Nantucket, Massachusetts, 10.40 am
Today on the Dish, Palin criticized the media for not vetting the 2008 candidates and insisted she wasn't in it for the "shackle-y" title. McGinniss defended his verified sources and Janet Maslin missed the mark in her review of The Rogue. Fundraisers got nervous about Perry, Bachmann connected some crazy dots from Hezbollah to Cuba, and neocons ignored Chris Christie's notion of American exceptionalism.
John Judis urged the US to do the right thing for Palestine like it did in 1947 for Israel, neocons aren't funny when they try to be, and Netanyahu swayed Spain and France to his side. Andrew reconsidered his stance on Libya after the fall of Qaddafi in today's Ask Andrew video, with more of your thoughts here. Getting rid of Assad isn't as easy as calling for him to go, the Arab Spring bloomed in Palestinians, and RtoP advocates needed to clarify whether they're after regime change or civilian protection. Dreher wanted to see European localism win somehow with the collapse of the Euro, even as William Hague's predictions proved true. We tracked Putin's "run" for the presidency, and pointing lasers at planes can blind a pilot.
Douthat drew a distinction about the decline of the death penalty about our incompetency in implementing it, the Supreme Court might be able to abolish it, and readers considered redemption. Bruce Bartlett reminded the GOP once again that lower tax rates on the wealthy doesn't spur growth, macroeconomics can't always make sense of a messy world, and killing the electoral college isn't a partisan matter. Jan-Werner Mueller defined populism as an unhealthy coalition between elites and marginal groups that don't belong, and James McBride nailed Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich as literary figures. It's not so easy for a Muslim American to join a Republicans' executive committee, and Jim Burroway disapproved of Lady Gaga's tribute to a gay suicide victim. Kevin Sessums found God in Helen Keller's situation, paper money screws blind people, and Machiavellian types make for good politicians.
Urban density mirrored free trade, the fertility rates for professional women plummeted, and snacks and alcohol are socially transmitted. Readers delighted in transcription errors, Amazon stepped up to Apple, and we contemplated our next short book venture. A college education remains a good investment for future jobs, and city kids defended their playgrounds from the 'burbs. Coffee averts depression for women, South Park starred on 60 Minutes, and Bart Simpson pranked the LA City Council. Doctors only accuse others of over-prescribing drugs for money, robots will steal our high-paying jobs too, and we yearned for the yogasm.
Happy Rosh Hashanah guide here, MHB here, FOTD here, VFYW here and the beautiful coincidences of yesterday's contest here.
–Z.P.
The Dish 