By Robert Becker

Scene: Large Washington hotel room full of Democratic staffers.  

Speaker:  Savvy PR operative, speaking bluntly.

Message: People vote their prejudices, so public relations rule.

Americans still buy the myth that national elections engage… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker   

My dear Santorum:

Though your pious crusade will flee my endorsement, I want you to know I earnestly, even wickedly stand behind you.  Allied for years with the Rightwing Chaos Party, I had been advising Newt Gingrich, that loose… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

  _{What, sheeple plagued by conspiracy?/Miami Herald} 

So it comes to pass that "stay paranoid" captures the core primary message from the GOP comic-horror show: something or someone nasty is out to get you. Already has, per Tea Party whining:… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

If you missed the last two, fantastic episodes of the Newt Gingrich circus, check out his deluded, anything-but-concession theatricals.  Here and here.

No doubt, as electioneering grows uglier, more divisive, and far more expensive, everyone longs for a… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

Calling Sister Sarah, whose travesty of "going rogue" comes down to dishing dirt.  Or Sen. McCain, ex-half-a-maverick – shuffle that walker to the side. Time for has-been, media mavericks to make way for Newt Gingrich, the gutsy, grandstanding "real rogue for r… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

Working as both mirror and impetus to our deranged discourse, the rightwing primary continues to bless us with stunning revelations worth every single cringe-worthy moment. And this eye-popping field sets the record, establishing unbeatable red… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

Enduring question for 2012: why were the Bush-Cheney political corpses from 2008 never fully interred, but allowed to live on as undying, ever-dangerous vampires?  It wasn’t for lack of widespread scorn (to this day) towards this conspicuous, evildoing… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

Carl Sagan, science genius, deserves better.

Stay ‘til the end – and a rich payoff of Carl Sagan’s gemlike insights.  A little clean-up work first, to clear the palate.

I don’t regularly read Wash. Post’s Charles Kraut… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker 

  Higgs boson, God's sub-atomic handwork/Cern.ch

Is "Higgs boson" a creative particle or energy field?   Can we thus infer an "anti-God particle," as anti-matter opposes matter, or dark energy… Read full post »

Note: I gave up trying to take Newt Gingrich seriously enough to write satiric prose for, like Kissinger per Tom Lehrer, he's moving beyond being an object of satire.  But I found a thesis and inspiration from that famous lyric celebrated by heavy drinkers.  

By Robert S. Becker… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

My ex-brother-in-law, who fancies himself part of the ruling class by writing speeches for overpaid CEOs, often rushes when hitting his email “To” button.  So I get unexpected, highly revealing tracts to his fat cat clients, in this… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker 

My squishy optimism sagged, having just finished Richard Condon’s scathing, witty, mesmerizing masterpiece, The Manchurian Candidate.  If you liked the acclaimed ’62 movie, and delight in devilish wit, grab the novel: the satire and drama are darker,… Read full post »

By Robert S.  Becker

The key to unabashed cheerfulness, like mine, is moderating expectations.  Set low enough standards, as some ancient codger must have mused, and you'll never be disappointed.… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

  Confederacy of Dunces

Nomination for OMG of the month, or season: did you know that Herman Cain wrote a book?  Nah, not that: of course he reads, at least pizza recipes.  Drum roll, please.  The title of Cain’s impas… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

The real Perry "oops' was leaving Texas!

Imagine prospects for any Alaskan politician, especially a slick, ambitious customer, desperate for fame and fortune.  Post-Palin, dream on.  Ditto Texas by the time Rick Perry staggers home – making everyone else mystifi… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

By Robert S. Becker

Scene: The Oval Office

Time:  Daily briefing with senior staff

Speaker: The President, perplexed, pacing, nodding

Let’s talk politics today and re-election, no holds barred.  I arrive here every morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

Like true religion that spawns compassion and charity, civic taboos essential to civilization are getting a bad rap.  Let us praise “good taboos,” not just displace bad ones – all those forbidden, unwritten prohibitions about sex, drugs, manners, d… Read full post »

by Robert S. Becker

Will the Righteous Right survive its inane scrum deciding which defective personality carries forth its backward-bounding banner?  True, the GOP message this season especially blends the vacuous and vicious, but that's hardly stopped a resurgent national party, awas… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker 

  Distant Shadow of a Bold Original

 ---

Mr. President: Despite fantasy media projections -- imagining you the reincarnated Harry Truman -- stubborn, historical reality intervenes.  Balderdash.  Viewed simply as strong leader comman… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

It's a curiosity, a singular spectacle, to say the least -- or a political farce, to say the most.  While weirder-than-thou Rethugs play whack-a-mole roulette -- anointing, then shredding favorites -- dispirited lefties dream up ways to press -- even… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

If his stumbling, not ready-for-prime-time worsens, Rick "Treat 'Em Ugly" Perry will soon be cornered and dangerous.  That's when flinty hardscrabble guys squint, then draw, pumping out enough audacity of rogue to win GOP primaries.  No more… Read full post »

Okay, ready for comic relief?  Time to broadcast to still non-contributing newcomers why our vigorous, three-ringed circus called Smirking Chimp is special, if not unique.  Provocative, fearless, invaluable -- a bargain at a few bucks a quarter. 

&nbs… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

 

 

 From confrontation to demonization to scapegoating.

 

… Read full post »

By Robert S. Becker

"How can so many voters not see what's happening," a frustrated friend asked this week. "So much for naive thinking new, smart technology makes people better informed."  "To the contrary," he sighed, ticking off online conspiracy theories (Obama now an o… Read full post »