, I’m also here to pull the wool off your eyes – to tell you, …
Category: rhetoric
May 25 2022
There Are Days…
…when I want to pick up the entire political class by its lapels and shake it until its brains start to work. Like today: ‘I have news for the embarrassment that claims to be our President — try to take our guns and you’ll learn why the Second Amendment was written in the …
May 22 2022
The War Of The Words
Yes, the title has been used by others. But the motif is critical to political combat in our time. Words are weapons. Words are tools. Define or be defined! — Michael Emerling I read in this morning’s news sweep that a Republican Congresswoman, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), has introduced a “Women’s Rights” …
Mar 05 2022
Targets
If you need a demonstration of just how little intelligence, candor, and personal integrity are required to win a high public office, just look here: I totally forgot Bernie existed. And then I saw THIS gem today: We talk about being a divided nation. In many ways, that’s true. But, in some …
Feb 20 2022
Capitalism: The Order Of Execution
Forgive me, Gentle Reader. Because of the graphic above, which I found over at 90 Miles From Tyranny, my memory has assaulted me again, and so I find that I must do a terrible thing. How terrible it is, I shall leave for you to decide. About thirty-five years ago, Long Island’s regional …
Feb 06 2022
Censorings And Shapings
‘I don’t understand your viewpoint,’ she said. ‘You broke his nose, yet he had done you no harm of any sort. You expect me to approve that?’ ‘But Persephone,’ he protested, ‘you ignore the fact that he called me a most insulting name.’ ‘I don’t see the connection,’ she said. ‘He made …
Dec 20 2021
Shibboleths And Scare Talk
Political talk is mostly hot air, of course. Among other influences, politicians almost unanimously regard their own voices as the sweetest sound in the universe. They’ll fill whatever space is provided to them with as much blather as they can get away with – and it won’t necessarily mean anything in particular. So …