Open Thread - Politics Plus

The idea here is to have a political discussion space which is not restricted in subject. Perhaps you'll have some political idea that occurs to you or perhaps you'll bump into a particularly compelling piece of political writing you'd like to share but don't want to toss it into some active thread dedicated to a particular topic - as most are. So here, we can talk politics and under that broad heading, you'll have licence to bring up anything at all.

Obviously, this could get a tad chaotic but that doesn't bother me much. Folks who wish to continue some theme can do so while others, who might not be interested in that theme, can input what they find interesting.

But let's expand the parameters a bit. Let's welcome humor. If you bump into something wonderfully witty or just knee-slappingly funny, by all means, please share. Perhaps you'll find a piece on an interesting archaeological discovery. That would turn my crank and maybe others' as well. But let's be
intellectually careful as we proceed. Let's link to source material and let's give support to assertions.

Here's what we won't want. Posts on cooking and recipes. This is an absolute. I simply won't have it.

Here's what else we won't want. Mean-spiritedness and personal attacks on other posters. Trolling will not be welcome at all. Let's agree to that as a primary process rule and let's also agree to put any violator on ignore. Give them a chance or maybe two, but then it's the guillotine.

As a beginning, let me link to an extraordinary essay by historian Rick Perlstein on the long-running and pervasive con that has and continues to mark the functions of the modern rightwing universe. Rick is a very bright, dedicated, hardworking and funny writer. I've linked this essay elsewhere but I encourage everyone to read it (semi-longish) carefully. It is worth your time and attention. http://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-long-con

But you don't have to start there. We're liberals because our bones are rubber and our brains are all sparkly.

Oh, and ps... I'm going to be very busy over the next while so you'll be mostly on your own until I'm done a task. But do dive in. I promise your mother won't be watching so you can, you know...