Babylon 5 and Politics

[JoeD80]

Sorry I didn't move this post over from the other thread, JoeD80. I'm not sure what it's addressing?

From above:

So, my watching just reached "Babylon Squared." When I cam to the part when Delenn comes back in to the Gray Council, she is greeted with "For too long the 9 have been 8." That made me think of another 9 that has been 8 for too long.

I think the parallel to the Supreme Court is not unintentional, and Joe did reference it at least once when comparing to the Grey Council (in that JMS quote above).

[Jan]

I think the parallel to the Supreme Court is not unintentional, and Joe did reference it at least once when comparing to the Grey Council (in that JMS quote above).

Ah, got it. Sorry for being so slow. I wouldn't be surprised if there were something along those lines in the back of his mind. I've always thougtht that nine was a good number, even aside from the attraction of 'three times three'. It means there's enough people that you have to persuade to your side to make sure it's not easy to get your way but not so large a body as to be overly cumbersome.

Thanks for the clarification.

Jan

[Jan]

Today brought a senior adviser to the president saying with a straight face that the press spokesman for the White House didn't lie, he presented "alternative facts"

Or as JMS wrote in "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars:

Not propaganda. Goodfacts, as opposed to realfacts. Facts the government has endorsed.

And all over something as petty as crowd size for the inauguration. Not even anything *important*!

[Looney]

Ummmhmmm. We're in for many of those "goodfacts". The facts that make certain people look like winners who are getting things done.

[Ubik]

Ummmhmmm. We're in for many of those "goodfacts". The facts that make certain people look like winners who are getting things done.

We're hardly even a day into Trump's tenure and I'm already lost for words. Really scary shit people... A whole load of 'not good'.

To all my US based friends on here, keep fighting the good fight. Stand between the darkness and the light

[Jan]

JMS tells it like it is.

[Ubik]

Bang on the money. The president Clarke analogy has more and more weight.

[Melanie]

Today brought a senior adviser to the president saying with a straight face that the press spokesman for the White House didn't lie, he presented "alternative facts"

Or as JMS wrote in "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars:



And all over something as petty as crowd size for the inauguration. Not even anything *important*!

And I'd guess that that faction in Deconstruction started with "not important" stuff so they could tell anyone who protested that it's not important.

[Jan]

And I'd guess that that faction in Deconstruction started with "not important" stuff so they could tell anyone who protested that it's not important.

Very likely. There's an interesting article being shared about how the new administration feels at war with the media. So far I'm encouraged that the press that I read is stepping up to the plate. It's up to the media to keep the administration honest, IMO.

[WorkerCaste]

When I heard "Alternative Facts" I immediately thought of Babylon 5 and 1984, like many here, I'm sure.

And, yes, you have to be vigilant even when they are petty things because it lulls people into a certain complacency, but I'm definitely with you, Jan, in finding it hard to believe that they would tells lies about something so trivial, especially when it's easy to disprove.

[sarthaz]

Telling obvious lies and watching to see who publicly defends you is an effective tactic for finding sycophants to surround and protect you.

[WorkerCaste]

And how about "Earth First!" versus "America First!" The War Prayer probably drew on the "America First" group from the beginning of WWII. And now, based on Trump's inauguration address, we're heading in the same direction of nationalism and isolationism.

[Melanie]

I wanted to see the scene with Sheridan and Delenn in the zen rock garden in There All the Honor Lies last night, so I rewatched the episode for the first time in months. It contained some commentary that I didn't remember.

We have a Minbari saying "was it not an earthman who said that those who do not listen to history are doomed to repeat it?" And as my former history teacher said, those who do listen are doomed to watch everyone else repeat it.

It's not as obvious as the "good facts", but the episode is about how the Minbari don't lie... except when they do.

Then there's the scene where Kosh shows Sheridan "one moment of perfect beauty". Considering the kind of day Sheridan was having (accused of murder by the Minbari, close to having to step down as commander regardless how the trial goes) I always took it to mean that there's always some hope even in the worst situations.

[Ubik]

Now the gag order on government agencies, with the National Parks service 'going rogue' despite government attempts to silence their twitter feeds on Global warming and environmental issues.

Folks, this is truly truly shocking, scary and disgusting behavior from a democratic nation state. If I were in the USA now, I'd be worried and I'd be looking to protest and make my voice heard over the next 4 years.

[Jan]

'Political Officer' anyone?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/white-house-installs-political-aides-at-cabinet-agencies-to-be-trumps-eyes-and-ears/2017/03/19/68419f0e-08da-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.de8220776ab6&wpisrc=nl_&wpmm=1

I know that many people may not be able to see the full article as the WP only allows 10 free per month so here are a couple of key paragraphs.

Most members of President Trump’s Cabinet do not yet have leadership teams in place or even nominees for top deputies. But they do have an influential coterie of senior aides installed by the White House who are charged — above all — with monitoring the secretaries’ loyalty, according to eight officials in and outside the administration.

This shadow government of political appointees with the title of senior White House adviser is embedded at every Cabinet agency, with offices in or just outside the secretary’s suite. The White House has installed at least 16 of the advisers at departments including Energy and Health and Human Services and at some smaller agencies such as NASA, according to records first obtained by ProPublica through a Freedom of Information Act request.

These aides report not to the secretary, but to the Office of Cabinet Affairs, which is overseen by Rick Dearborn, a White House deputy chief of staff, according to administration officials. A top Dearborn aide, John Mashburn, leads a weekly conference call with the advisers, who are in constant contact with the White House.