anti-theatricality in politics (muscle memory posting)

Ever the performer, President Trump has lately been putting on a show of indifference.

…..Beneath all that bluster and makeup, he’s sweating.

-          Frank Bruni

 

The NYT sees itself not as a defender of journalistic principles or a champion of democratic values, but rather a theater critic for political actors.

There are no real-world consequences here, no pain or suffering for the common people who aren't in their social circles. It's just a parlor game

-          Kevin M. Kruse

 

 

[to Sec. of “War” Hegseth]

You’re an actor.  You’re playing Secdef.  At least try to play a good one

-          Adam Kinzinger

 

Everything is operatic emotion and bitter grievance. Politicians fail to recognize and adjust for that at their peril.

-  Frank Bruni

 

Frank Bruni / Bret Stephens dialogue, NY Times

Bruni: It’s called seizing a big, fat opportunity. Between Trump’s disgraced former labor secretary, disgraceful health secretary, demented F.B.I. director and bottomlessly avaricious brood of children, it’s as if all the president’s minions are staging some opera buffa about the Seven Deadly Sins, with different cast members jockeying for different depredations. I call gluttony! You’re doing envy.

Stephens: Pete Hegseth alone could audition for wrath, lust, pride and verbal flatulence.

 

  

 So Trump gave a speech today at the Villages in Florida. I just watched it so you wouldn't have to. You're welcome.

…. It's so bizarre how he's always talking about his people coming "from central casting." He constantly brags that people in his administration and cabinet are from central casting. He's more impressed with what they look like than what they can or can't do. (Like it's some kind of fucked up beauty pageant or something. Very strange.)

… The funniest thing about Dr. Phil coming on stage was when Trump introduced him and called him up he told him to speak no longer than 2 minutes. Then Phil went on for much longer than 2 minutes and Trump was standing behind him giving him dirty looks and swaying back and forth.

…. It's always disturbing to watch him at these things, but what was even more disturbing today was the audience cheering on every lie and fucked up thing he said. It was a pretty small audience today tho and he kept talking about all of the "front row Joes" and others who go to every one of his rallies who were there today. So the real audience was even smaller. Of course Trump claimed that the small room and small crowd didn't mean anything because there was an "overflow arena full to the limit" and "thousands of people watching on monitors outside." He had to lie because clearly the small crowd upset him. I just love that for him.

-          Mindy Fischer