Yesterday I used the phrase “kabuki theater” to describe the debt ceiling machinations between the president and Congress. I didn’t exactly think I was making a unique observation, but apparently I was stepping into one of the most overused memes in the blogosphere; I’ve been surprised how very many articles about the debt ceiling negotiations use the very same phrase to describe them (see this, for example).
In that context, “kabuki theater” means something like this: a tale of smoke and mirrors, full of sound and fury, and signifying almost nothing. A big production, mostly for show, utilizing stylized movement, while the real action goes on behind the scenes.
Is kabuki really like that? Well, kind of. It’s certainly not naturalistic, and it features a great deal of elaborate disguise and stage machinery. And in kabuki, only men can participate.
Decide for yourself whether the analogy holds—but I think you’ll agree that kabuki has a great deal more grandeur and grace than politics:
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
July 12th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
It’s more like theater of the absurd.
July 12th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
From wikipedia on Theater of the Absurd: “It expressed the belief that, in a godless universe, human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down. Logical construction and argument gives way to irrational and illogical speech and to its ultimate conclusion, silence.[1]”
Silence may at least be a nice reward.
July 12th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
An example of Obama Kabuki No Noh?
In a nod to Big Business, President Obama on Monday issued an executive order asking independent agencies to rid their books of old and outdated regulations.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/11/news/economy/obama_regulation/index.htm?iid=EL
If your goal was Gleichschaltung, wouldnt you want to change rules across so many places that opposing the changes would be impossible given how our society is structured? that a sudden rewritting of all the rules in the agencies (illegally) delegated powers, and enabling all those non laws for show, would do what all in a short order?
by the time a constitutional legal opposition can be raised, there will be no ability to do so by one means or another… (take the fact that no one in the US has just cause to litigate the birth cert issues as one example of odd games)
July 12th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
IIRC, it was Michelle Malkin who brought the term “kabuki” to American political discourse. She may simply have popularised it, but I remember her using it a few years ago, and it being sufficiently unfamiliar that she had to explain the meaning.
I’m not particularly bothered by whether or not the analogy holds perfectly. Words can be borrowed from other languages or contexts, and take on other perfectly legitimate meanings.
July 12th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
A lot of politics is kabuki, because it’s so highly stylized– you have to know what is expected to know what parts are going to be officially noticed.
Of course, it’s vicious kabuki, because some folks keep on trying to change the rules while holding the others to them….
Somewhat related, the whole ninjas-in-black thing is because the people dressed like that “aren’t there” and one play took advantage of that accepted trope and had a stagehand kill a “real” character.
July 12th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
how about Kabuki Matryoshka?
Moscow and Beijing plan to hold their fifth combined “Peace Mission” military exercise. inaugurated in 2001 with the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborliness around the same time, what happened?
“Those drills, which were designed to improve responsiveness to new threats and challenges, deepen bilateral strategic coordination and expand military ties, strengthening both sides’ capabilities,” – Jiang Yu
guess we are so focused on the left hand, we are not watching the “One clenched fist” – i guess ya’ll can ask occam to explain it since he is reading now.. [or read: New Lies for Old (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1984)]
And just to test our illustrious leader of no noh..
Arkhangelsk is getting a large military group (2 brigages) to protect its claims of artic oil… but Anatoly Serdyukov hasnt finished working the details out…
guess we missed this:
Cannon slams Russian plan to drop paratroopers in Arctic (Ice Station Zebra drop never materialized).
and wow… we now, and our GPS, is now defenseless and irreplaceable, if conflicts start before 2015… (without that, or ability to send up a new one, or repair, we can find ourselves operationally blind as we are very very very dependent on toys)
“Russia gains edge in space race as US shuttle bows out” shows their gloating…
It is building launch pads and facilities in south America… and other places… which can launch more than just ISS supply ships…
Chinese company eyes Boise
As economic power shifts to Asia, Idaho’s location makes it a prime site for an industrial foothold.
[huge] A Chinese national company is interested in developing a 10,000- to 30,000-acre technology zone for industry, retail centers and homes south of the Boise Airport.
not to mention a whole bunch of odd things in the arab states…
July 12th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Luckily for Neo, the government no longer issues Victim Cards to Asian Americans.
July 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Executive Order – Establishment of the White House Rural Council
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/09/executive-order-establishment-white-house-rural-council
its interesting… but since americans dont know what a council is in russian… they dont understand that breaking the society down into ‘councils’ or ‘soviets’ withe delegated powers… IS the essence of soviet communism..
July 12th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Yes, Artfldgr I’ve been paying attention to this WH Rural Council bs. Will not be warmly welcomed in most of the rural mountain west, midwest & south. Central planning ain’t our thing.
July 12th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Is it kabuki? Well sort of, but to compare the highly stylized, outlandish melodrama, the fantastic costumes, and sparse beauty of the stage setting of kabuki to the punk theatrics of DC is a bit of a stretch. The ‘debt/default negotiations’ in DC are better compared to a middle school theatrical production.
July 12th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
A middle school theatrical production produced and acted by special ed students.
July 12th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
I have been to kabuki performances in Japan. I was fascinated to learn that kabuki stays in families — that is, there are lines of kabuki actors that stretch back generations, and they are named like monarchs, with Roman numerals attached (e.g., Ichikawa Danjuro IX). See, for example, this list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Kabuki_actors
July 13th, 2011 at 9:06 am
A middle school theatrical copy of glee, but without the music