Category: The Dish

Be afraid. More background here.

Several readers say I’m too gloomy abut Clinton’s lead in California. She has a massive lead among blacks, but that may well disappear by next February. And this time in the last election cycle, Lieberman, Gephardt and Dean were the front-runners. I guess by hyping Clinton’s poll numbers, I’m merely playing into her strategy of inevitability. But although I’m obviously hoping that Obama manages to help us put the Clinton era behind us, this blog tries to look at unpleasant facts as best I can. She isn’t inevitable, of course. Just relentless.

A plea from a music-lover. (Hat tip: Arts Journal.)

An analysis of the last four years:

Our response to 9/11 may have done more to further the interests of our jihadist opponents than our own, in that we have weakened an international system they view as illegitimate and destabilized the Middle East in a manner they now seek to exploit… Perception of the inability of the United States to deliver global security (and unwilling to be constrained by international opinion and cooperative arrangements) will erode global confidence, contribute to economic and political instability, and encourage non-state insurgents. Within the Middle East region, our natural allies in this fight are strong, moderate states, even if some of those states espouse views that run counter to our own. To restore vitality to the system we must begin to reconcile with proto-democratic Iran and secular Syria…

…Promoting the primacy of economic over political development is as crucial to stability in the Middle East today as it was in our own history. In the end, encouraging the growth of strong, vibrant and moderate states in the Middle East is our best hedge against the global jihadist threat.

An attack from the right on Edwards.

Another possible medical use.

In Australia, public hospitals in Victoria will soon prohibit the barbaric practice of involuntary male genital mutilation:

The $2 million a year saved by the ban will be spent on urgent elective surgery.

"It is important to ensure hospital services are prioritised towards treating patients who have a clinical need for surgery to improve their health," Mr Andrews said.

Win-win.

Brent Scowcroft back in 1996, predicting the result of invading Iraq, an interesting coda to the Cheney YouTube:

A cost-benefit analysis.

To say I was moved by the avalanche of emails about my wedding jitters would be an understatement. I feel a lot better having read scores of good wishes and advice and reminiscences. Thanks so much. This may be the best advice:

Sorry, it’s not about how to relax. You’re fucked there. That’s just the way it works.

However, here’s the best advice I ever got for my wedding:

Take 5-10 minutes at some point during the reception, find Aaron, grab two glasses of champagne, and walk away with him. Find a nice spot to sit, enjoy the drinks and each other, and as you do, survey all the people, family and friends, who have come to celebrate with you. Remember them all.

The rest of the night will be a blur, but you’ll remember those 5-10 minutes, and all of those people, and that moment, forever.

Will do. And this is the toughest love:

You’re nervous? Of course you are. You’re submitting your autonomy to the State in exchange for legal recognition of and protection of your relationship. You’re entering a contract to regard your beloved as family, a contract that (some day in your future) will supersede love and affection. You don’t really know what marriage is about until the day you have a fight that so bad the only reason you stay together is because you’re married.

The storm will pass. You’ll both still be there, still married, and glad you are, and you’ll say "Oh, that’s what the big deal about this piece of paper is all about."