This title “A show about nothing,' or running on empty?” definitely captures the state of McConnell and the Republican Party.
About Mitch (Moscow Mitch, the grim reaper) McConnell, Fran Lebowitz described him very well as shameful and shameless. Fran Lebowitz is straight talk no chaser, she tells you like it is and this is what I love about her.
Here’s what I think about McConnell: he is very manipulative and very strategic with his agenda (or rather, no agenda).
About GQP: let me talk like your esteemed guest, Michael Steele, it’s all about the power, baby😃. All GQP members and leaders just want the power and to hell with democracy and working for the American people. They are not conservatives anymore but fully blown authoritarians.
At least Seinfeld made us laugh. The GOP makes us cringe with disbelief and disgust. The unbelievable tactics they are using to destroy our democracy is criminal. Our country is in real danger and some lawmakers don't seem to care. God help us.🙏
At this point, "not standing for anything" *is* what the GOP stands for. Which is sad. Are the Republicans with ideas even running anymore? It seems like the current members of Congress are either a) sucking up to Trump; or b) keeping quiet to get re-elected.
Seinfeld succeeded by being character-driven comedy. American politics has also become character-driven, so ideas are unnecessary. The right’s base is heavily invested in stagnation because socioeconomic evolution is scary (if you’re poor) or inconvenient (if you have power.) If your platform is built on standing still (and forcing that on everyone else), ideas are antithetical.
They are always playing their "part" for their base, knowing that it's what their supporters want to hear. The GOP have become the party of unstable characters.
Hi Ari! Thank you for this great article! I think it is time for a lot of these old men to go home instead of staying in office to make our lives miserable and blocking progress because they don't want President Biden to succeed. Good night handsome!
Wow, lots to think about here. One thought that came to mind…. maybe they have nothing to run on b/c half of their party are ticking time bombs. They go around putting out fires.
But in some ways it is a show about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer (not a hip hop song, but from an older tune). And running on a moral code empty of empathy and compassion is what works for a portion of the population that believes they will be 'replaced' as articulated by Camus. While their platform shows nothing, their ability to incite violence and hate is effectively 'running' the Trumpean Republicans who do not deserve their party positions.
Amazing piece, Ari. I had to read it twice it was so rich. Perfect description and analysis of a very sad state of affairs. Is this what it looks like when the pendulum swings in the opposite direction from past progress? Feels like we’re living in an unending episode of Twilight Zone. I’d give anything for us to be in an episode of Seinfeld right now.
A 'show about nothing' has devastating implications beyond McConnell; in its current form and operation it encompasses both the complex electoral system and the collective electorate. Over time, the electorate has enabled the system to become what it is. In a two-party system, the losing party ideally functions similar to one [or more] in a parliamentary system: as opposition to the one in power, but also invested in/with concern, achievement and good government for the people governed. That duality has been twisted, fractured and lost with GOP exercising only virulent opposition, intent to diminish, smear and destroy the governing party. Our system of justice operates within an adversarial system, yet rules govern and judges and appeal courts oversee and police it. Politics depends on a gathering of individual ethics, philisophy and policies and/or programs [when offered], voted on and in by citizens to serve. Unwritten rules, conventions, traditions may exist and be respected and observed - or not - depending upon political leadership, individual ethics, sense of fairness, desire for public good, or alternatively, may use the system as a vehicle for personal power, financial gain, social stature, revenge, or complex combinations. Culture intrudes also. Where "success" and "winning" are elevated and rewarded, politics adopts sporting vernacular with perpetual emphasis on cycle and contest. Familial culture may impact voter choice and loyalty, without close voter attention to behavior in office. Neither party has clean hands, but in recent years the GOP have moved into extremist territory. They were given de facto permission by voters as Mitch McConnell incrementally, wilfully, smugly, smoothly tore up basic fairness in denying the Garland nomination for the same bogus reason he ruthlessly jettisoned within a much shorter time period on the Coney Barrett nomination. Countless other unfair, unethical tactics have been executed, too many to cite. America has a complex electoral system within a federal system in which states operate as nation states. Policing of the political system is done by voters through the ballot during elections. I'll end with a plea that citizens please pay closer attention to politics, to the players and the system which governs them, and become frequent consumers of news reported without slant or bias.
The Republicans offer no ideas. When they had full control of both houses of Congress they failed to present an infrastructure bill or a heath care bill, both of which were promised. The Republicans only seem to be concerned about putting money in the pockets of the wealthy. Which leads to the question, why do so many middle and lower class people still support the Republicans? that is the mystery.
Hi Ari! Thank you for this great article! I think it is time for a lot of these old men to go home instead of staying in office to make our lives miserable and blocking progress because they don't want President Biden to succeed. Good night handsome!
This title “A show about nothing,' or running on empty?” definitely captures the state of McConnell and the Republican Party.
About Mitch (Moscow Mitch, the grim reaper) McConnell, Fran Lebowitz described him very well as shameful and shameless. Fran Lebowitz is straight talk no chaser, she tells you like it is and this is what I love about her.
Here’s what I think about McConnell: he is very manipulative and very strategic with his agenda (or rather, no agenda).
About GQP: let me talk like your esteemed guest, Michael Steele, it’s all about the power, baby😃. All GQP members and leaders just want the power and to hell with democracy and working for the American people. They are not conservatives anymore but fully blown authoritarians.
At least Seinfeld made us laugh. The GOP makes us cringe with disbelief and disgust. The unbelievable tactics they are using to destroy our democracy is criminal. Our country is in real danger and some lawmakers don't seem to care. God help us.🙏
true, Seinfeld was funnier than anything in politics these days
👍
At this point, "not standing for anything" *is* what the GOP stands for. Which is sad. Are the Republicans with ideas even running anymore? It seems like the current members of Congress are either a) sucking up to Trump; or b) keeping quiet to get re-elected.
Seinfeld succeeded by being character-driven comedy. American politics has also become character-driven, so ideas are unnecessary. The right’s base is heavily invested in stagnation because socioeconomic evolution is scary (if you’re poor) or inconvenient (if you have power.) If your platform is built on standing still (and forcing that on everyone else), ideas are antithetical.
Important point, about how too much focusing on characters - politics as entertainment - can reinforce or worsen these other wider trends.
They are always playing their "part" for their base, knowing that it's what their supporters want to hear. The GOP have become the party of unstable characters.
Hi Ari! Thank you for this great article! I think it is time for a lot of these old men to go home instead of staying in office to make our lives miserable and blocking progress because they don't want President Biden to succeed. Good night handsome!
Wow, lots to think about here. One thought that came to mind…. maybe they have nothing to run on b/c half of their party are ticking time bombs. They go around putting out fires.
But in some ways it is a show about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer (not a hip hop song, but from an older tune). And running on a moral code empty of empathy and compassion is what works for a portion of the population that believes they will be 'replaced' as articulated by Camus. While their platform shows nothing, their ability to incite violence and hate is effectively 'running' the Trumpean Republicans who do not deserve their party positions.
Amazing piece, Ari. I had to read it twice it was so rich. Perfect description and analysis of a very sad state of affairs. Is this what it looks like when the pendulum swings in the opposite direction from past progress? Feels like we’re living in an unending episode of Twilight Zone. I’d give anything for us to be in an episode of Seinfeld right now.
The GOP does have ideas and a platform- autocratic racist homophobic anti science anti education pro fetus platform
A 'show about nothing' has devastating implications beyond McConnell; in its current form and operation it encompasses both the complex electoral system and the collective electorate. Over time, the electorate has enabled the system to become what it is. In a two-party system, the losing party ideally functions similar to one [or more] in a parliamentary system: as opposition to the one in power, but also invested in/with concern, achievement and good government for the people governed. That duality has been twisted, fractured and lost with GOP exercising only virulent opposition, intent to diminish, smear and destroy the governing party. Our system of justice operates within an adversarial system, yet rules govern and judges and appeal courts oversee and police it. Politics depends on a gathering of individual ethics, philisophy and policies and/or programs [when offered], voted on and in by citizens to serve. Unwritten rules, conventions, traditions may exist and be respected and observed - or not - depending upon political leadership, individual ethics, sense of fairness, desire for public good, or alternatively, may use the system as a vehicle for personal power, financial gain, social stature, revenge, or complex combinations. Culture intrudes also. Where "success" and "winning" are elevated and rewarded, politics adopts sporting vernacular with perpetual emphasis on cycle and contest. Familial culture may impact voter choice and loyalty, without close voter attention to behavior in office. Neither party has clean hands, but in recent years the GOP have moved into extremist territory. They were given de facto permission by voters as Mitch McConnell incrementally, wilfully, smugly, smoothly tore up basic fairness in denying the Garland nomination for the same bogus reason he ruthlessly jettisoned within a much shorter time period on the Coney Barrett nomination. Countless other unfair, unethical tactics have been executed, too many to cite. America has a complex electoral system within a federal system in which states operate as nation states. Policing of the political system is done by voters through the ballot during elections. I'll end with a plea that citizens please pay closer attention to politics, to the players and the system which governs them, and become frequent consumers of news reported without slant or bias.
Hi Hubby our the snowflakes boowhoin agan. You really are an amazing young man. Thank you for your continued journalism 🙏😘😊🥰😏
The Republicans offer no ideas. When they had full control of both houses of Congress they failed to present an infrastructure bill or a heath care bill, both of which were promised. The Republicans only seem to be concerned about putting money in the pockets of the wealthy. Which leads to the question, why do so many middle and lower class people still support the Republicans? that is the mystery.
Hi Ari! After watching the Beat, the evening, I just want to tell you that you are and amazing young man and incredible good -looking!
Hi Ari! Thank you for this great article! I think it is time for a lot of these old men to go home instead of staying in office to make our lives miserable and blocking progress because they don't want President Biden to succeed. Good night handsome!