Clinton’s Pakistan Strategy

Scott Horton despairs of the MSM's misreading. Money quote:

An important part of Clinton’s job is public diplomacy, and her remarks in Pakistan this week are just that. A focal relationship is being recast, new points of connection are being defined, and criticisms once only whispered in back corridors are now stated openly. Clinton has made clear that the United States is prepared to dish out serious criticism, and also to receive it in return. Pakistan, at long last, is being treated as a fellow democracy and not as a military dictatorship in waiting. Beyond this, Clinton has forced open again a platform for more peaceful relations between the subcontinent’s two major powers. No one thinks peace is just around the corner for Pakistan. But we are witnessing the development of a policy that seriously engages its problems.

Yglesias Award Nominee

"If I had been free to blog earlier, I would have added my voice to those, starting with Kathryn, who praised the president's dignified trip to Dover Air Force Base to comfort the families of our fallen, and honor the dead. It was well done, and the right thing to do, and I'm delighted. Moreover, he has continued his regular visits to the wounded vets at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval. I had worried, in the first days of his presidency, that he might use these occasions as photo ops and promos for his presidency, but he has not. Morale of our soldiers suffers when he dithers, and soars when they see he understands and honors them. Which he clearly does. Good on him," – Michael Ledeen.

The Daily Wrap

Today was a big day for the Dish, as the HIV ban was finally struck down by the president's pen. Andrew shared his thoughts.

Levi continued to turn up the heat on Palin, who appeared less qualified than Quayle. Freddie, Rauch, and Andrew examined the pitfalls of empire in Afghanistan, Goldstone sat down with Bill Moyers, Hillary played the bad cop to Pakistan, and Andrew explained to John Cole the wariness of dealing with a Democratic president who supports gay rights. More details from the Nozette case emerged here and here.

In Halloween coverage, we judged the best costumes, saw the holiday as a pride parade for straight people, looked at fellating bats, really looked at fellating bats, and featured one of the best MHBs in a while. Meanwhile, young Iranians were still in the streets.

— C.B.

Free At Last, Ctd

 A reader writes:

If nothing else, in a minor fashion this renews my faith that my government (hopefully soon to be yours as well) sometimes does the right thing. It takes time, especially when trying to overcome fear and ignorance, but we eventually get there. I believe the same will be true for marriage equality, DADT, etc. This nation was built to progress on an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary scale, and sometimes we take a step back in that progress.

Another reader:

Glad you're moving forward with citizenship.  I became a citizen yesterday – at my ceremony there were 420 people from 55 different countries.  It really was a fantastic experience — an intoxicating mix of pride, diversity, schmaltz, humor, friendliness and optimism……just like our country.

By the way, nobody prepares you for how difficult the national anthem is to sing! Got a bit emotional at that point, I have to admit.

I look forward to screwing the national anthem up like every red-blooded American. But right now, I just feel weird. I know I should be totally delirious at the news that I've been waiting for and fighting for for more than a decade. But like most huge anticipated moments, this one doesn't quite have the immediate punch. You feel numb and unreal. You've spent so long steeling yourself against disappointment you barely know what it is to celebrate. But thank you for all the emails of support and kindness. They mean a huge amount. You were, in some ways, among the best friends I had in this period. The Dish cares.

The Gay Animal Kingdom

A High School English teacher has been suspended for having his students read an old article by Jonah Lehrer on the evolutionary roots of homosexuality. A bit from the offending article:

Darwin imagined sex as a relatively straightforward transaction. Males compete for females. Evolutionary success is defined by the quantity of offspring. Thus, any distractions from the business of making babies—distractions like homosexuality, masturbation, etc.—are precious wastes of fluids. You’d think by now, several hundred million years after sex began, nature would have done away with such inefficiencies, and males and females would only act to maximize rates of sexual reproduction. 

But the opposite has happened. Instead of copulation becoming more functional and straightforward, it has only gotten weirder as species have evolved—more sodomy and other frivolous pleasures that are useless for propagating the species. The more socially complex the animal, the more sexual “deviance” it exhibits. Look at primates: Compared to our closest relatives, contemporary, Westernized Homo sapiens are the staid ones.