18 Comments

Love "a pillowcase, and stuffed it full of prunes and vinegar and disappointment."

Expand full comment

Thank you for the chillingly accurate facts about the US "democratic" structure which I sort of knew but had chosen not to bring into sharp focus. And thank you for sitting through those senate deadly hearings so we don't have to - a true sacrifice in the cause of your art.

Expand full comment

Outstanding choice of track David, thanks! So on point.

Expand full comment

And still they get away with it. All power to Judge Jackson, a remarkable woman.

Expand full comment
founding

"American Democracy is exceptional and rare and best"........that's palpable shit when you look at California 39 million people South Dakota 900 thousand people.......2 senators each. Every single South Dakotan vote is magnified 40 odd times as against the single Californian vote. Essentially like vividly anti-democratic. The Senate has a stranglehold on governance. Add to that low-life senators like Cruz, Hawley, Linds'.

Expand full comment

Dakota was split in two specifically and explicitly to secure two more senate votes for Republicans, while Washington DC and Puerto Rico are explicitly rejected from representation because they would not elect Republicans. The system is not just racially biased (although it is that too).

Expand full comment
founding

Thankfully NZ judges are politically independent

Expand full comment

If you substitute the words "Critical Race Theory" for "Witchcraft" then we are back in Salem 1692, surely. Progress? Hardly.

Expand full comment
founding

Having played The Reverend Parris in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" Tokoroa High School circa 1965......I can attest that Republican witchcraft has only got worse. It's only lately I've had the courage to revisit that theatrical memory. Someone remarked that I made a marvellous Parris. That hurt. By any measure Parris was an unmitigated bastard. 😡

Expand full comment

yes repugnant republican in a outdated gerrymandered Senate love creating Fox News Talking Points, their voting system is also archaic for PRESIDENT Hillary had more vote than trump by far but lost and bush 2 had less votes than his Democratic rival. Aussie Murdock owned channels are full of waffle too now trying to keep scotty in power, quite sickening really

Expand full comment

Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes.

Expand full comment
founding

and passing them used lots of skills.

"Curse Of The Demon" film (1958) starring Dana Andrew's. adapted from "Casting The Runes"

Expand full comment

“Curse of the Demon” in the USA but “Night of the Demon” (1957 original title) in United Kingdom.

Just sayin’ in the interests of film archive accuracy. I was a 20 year old Cinema Projectionist when that film was released in Britain. A thinly disguised portrait of Aleister Crowley a well known nutter of those times.

Expand full comment

But when worlds collide said George Pal to his bride

Expand full comment

but crawling on the planet’s face, some insects called the human race, lost in time and lost in space..etc, etc.

Coda to the ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show.’

Expand full comment

Dear David, Please forgive my lateral arabesque. The prunes got me going. Figuratively speaking that is. Could be a pun on figs there.

Expand full comment

I watched some of this selection circus. In the face of appalling sexism, racism, misogyny, ignorance, stupidity, partisanship and plain old hatred, Judge Jackson was dignified, polite, calm, unflappable, erudite, patient, quick-witted, and at times humorous. Such a contrast. Of course there were other senators who were respectful and gave her a chance to speak, but American democracy is certainly wallowing in the mire on the Republican side. Loved your analysis of the process David.

Expand full comment