Author: Andrew Sullivan

We’re allies at last. What brought the Bush administration and the Ahmadinejad theocracy together? They both joined China, Zimbabwe and Cameroon in rejecting the request of two gay international groups to join the United Nations Economic and Social Council, a think tank made up of non-governmental agencies from around the world. In Iran, they execute gay teens. Zimbabwe is one of the most homophobic tyrannies on the planet. This is the company America now keeps?

Another one joins the anti-Hillary chorus. My take is here. We’re not, apparently, alone.

A reader writes:

"The only thing worse than the ridiculously PC left is the moralistic/theocratic PC right who point the finger at the PC left. I’ve never seen ‘The Book of Daniel‘ but it’s too bad that it couldn’t sink or swim on its own merits."

Amen.

Muslims aren’t the only ones worried about women’s swimwear. Check out this stunning collection from "WholesomeWear." Fundamentalism: bringing the world closer together – by putting women in their place.

I’ve tried to resist linking further to the JPod-Frank Foer smack-down, but it’s so entertaining I’m going to have to give in. Here’s the ravishingly gorgeous JPod defending himself from Foer; and here’s Frank’s response and, er, final knockout. Can J.P. Normanson get off the floor? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, I think I’ll avoid getting into any elevators with Norm and Midge’s offspring in future.

"Hollywood could save itself a lot of money if they simply asked us to vet their shows.  Our fee is high ‚Äî obscenely high ‚Äî but we‚Äôre worth it," – the Catholic League’s Bill Donohue, jokingly bragging about the demise of NBC’s "The Book of Daniel."

Underwhelming numbers, I’d say. And their latest exercize in cluelessness is actually to start a blog – yes, a blog – and put it behind a subscriber firewall. Chris Suellentrop is a swell guy. But having a sealed-off blog is an oxymoron.

This is a question some Chinese train-travelers ask in a slightly more desperate tone than most American kids. For the latest news in economy travel, click here.

The new swimwear catalog is in. Yes, women are allowed to swim! In Australia, anyway. You get to pick between this design and this one. Choices, choices … (Hat tip: Tim Blair.)

Some interesting developments for Islam, modernization and basic rights. Money quote:

If the king has his way, Moroccans will liberate themselves from the slogans and handouts of radical Islamist preachers. Although they may represent a threat to Mohammed VI’s reform policies, the only Islamist party seen as capable of succeeding in next year’s parliamentary election is the Justice and Development Party.

The party’s young leaders are using the Turkish ruling party, AKP, and the German Christian Democrats as their model. In the eight cities controlled by the Islamists, they have already dispensed with prohibitions on serving alcohol, Western films and provocative swimwear — knowing full well that Morocco’s economy depends on tourism.

Keep hope alive. And have a drink.