Tag Archives: politics

What Kind of Con Man Do You Want?

By Robin Bates | Published: August 23, 2017

Gogol’s “Dead Souls” shows us two conmen, one who is a lot like our president, the other like various politicians (including Ryan, McConnell and Hillary Clinton). The boisterous and ineffective conman comes off better that the carefully calculating one.

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Trump as Miss Havisham

By Robin Bates | Published: August 2, 2017

Frank Bruni compares Donald Trump to Miss Havisham, forever fixated on November 8 before the rose lost its bloom. The GOP would do well to break free as Pip does.

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GOP “Moderates,” the Hollow Men

By Robin Bates | Published: July 28, 2017

Despite brave talk from a number of so-called Republican moderates, only Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins stood up to their party in an attempt to save healthcare. Time to read “The Hollow Men” again.

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Sly Marc Antony Resembles McConnell

By Robin Bates | Published: June 14, 2017

The Shakespeare-in-the-Park production of “Julius Caesar” has the Right up in arms about the image of Donald Trump being assassinated. The timeliest lesson of the play, however, is the way that Marc Antony slyly slides in to take power. Think of him as Mitch McConnell quietly preparing to repeal Obamacare and deprive millions of healthcare while the nation focuses on Senate hearings.

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Will Trump, Like Lear, Take Us All Down?

By Robin Bates | Published: May 30, 2017

“The Washington Post” recently found numerous parallels between Lear and our own president, with “his zigzagging proclamations, his grandiose promises, his spasmodic attachments.”

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Maybe Ryan Sees Trump as John Galt

By Robin Bates | Published: May 16, 2017

If Paul Ryan refuses to stand up to Donald Trump, it may be because he worships him as a John Galt figure.

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Using Doublethink To Sell Trumpcare

By Robin Bates | Published: May 9, 2017

House Republicans appear to be using Doublethink to sell their healthcare plan. If it works, there will be no stopping them.

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Swift’s Popularity with Today’s Students

By Robin Bates | Published: May 3, 2017

Students crowded into the gym to listen to the publisher of “The Onion.” It is therefore not surprising that they are also responding enthusiastically to Jonathan Swift. I share some of their thoughts on the satirist in today’s post.

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Milton’s Jesus vs. Trump’s Bombs

By Robin Bates | Published: April 19, 2017

Unfortunately centrists and liberals have been endorsing Trump’s bellicosity abroad. Milton’s Jesus in “Paradise Regained” would not approve.

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