Today on the Dish, Douthat corralled Weiner in with Spitzer and Schwarzenegger, Andrew argued that nude photos don't constitute a fringe activity or a crime, and explained why play (even silly or unsafe play) is essential to human civilization. Andrew responded to readers on Palin's prescient pregnancy, and even Trignostic Joe McGinniss wavered.
The GOP candidates still couldn't acknowledge gays (or immigrants) as part of the American family, and outed themselves as more of a church than a party. We sized up the Bachmann bubble, dusted off the crystal ball for 2012, channeled the donor mindset, and remembered the beginning of the end with the Terri Schiavo case. A better budget deficit helps the investment market, tort reform couldn't solve the healthcare conundrum, and you can calculate the cost of your vacation (in money, time and carbon) here. Chuck Klosterman disapproved of DVR'd sports, The Voice welcomed the gays more than American Idol, headline news gave us headaches, Conan advised the graduates, and this post on suicide and depression broke our hearts.
The male "gay girl in Damascus" flirted with another male posing as a lesbian online, the US couldn't do much more for Syria, and accountability may be on the horizon for war crimes at Abu Ghraib. Americans supported Obama's take on Israel, but his unchecked use of drone warfare in Yemen doesn't bode well for curbing future war powers. Afghanistan's economy remained vulnerable as we prepare to pull out, the US stood tall as the only country still armed for the Cold War, and Don Gomez urged us to reserve the title "Hero" for those who actually earn it.
Quotes for the day here, here and here, dissents of the day here, MHB here, FOTD here, VFYW here and contest winner #54 here.
–Z.P.
The Dish 