Hey, guys. I'm sick, and somewhat pudding-brained. The essay I planned to write deserves better thought than I can give it at this moment.

I made a comment yesterday that Gulfgal, Ellen, and Snapple BC thought was worth turning into an essay. I'm going to set it here for discussion. Hopefully, a more ordinary Open Thread will be on its way to you next Wednesday!

After reading Meteor Blades diary about the upcoming populist rally, I sifted through information about the stakeholders behind the event, and while I’ve made no definitive decision, yet, there are some red flags that can’t be ignored.

Perhaps the most alarming was an article written by Robert Borosage. Here is a rather large excerpt from the article:

4. Populist movements are an answer, not a threat.