Was the medium the message?
Form and substance battled for number one billing
Well, it worked, didn’t it? Booker’s marathon speech was calculated to draw eyes and ears and news coverage. That it did, so much that I skipped over tariff talk as a topic for this week’s cartoon.
Even though Booker’s speech did not function to block a bill, as an example of long-winded orations, it will always be compared to history’s famous filibusters. In that sense, the medium was the message as the fella on the left indicates. But did he really listen?
Lifelong Education means school is never out.
I like to repeat the phrase that I learned something today and that I need to learn more. My casual and dismissive understanding of the filibuster as a legislative tool was that it had roots in childish tactics evolved from playground government. But like most subjects where I exhibit embarrassing levels of ignorance, I instinctively knew there was much more to the topic than a simple surface scrape could offer.
Heather Cox Richardson always inspires me to dig deeper into matters of government, history, and wherever she aims her laser pointer. Her recent newsletter about the 25-hour speech continued her impact on me.
I like to draw my take on it if I have nothing substantive to add to the subject. Today, in my mind’s ear, I overheard two guys bellied up to the bar watching CNN. “There’s a cartoon”, I thought!
So good job, Senator Booker. Once again, I learned something, and I need to learn more.
I enjoy your indirect reference to CREATING GOOD TROUBLE, Frank.
Booker’s speech length was less remarkable to me than its careful organization and depth. Each main point was well explored and clearly described.
I especially like that he came full circle, quoting the late John Lewis at beginning and end. It is extremely difficult to come full circle in a talk or lecture.
Meanwhile, he was removing the past record; a feat which took that longest distinction away from a past truly ugly racist rant.
Trump uses theater constantly. Booker used it in a way that was constructive. It removed that hateful record, it was just theatrical enough to be ensured to capture media coverage, and for those who want to learn about the topics addressed it was an educational lecture.
Bravo, Booker! For those who like to learn and think you provided brain candy while achieving other goals. Perhaps you even inspired DEFIANCE in some Republicans who do not want their own names attached to the Smoot Hawley style tariff war and resulting spiral, nor to jobs lost, nor children’s cancer research stopped, nor tornado and hurricane warning systems undermined, nor product and food safety gutted, nor epidemiology shredded, nor…
For those whose names become justly and correctly attached due to winking at the destruction and refusing to reclaim Congressional and gubernatorial powers, the next election cycle has already begun.
I think Booker looks like Lex Luthor. "Miss Teschmacher! Miss Teschmacher! Get the stopwatch — I want to see how long I can hold it before unleashing Niagara!"