Mick Ellis
@mick-ellis.bsky.social
Sub-editing, politics, media, sports psychology, surfing, Magpies, Daoism (order varies, weather related).
There's something in this idea that Americans replace presidents with their polar opposites, personality wise. Exact same thing happens with football clubs and their sacked coaches.
"Whatever happened to judging people on character, competence, or both? And why on earth choose someone who has neither?"
Goodbye, Good Governance. Hello, Insane Promises.
The Biden interregnum closes. Trumpian chaos returns.
www.thebulwark.com
January 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
There's something in this idea that Americans replace presidents with their polar opposites, personality wise. Exact same thing happens with football clubs and their sacked coaches.
Superb analysis on "the seething resentment of the governed" -- why Harris lost and Trump didn't win but rather didn't lose.
www.weekendreading.net/p/how-trump-...
www.weekendreading.net/p/how-trump-...
How Trump “Won”
The Anesthetized Anti-MAGA Majority
www.weekendreading.net
January 9, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Superb analysis on "the seething resentment of the governed" -- why Harris lost and Trump didn't win but rather didn't lose.
www.weekendreading.net/p/how-trump-...
www.weekendreading.net/p/how-trump-...
Reposted by Mick Ellis
Not that it or anything else really matters anymore, but the “felt inflation” Narrative™️ built around suffering from food & gas prices is not remotely backed by the actual data.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
From the Council on Economic Advisors:
"Wage growth and declining food inflation has reduced the number of hours that it takes for a middle-wage worker to buy a week’s worth of groceries compared to this time last year as well as the 2019 average." #NumbersDay
"Wage growth and declining food inflation has reduced the number of hours that it takes for a middle-wage worker to buy a week’s worth of groceries compared to this time last year as well as the 2019 average." #NumbersDay
December 11, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Not that it or anything else really matters anymore, but the “felt inflation” Narrative™️ built around suffering from food & gas prices is not remotely backed by the actual data.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Shrewd analysis, especially last two pars.
newrepublic.com/article/1887...
newrepublic.com/article/1887...
Donald Trump Is a Weakling. That’s the Problem.
Yes, he’s authoritarian. But the specific danger he poses is the chaos caused by his lack of discipline, not a triumph of the will.
newrepublic.com
November 28, 2024 at 9:43 PM
Shrewd analysis, especially last two pars.
newrepublic.com/article/1887...
newrepublic.com/article/1887...
Not entirely a coincidence...
The President of the United States will come into office with his own social media platform.
That, combined with X, means Trump will have turnkey state-run media.
I don’t think the media has fully grasped that yet.
That, combined with X, means Trump will have turnkey state-run media.
I don’t think the media has fully grasped that yet.
November 18, 2024 at 12:57 AM
Not entirely a coincidence...
Trump appoints loyal but grossly unqualified lieutenants because as well as showing his contempt for institutions, he knows these people will never outshine him. None is expert enough to contradict, or competent enough to earn credit. That’s what matters.
"Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty."
— Hannah Arendt
— Hannah Arendt
November 16, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Trump appoints loyal but grossly unqualified lieutenants because as well as showing his contempt for institutions, he knows these people will never outshine him. None is expert enough to contradict, or competent enough to earn credit. That’s what matters.
Never quite bought the “Nazi” dictator line the Dems went with against Trump — this is a better explanation of the how and why of Trumpism.
In which I consider Trump's blueprint for destruction This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/o...
Opinion | This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return
Liberal democracy offers moral constraints without problem-solving. Populism offers problem-solving without moral constraints.
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2024 at 8:29 PM
Never quite bought the “Nazi” dictator line the Dems went with against Trump — this is a better explanation of the how and why of Trumpism.
Can someone just explain to me as if I’m a Trump voter how in the World’s Greatest Democracy a president can put a financial backer in charge of a quasi department “outside govt” who can then jettison whatever aspects of the govt takes his fancy? How can this possibly be legal/ethical/doable?
November 15, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Can someone just explain to me as if I’m a Trump voter how in the World’s Greatest Democracy a president can put a financial backer in charge of a quasi department “outside govt” who can then jettison whatever aspects of the govt takes his fancy? How can this possibly be legal/ethical/doable?
Reposted by Mick Ellis
Blatant corruption.
November 15, 2024 at 1:42 AM
Blatant corruption.
Even with his puerile boy scout BS and lack of qualifications, I'm not 100% opposed to what Musk is doing in the sense that every govt should be a corrective for the previous. If the govt never changed stripes (and every two terms is ideal), it's not a functioning democracy, so there's that...
November 14, 2024 at 6:56 AM
Even with his puerile boy scout BS and lack of qualifications, I'm not 100% opposed to what Musk is doing in the sense that every govt should be a corrective for the previous. If the govt never changed stripes (and every two terms is ideal), it's not a functioning democracy, so there's that...
Trump's No.1 well documented but still scariest failing is his utter inability to assess others' character/ability. The sole qualifications for a job with him are 1) that you flatter him, and 2) you *look* the part.
On the positive side, I'm sure there's a Greek tragedy that covers all this.
On the positive side, I'm sure there's a Greek tragedy that covers all this.
November 14, 2024 at 5:19 AM
Trump's No.1 well documented but still scariest failing is his utter inability to assess others' character/ability. The sole qualifications for a job with him are 1) that you flatter him, and 2) you *look* the part.
On the positive side, I'm sure there's a Greek tragedy that covers all this.
On the positive side, I'm sure there's a Greek tragedy that covers all this.
Very excellent podcast this (for Aussies, anyhow).
The latest Dollars & Sense podcast is up. Talking about wages, the RBA, Trump and social media bans.
Get it where you get your pods or from here
australiainstitute.org.au/post/all-i-w...
Get it where you get your pods or from here
australiainstitute.org.au/post/all-i-w...
All I want for Christmas...
…is an interest rate cut, says Greg Jericho.
australiainstitute.org.au
November 14, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Very excellent podcast this (for Aussies, anyhow).