Category: The Dish

More Ella – "Imagine My Frustration":

Abe Greenwald writes:

If Ms. Paglia finds the U.S.’s "reputation in tatters," she’s describing some internal or personal state of perception.

The gulf between the continued complacency of the neocons and the reality of America’s position in the world is staggering. And that is a core divider in this election: do you believe that the US is in a crisis – economically, diplomatically, militarily and in terms of soft power? I do. If you think things are basically fine – that a massive unending war (now more expensive than Vietnam and financed by borrowing) is no big deal, that the unprecedented levels of public and private debt are trivial, that politics revolves around professional Rove-Morris tactics rather than any serious engagement with public policy – then a vote for Obama makes little sense. But I’m with Camille. Again.

Because McDonalds has reached out to the gay and lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Christianist right is having a cow. Here’s Wildmon:

"And this is so strange, because it’s the family that McDonald’s appeals to — children’s playland, you know, all the little toys, all of that. And they are promoting a lifestyle that would utterly destroy the traditional family."

Another:

My son and I often stop by McDonald’s for a bite to eat after homeschool bowling on Fridays. But not today…

Not today, in light of reports that McDonald’s has decided, apparently, to declare war on my family. And to declare war on the civilization of liberty, independence, creativity, and humanity under God that my Dad fought for in World War II.

Via Ed Brayton. I guess I just don’t know what to say in the face of this hysteria. I guess we have to repeat this again and again and again and again: we gay couples do not want to "declare war" on any family; we merely want to be fully part of our own. If Wildmon could have seen our wedding, he would have witnessed two families, of all generations, bringing two men more closely together and in greater communion with their own parents and sisters and brothers and nieces and cousins and nephews and friends. Having the support of our families – and supporting them in turn – is what our marriage is partly about. We threaten no one. So stop threatening us. And have a Big Mac while you’re at it.

Japan mandates waistlines.

He’s addressing the Log Cabin Republicans this weekend. Bolton has long been a libertarian type on social issues, while being a rogue unilateralist abroad. But the debate about Iraq and about strategy in the war on terror is a separate issue than knowing where one stands on Islamist extremism or on social issues.

I’ve become a severe critic of the Iraq war and Bush’s overall strategy. But I have not for a second lessened my loathing of Islamism or of theocracy in general. The debate is so polarized that those of us in the anti-Bush-Cheney camp can sometimes be lumped altogether. But there are big differences. I’ve become much more leery of unilateralism, pre-emption, and occupation as effective tools in the war against Islamism. But that’s not because I want to surrender or have gone soft. It’s because I want to win; and I don’t think our recent strategy has been the right one. I also don’t believe you counter terror with torture or fear with more fear. We can do better. And we can learn from mistakes.

The enemy is still real; and in its extreme forms must be defeated, not engaged. And gays, of all people, need to understand that.

A Zimbabwe blogger gives an inside look at the situation:

As they decided to invade farms and arrest election officials this past that we are living in just became a worse future. The parallel realities we live in have become the only reality now. The other one is paralysed. So bread is now hustled on street corners for two US dollars. Like an illegal drug. Milk has also joined the list of ‘goods’ that are sold in our parallel economy. Not in the shops but on the streets. And if you’re looking for toliet paper then just drive to the nearest ‘Give Way’ sign, a Zimbabwean ‘Stop’ sign.

(Hat tip: Global Voices)

Amazingly, Protein Wisdom’s Karl gives a fair account of Obama’s evolution as a Christian, and presents the mixed motives that Obama obviously felt when converting. What’s remarkable about Obama is his honesty in describing the alloyed motives he had for finding Christ. But no Christian would argue his faith is thereby false. On the contrary. God works in mysterious ways and sometimes redeems us when we least expect or deserve it. Karl also notes, however, the liberal Christianism this implies:

Obama is far more a candidate of the Religious Left than most realize, and far moreso than any GOP candidate has identified with the Religious Right.

That’s pushing it. I don’t hear Obama’s speeches making religious arguments for public policy; just describing a spiritual and religious core of his identity. To give one example of where Obama differs from the religious left: he does not support equal civil marriage rights, while Jeremiah Wright does. His only real explanation for this is political, not theological. He wouldn’t call a civil license "sacred" as Bush did. (It’s worth pointing out here that I don’t actually believe that the Catholic sacrament of matrimony should be extended to same-sex couples. Catholic theology cannot do that, given the way it has constructed matrimony theologically. But civilly, the issue of equality is a slam-dunk for a secular Christian like me.)

Made of thousands of chopsticks recovered from a city hall cafeteria.

A small truth from Albert Camus:

"The more I accuse myself, the more I have a right to judge you."

A temptation to be resisted.

Ross and Mickey don’t approve this message:

I do. It’s an encouraging sign that McCain is not going to pull a Rove this fall; it’s a deft way of dealing with racial difference – check out the number of African-Americans in the ad – and it co-opts the "Goodbye To All That" appeal of Obama. A bit syrupy – and McCain doesn’t always live up to its message. But it suggests to me that McCain has figured out the public mood. And sees himself as a unifying father-figure. That’s shrewd and encouraging.