Today on the Dish, Andrew broke down the basics about taxes and deficits and then went after Romney's plan for totally ignoring them. He also took apart Amy Siskind's fatuous rant against his purported sexism and argued that Romney's position on defense is out of tune with reality. He also sided with Joe Klein on Romney's slurring of Palestinian culture and denounced the Vatican's silence on torture. The Obama administration may have slipped on torture themselves. And a reader got whiplash from Andrew's moodswings.
In the horse race, Obama hit an all-time high in the electoral college projection, his campaign launched a nine-state offensive against Romney's tax plan, and Paul Ryan continued to be full of it. While Jon Stewart skewered Reid, readers defended him – possibly because of their ethical double-standards. On the international scene, the slaughter continued in Syria, Vietnam began weighing legal protections for its LGBT citizens, and many "developing" countries graduated to first-world wealth. Jerry Bremer's post-Iraq career segued into painting – for example, landscapes with subliminal cigarettes in them. And while Eugene Ulman found the "lost Jews" of Zimbabwe, David Brooks rooted for the Chosen gymnasts.
Speaking of the Olympics, the ancient Games involved sex, gore and sports, and despite its flatulence, Ann Romney's horse didn't offend the Brits. A reader added the much-needed women-loving-Megan Rapinoe perspective to the debate about objectifying female Olympians. Also in gay, readers reflected more on Gore, as did one of his close friends, while three books clarified Christianity's reaction to homosexuality. And straight couples thought Chief Justice Marshall's Goodridge decision had a deep-yet-secular ring to it.
In assorted coverage, sharks made the cut for the horrific sex squad of the animal kingdom, Hanna Rosin stood up for non-breastfeeders, Jessica Valenti argued that elephant ears build character, and Alexis Madrigal asked folks to back off Jonah. Jay Rosen urged readers to check out Taibbi more often, academic dons got props, and Japan loved its fax machines. Slightly dirty water beat out the superclean alternative, lunar US flags got bleached, and Puff the Mutant Dragon broke down the chemistry of uppers. FOTD here, MHB here and VFYW here.
– G.G.
(Photo: Gabby Douglas of the United States competes on the balance beam in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final. Her performance won her the gold, making her the first black gymnast to claim the prize in the All-Around. By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images.)
The Dish 