The latest poll from the Washington Post reiterates what most other polls have been saying. Bush has a job approval rating of 59 percent, his second highest ever. His personal rating is 63 percent. The Village Idiot appears to be doing far better than Clinton at this point in his presidency – despite a jihad against him from such outlets as the New York Times. But as I pointed out last week in “Negatives,” the real point is not these dips and bumps – but the more impressive stability of these numbers. Dick Cheney, moreover, has now overtaken John McCain in favorability ratings. One quote in the Post says a lot, I think: “‘I feel a lot more comfortable having Bush in the White House. He’s taking his time, being careful, trying to switch the direction from what was going on before. . . . The Clinton years were very difficult for me. His personal life overwhelmed everything else.'” This from a swing-voter in Pennsylvania. No reason for complacency but certainly a tonic against panic.
THE GAY THOUGHT POLICE, AGAIN: Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the gay thought police, represented by GLAAD, the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, have targeted yet another piece of popular culture. Kevin Smith, hilarious director of “Clerks,” and of the forthcoming, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” have been sent the usual letter of humorless derision from some gay activists. They object to any humor directed at gays, any presentation of even vaguely homophobic attitudes, even in jest, indeed any satire at all in which gay people might be targets. The only answer to this is to tell these humorless professional homosexuals where to get off. Smith is so obviously gay-friendly and so obviously in touch with popular culture that gays should be thrilled to have him direct his satirical fire at them as well as everybody else. Here’s Smith’s own response to this idiocy: “You all know me. You all know how big a fan I am of the gay community. You all know the respect and fascination I have for gay culture and practices.” This is a homophobe? GLAAD, taking a page from Jesse Jackson’s book, have already secured $10,000 from Smith as a measure of his good faith, but they’re planning to try and bilk his parent company of $200,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation as well. Nice little movie you have there. Shame if we made it out to be bigoted. Once upon a time, gay people were revered for their wit, sense of humor, love of irony, willingness to take a joke. When did their representatives turn into such humorless, shake-down jerks?
UNVEILED: Finally, the social right are making serious arguments against same-sex marriage. They’re still wrong though. Why? Check out my new TRB opposite. In the same vein, check out Jonathan Rauch’s most recent fusillade in National Review Online. Then tell me if you still think the case against gay marriage holds up.
LETTERS: Why actors are actually smart; a lament for old-fashioned discretion, etc.
The Dish 