rant · moment 10 of 13
Comey, Weiner, and the Post-9/11 Political Theater
from Ray Kump Donovan · #35
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
4 minThey discuss James Comey reopening the Clinton investigation over Anthony Weiner's laptop, then Tim reflects on political theater and comparing Trump's rhetoric to the emotional pull of post-9/11 speeches, tying it back into a Ray Donovan bit.
- 42:14Tim argues that people keep searching for a good guy in politics, which is the real problem
- 42:26Both sides have criminals and war profiteers—one side adds buffoons to the mix
- 42:54Biden was pulled from South by Southwest after speaking privately to denounce Trump's wiretapping allegations
- 43:26Comey reopening the investigation probably cost Clinton the election, unless Trump's numbers were always correct
- 43:49Blame Anthony Weiner—they reopened the case because they found child porn on his computer
- 44:09A documentary asked Weiner why he does what he does, and he answered 'I don't know'—apparently a great response
- 44:30Tim on political theater: it's always been a show, and people either buy into it or grow out of it
- 45:00After 9/11 the presidential rhetoric felt genuine for a year or two, then Tim wearied of it
- 45:14Bush in the rubble promising retribution still works emotionally when Tim watches it back
- 45:48Ray Donovan as a character represents the Catholic guilt narrative Long Island audiences crave—the moral wrestling before the kill
- 46:03The show works because he ultimately does the hit anyway, Catholic guilt notwithstanding
Donald TrumpJoe BidenAnthony WeinerSouth by SouthwestBarack ObamaRay DonovanOsama bin Laden