3. So Minaj is a "schizo-aesthetic artist," is she? Igoring for the moment what the hell that means, it reminds me of a morality exercise I participated in in high school, the upshot of which is, no matter the cognitive ability or motive of a person who punches me in the nose, it doesn't make my nose hurt any less (I say this as a never-been-Catholic). Minaj's performance was so transparently anti-Catholic that even if she didn't recognize it, someone in the long list of reviewers of the performance should have done so. That no one either foresaw a problem with this, or didn't care, is itself an issue.

2. Tell you what: you hold on to the "position" that there was nothing political about Minaj's performance; me, I'll live in the real world for now. The evidence I hold on my side is: in the same week that the political realm practically exploded over the dispute between the O admin and the Catholic Church over the latter having to pay for contraceptive services, Minaj takes to the Grammies to perform a "fever dream" about overtly Catholic priests holding her prisoner and persecuting her, the first part of which is in a unique icon of Catholic practice (the Confessional). If it was just coincidence, it was one of the more amazing (and unbelieveable, in every sense of the word) coincidences in an industry that seems to fall back on the coincidence excuse on a nearly weekly basis.

I have several comments to this, in no particular order:

1. No matter what Minaj's "appeal" may be (to whomever that may be), her presence on the Grammies is arguably broader for its incorporation into the Grammies production. Unless you sincerely believe that (a) the Grammies producrers told Minaj "hey, we love your work, so do what you want. We aren't even particularly interested in seeing it beforehand," Minaj's message was endorsed by a broader "speaker," namely the Grammies producers. I sincerely doubt THEY were hoping for laughs. I saw absolutely nothing to suggest that it was put on for comedy (nor, for that matter, do I honestly believe that the Grammies producers have a working comprehension of "humor," but I digress). Absent that, the only really "absurdist" commentary I can foresee is that of the Grammies producers, and it ain't the one I believe you think it is.

I definitely could be wrong, but did I hear audience members laughing at the utter ridiculousness of the "confessional" part of that performance (at least before the hoard of tortured cats drowned them out)? If so (a huge "if," I grant), audience drones laughing at what was clearly being played as a "serious statement" is a good sign...small but good.

OTOH, such an OTT broadside against the Catholic Church (as opposed to the overworn "child molester" charge), aired in prime time on a major network is a very BAD sign.

Ah, sounds like more racial dog-whistling to me.

I'm pretty sure whatever right you are looking for (so long as it doesn't involve guns) is to be found in the penumbras of whatever's left over of the Bill of Rights once the Obama Administration is done with it.

IMO, for most of the front-line GG soldiers, it's the same instinct for conspiracy theories - a frosting of guilt for our lifestyle (which MUST be bad brcause Americans are all, globally speaking, the 1%), over a self-important cake of need to be among the "inside" people who see something the common sheeple who lack the clear sight to see the conspiracy for what it is, don't.

People like this are absurdly easy for puppet masters to manipulate. Just put forth a theory that's one part phoney-baloney pseudoscience, and three parts speaking to their political prejudices. Just like trutherism

Yeah, good luck with that one, Midnite. Sadly, I suspect they'll be seeing a LOT more of your (and my and everyone else's) money. We just won't be handing it over with the hope of getting a mid-quality car, or anything else, in exchange. Going Galt is pretty much the only other option.

IMO, the commercial isn't selling (or even mentioning) Detroit, the actual city in Michigan, it's selling Detroit, the Motor City, the concept behind American motor production. The Big 3 have been selling the idea of Detroit for decades (even as the City has descended into the Fourth Circle of Hell). The fact that Detroit hasn't been the actual center of American car production is beside the point - it IS the spiritual center. The fact that Detroit is also the poster child for uberliberal mismanagement and union greed and "I-got-mine-ism" is just a happy coincidence.