Author Archives: politicaloptic

Putinphilia on the American Right

Posted on July 29, 2017

Trump’s adoration for Putin is not an anomaly in today’s American politics. Such at least is the gist of Jeremy Peters’ recent article in the New York Times , which shows that figures on the American right have been lauding … Continue reading →

Posted in alt-right, conservatism, culture war, politics of extremism, Religious Right | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why the Left Excels at Political Humor and the Right Not So Much

Posted on June 25, 2017

It is almost a cliché that political humor is owned by the left. One can’t help but be bowled over by the number of liberal-leaning comedians sucking up oxygen on the airwaves. For a long while it was people like … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, conservatism, liberalism, media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump-Nixon Parallels: Is History Repeating Itself?

Posted on May 25, 2017

In the unfolding inquiry into the Trump campaign’s Russian connections, one can’t help but see Trump-Nixon parallels. Trump’s firing of James Comey in the middle of an ongoing investigation bears obvious similarities with Nixon’s firing of Watergate investigator Archibald Cox. Not only do we … Continue reading →

Posted in political strategy, populism, Trump administration, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Asymmetric Warfare: How Is It Working for Trump?

Posted on March 31, 2017

As two recent commentators have observed, Trump is a master of asymmetric warfare. Asymmetric warfare is a term used to describe tactics adopted by a weaker force against a stronger one, normally in a military setting. The typical example is of a guerrilla … Continue reading →

Posted in political strategy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will Trump Exploit a Terrorist Attack for His Own Ends?

Posted on February 26, 2017

Because Trump’s tweets are spontaneous, they provide a useful indicator–a kind of Rohrschack Test–of his fundamental instincts. One recent tweet, reacting to the Federal Court’s  blockade of his immigration executive order, was nothing less than a wake-up call for concerned Americans. Trump tweeted: “Just … Continue reading →

Posted in media, political rhetoric, politics of extremism, Trump administration | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hillbilly Elegy: J. D. Vance’s Personal Take on White Working-Class America

Posted on January 31, 2017

J.D. Vance’s recent book, Hillbilly Elegy, puts a spotlight on the crisis of white working-class America. It is a memoir of a young man who grew up in a culture of poverty and dysfunction but who, with a little help and some grit, eventually … Continue reading →

Posted in book review | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Some Questions for Betsy DeVos

Posted on January 7, 2017

Everyone has a right to their own opinions. This statement applies to billionaire Republican Betsy DeVos as much as any American. Nonetheless, Mrs. DeVos’s record as an aggressive lobbyist of tax-subsidized private education and her open hostility to public schools raises obvious questions about her qualifications to … Continue reading →

Posted in education, privatization, Trump administration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment