Ok, it has been a long time since I last blogged, but my life in the past year has been a bit crazy and disjointed. Furthermore, I have found the current political climate so depressing that I have had difficulty talking about. I keep in touch with current events, but
Continue readingAuthor: Kirby Evans
kirbycairo: Autocrats, dictators, and our Dynastic age. . . .
It seems to me that one of the most troubling aspects of political culture is the remarkable tendency for autocrats and dictators to garner large amounts of public support regardless of how corrupt, or even murderous, they are. Even in my own lifetime I am sure I can think of
Continue readingkirbycairo: When John Dean accuses you of a "Cover-up," you’ve got a real Problem. . .
Few people have as intimate a knowledge of political cover-ups as counselor to Richard Nixon John Dean. If you haven’t already seen it, watch as Dean describes the Trump presidency in full-on “cover-up” mode. There is little question in my mind now that Trump has already committed multiple impeachable offences,
Continue readingkirbycairo: Trump is giving Rich, Corrupt, White men a Bad Name. . .
I find it very interesting that hundreds of Congressional hours (as well as the efforts of a special prosecutor) over a period of more than 20 years, were devoted to the Republican effort to discredit and indict the Clintons. And after all that effort the only thing anyone was able
Continue readingkirbycairo: Trump is giving Rich, Corrupt, White men a Bad Name. . .
I find it very interesting that hundreds of Congressional hours (as well as the efforts of a special prosecutor) over a period of more than 20 years, were devoted to the Republican effort to discredit and indict the Clintons. And after all that effort the only thing anyone was able
Continue readingkirbycairo: The Smoke and Mirrors of the Right. . . .
If you view this video of Michael Moore appearing on CNN, you can see some of the confusion concerning what the Trump phenomenon really means. In this video Moore refers to Trump and his cadre as “economic nationalists.” But then moments later he insists that they are trying to “deconstruct”
Continue readingkirbycairo: The Smoke and Mirrors of the Right. . . .
If you view this video of Michael Moore appearing on CNN, you can see some of the confusion concerning what the Trump phenomenon really means. In this video Moore refers to Trump and his cadre as “economic nationalists.” But then moments later he insists that they are trying to “deconstruct”
Continue readingkirbycairo: Trump: from Cry-Baby populist to Paragon of the Establishment . .. .
Populist movements in Western democracies generally don’t last long. Instead they usually morph quickly into their own version of the establishment. I think that the reason for the short lived populist aspect of a political movement is reasonably simple. Populist movements are expressions of anger, discontent, and fear rather than
Continue readingkirbycairo: Trump: from Cry-Baby populist to Paragon of the Establishment . .. .
Populist movements in Western democracies generally don’t last long. Instead they usually morph quickly into their own version of the establishment. I think that the reason for the short lived populist aspect of a political movement is reasonably simple. Populist movements are expressions of anger, discontent, and fear rather than
Continue readingkirbycairo: The White House Inc. (a division of Trump Enterprises) . . .
I think that one of the most fascinating aspects of the Trump presidency thus far is the general confusion that is generated by the blurring of lines between the private and the public (or one might say “strictly” political) aspects of the Trump White House. I think that many mainstream
Continue readingkirbycairo: The White House Inc. (a division of Trump Enterprises) . . .
I think that one of the most fascinating aspects of the Trump presidency thus far is the general confusion that is generated by the blurring of lines between the private and the public (or one might say “strictly” political) aspects of the Trump White House. I think that many mainstream
Continue readingkirbycairo: White Privilege and Moral Indignation. . .
I am disappointed about recent political/social events. Ok, disappointment is far too week a word. Perhaps existential dread is a better word for my prevailing emotion. But then I think to myself, if I feel so overwhelmed by these events, what must racialized and marginalized people be feeling? I am
Continue readingkirbycairo: White Privilege and Moral Indignation. . .
I am disappointed about recent political/social events. Ok, disappointment is far too week a word. Perhaps existential dread is a better word for my prevailing emotion. But then I think to myself, if I feel so overwhelmed by these events, what must racialized and marginalized people be feeling? I am
Continue readingkirbycairo: History is long, and so is the Struggle. . .
I believe it was Georg Friedrich Hegel who first opined that “we learn from history that we don’t learn from history.” And I admit that it certainly looks that way sometimes. But the arc of our learning is, unfortunately, extremely gradual and it often seems, for us who live such
Continue readingkirbycairo: History is long, and so is the Struggle. . .
I believe it was Georg Friedrich Hegel who first opined that “we learn from history that we don’t learn from history.” And I admit that it certainly looks that way sometimes. But the arc of our learning is, unfortunately, extremely gradual and it often seems, for us who live such
Continue readingkirbycairo: We Will Not Normalize Authoritarianism. . .
I think that one of the most important things to remember, particularly for our American cousins, in these troubled times, is that Donald Trump is only in the White House because of an antiquated electoral system. The very simple fact is that a not insignificant majority (by US electoral standards)
Continue readingkirbycairo: We Will Not Normalize Authoritarianism. . .
I think that one of the most important things to remember, particularly for our American cousins, in these troubled times, is that Donald Trump is only in the White House because of an antiquated electoral system. The very simple fact is that a not insignificant majority (by US electoral standards)
Continue readingkirbycairo: A Hurricane is Coming. . .
I haven’t blogged since Trump lost the vote but won the election. Like many people, I have been disheartened. But I have been disheartened before, and I had very little faith in humanity to begin with. But at this point it all seems so absurd, so surreal, that blogging seems
Continue readingkirbycairo: A Hurricane is Coming. . .
I haven’t blogged since Trump lost the vote but won the election. Like many people, I have been disheartened. But I have been disheartened before, and I had very little faith in humanity to begin with. But at this point it all seems so absurd, so surreal, that blogging seems
Continue readingkirbycairo: Will the US slip into Fascism?
Well, we survived another long American political campaign and tomorrow it will (we hope) all be over. I believe it is pretty simple, people who are voting for Trump are crazy and/or stupid. At this point I really don’t know how to sugarcoat it. This is a racist, misogynistic, profoundly
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