Del Martin, one of the founding figures of the modern gay rights movement, has just died. One of her last acts was to marry her wife of 55 years – a relationship the equal of anyone’s in commitment and fidelity and love. She is a great role model for the rest of us.
Speaking of which, happy first anniversary to my husband. We’re off to an early celebratory dinner. Then, er, Biden. Ah, the romance of it all.
A couple covered in tomato juice are pictured during the ‘Tomatina’, a traditional festival where people throw tomatoes at each other, on August 27, 2008 in Bunol, some 300km east of Madrid. Tens of thousands of people from around the world hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other in an annual food fight that leaves the eastern Spanish town of Bunol covered in red juice. By Pablo Argente/AFP/Getty Images.
Poulos recommends keeping everything in perspective:
…notice how Graham and Lieberman are talking quite specifically about Ukraine, and larding that single point with a lot of distracting flourishes. No serious analysts of Europe, Russia, and American foreign policy are concerned that Putin and Medvedev are going to invade the Baltic States, full-fledged members of NATO as they are. Ditto Poland. Messing with Georgia, whose northern borders have been a mess since its birth in wake of the Soviet Union, is one thing. Launching tank columns into NATO countries — especially Poland, first victim of the Second World War — is another. It is a red line that not even an idiot would cross, much less consummate machinators like those in the Kremlin. Graham and Lieberman want us to think otherwise, but it’s a bottom line fact of international relations that Ukraine is in a far different strategic and historical situation than Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are in. To pretend otherwise — to declare otherwise — is rank, and intellectually irresponsible, scaremongering. Instead of helping the US prepare for another Cold War not of our choosing, it contributes to the manufacture of overblown conflict and unnecessary tension.
The trouble is: overblown conflict and unnecessary tension have become part of the GOP electoral model. And what we’re seeing is that McCain, far from challenging that for a more rational discourse, is free-basing on Rove tactics and Cheney foreign policy.
They die hard. Appleyard foresees a Democratic party suicide.
"Barack Obama will be our first hip-hop president. I can only imagine how the world will embrace the leader of the free world when he introduces other foreign leaders with, "give it up for my man Vladimir." Giving "props" for joining us in a treaty. Or the first lady Michelle talking about "my man" the "daddy of my babies" when referring to the president. That should go over well everywhere from 10 Downing Street right on down to the streets of the Middle East,"- Craig Smith, WorldNetDaily.
I guess we should be grateful for Smith expressing out loud the racism that courses through a great deal of the fear about an Obama presidency. In the battle between hope and fear in this election, fear is currently winning.
Ross thinks Obama picking Biden has created an opportunity for McCain:
A surprising selection, whether of the Jindal-Palin sort, the Lieberman variety, or something more left-field still, would look even more striking in contrast with Obama’s "generic Democrat" choice of a running mate. I don’t expect the McCain camp to go this route: I think they’re probably feeling pretty good about their position at the moment, and the same "first, do no harm" impulse that produced Obama-Biden will probably produce McCain-Pawlenty or McCain-Romney.
McCain-Romney = "do no harm"? Not in the part of the universe I’m aware of. The trouble with Palin or Jindal or even Pawlenty, moreover, is that they make an attack on Obama’s inexperience more difficult.
McCain’s veep choice must signify someone ready to be president – especially given McCain’s advanced age and past health issues. Putting a neophyte religious fanatic like Jindal on the ticket doesn’t look good, and if you’re appealing to PUMA Clinton voters uneasy with the idea of a black man as president, why pick a person of color?
I think McCain has a very tough decision. And I think Bush’s triumphant appearance next week in St Paul will be a bigger problem for McCain than Clinton has been for Obama. The impact of these conventions can only be judged a week or so after both have ended.
For Selma and Patty – and the strange eternal power of lesbian hair:
Josh Marshall posts an uninhibited interview. Useful background. He’s more impressive than I was aware of.
A reader writes:
For God’s sake – I have never seen such a group of hand-wringing nervous nellies! Has everyone already forgotten that the Obama team thoroughly dismantled the most vaunted and powerful Democratic family in the country? All of this talk about how Obama is wasting opportunities sounds awfully familiar. That’s right! I heard the same thing during the primary. How did that turn out? Not so bad for Obama. This team has a strategy and they are going to ride right into the White House.
A reader writes:
As I’m sure you’ve seen (and are aware), Thursday is the anniversary of the "I have a Dream" speech given where? In front of what? Lincoln Memorial! Columns! I can’t believe this is even a debate!
Again: enough with the overkill. Everyone – everyone – will know the anniversary. You don’t have to bash people over the head with it. And Obama is not MLK – at least, not yet. Walt Starr argues the stage is unfinished. I guess television will be the judge.
The Dish 