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Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Oct 14

Let a Confederate heritage apologist speak for himself ... er, speak as cosplay Jeff Davis (liked by "General"):

This is hilarious.

First, note the cosplay cowardice by both poster and endorser. Davis and Lee would be ashamed to be represented by such cowards.

Second, they aren't interested in American history.

They are interested in presenting a version of history with which they are comfortable while charging those with whom they disagree as being "activists" and "anti-American."

Really?

I guess it's better than advancing an interpretation of their own.

Read 6 tweets

Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Oct 14

Here's an example where Costas prefers to draw attention to himself, although subtly.

He remarks that catchers as batters don't want to challenge the home plate ump on questionable ball and strike calls so that they can get those calls when they are behind the plate.

That may be a useful observation for the casual fan, less so for more involved fans.

But he's sitting right next to a pitcher--Ron Darling, a smart guy.

Why not ask him about a pitcher's perspective on how his catcher should act? Let Darling be the insider.

Color analysts are best when they tell me something I might not know or notice. They are value-added.

It was an opportunity lost, even if the point is a fine one.

Read 4 tweets

Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Oct 14

What's remarkable about Confederate "heritage" apologists and defenders is how their endeavor has proven to be just as counterproductive as the Confederacy itself. It destroyed what it sought to protect.

Fifteen years ago, there was no groundswell of support for the removal of Confederate iconography or monuments, just a few scattered episodes of resistance.

Remember this? library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/docu…

But all of a sudden there were groups like League of the South and the Virginia Flaggers, who tended to make fools of themselves with boycotts, protests, and erecting flagpoles.

They attracted white supremacists and were attracted to them. They were kindred spirits.

Read 14 tweets

Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Oct 13

If you want to compare the 2022 midterms to previous midterm contests, look for the same power dynamics: a party holding the presidency and both houses of Congress looking to maintain that situation versus a determined opposition.

Think 2010 and 1994. Or 1874.

In all three cases the opposition got control of at least one chamber (1874, 2010) or both (1994). That result effectively crippled the president's party from passing legislation, though Clinton enjoyed some success. Grant and Obama did not.

You could also point to 2018, but while Democrats retook the House, Republicans actually strengthened their hold on the Senate. That dynamic could repeat, swapping party identities (Dems with presidency and Senate, Republicans in House).

Read 10 tweets

Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Sep 4

I think Biden's Philadelphia speech was a flawed effort. It addressed a very important problem, but it lost focus and assumed an edge it did not need to employ to get its point across. The optics weren't great (the red light and the Marines were mistakes).

Biden's main point was a valid one, and a speech that talked about how current political discourse and proposals threatened the values of democracy and representative government would have been a welcome one.

Think Gettysburg Address.

The fabric of democratic deliberation and how we go about our business is being undermined in various ways, and there was room for a speech that would have pointed out how the rhetoric of delegitimization is reckless and damaging.

Read 22 tweets

Brooks D. Simpson

@BrooksDSimpson

Sep 3

@CNN

The experiment at recasting @CNN should prove very interesting. If you don't think they had issues to address, they did. Whether they are addressing those issues instead of doing something else is another matter altogether.

@CNN

@CNN Think of how people got their news in 1960. Then 1975. Then the rise of cable in the 1980s and 1990s. Now the internet, streaming, phone aps, and social media.

Look at the rise of alternative outlets who you never watch ... but you see their content ...

@CNN

... through clips posted on social media.

Look at people producing their own content or turning media opportunities into chances to advance their own message in their own style.

If your focus is on @CNN, you're missing this larger picture.

Read 19 tweets

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