The Dish

… of junk e-mail. Kurt Kleiner marks the anniversary.

Bryan Finoki on torture spaces:

One thing, though, about the concept of torture space that freaks me out as I give it more attention is not only how eerie its design may be with an architectural intent to inflict misery on its occupant, but how frighteningly suggestive torture space is of the mentality of the designer itself. If architecture is any sort of psychological mold or mirror, then what torture space says about those who create it (either by design or in some momentary whim of dismal improvisation) creeps me out even more so than what the space implies for the psychology of the one who must be forced to endure it.

In Givenchy no less.

Obama stands his ground. Weigel outlines why the tax holiday is a shameless pander. It has to be one of the most depressingly crude pieces of political pandering I’ve seen in ages. But Clinton and McCain are at one on it, which tells you something about their fitness to be president. Personally, I want a president able to resist this kind of crap, not endorse it.

A primer on how much Republican cheer-leader Hugh Hewitt hates John McCain.

Noam has an interesting and largely persuasive take. How many black ministers in Chicago could discuss post-modernism, be gay-inclusive and socially progressive?

A reader writes:

I’m a Democrat, and I’ve been watching O’Reilly and Hannity a lot lately, as well as reading The Corner and listening to Rush every day. And I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re right.

I am totally not voting for Reverend Wright anymore.

Me neither.

A reader thinks so:

Andrew stop despairing. There is nothing to despair. The underdog HAS to take the champ to the 13th round, be beaten within an inch of his life and fight through all the dirty tricks the champ will use. Otherwise any victory will be second guessed forever. Go watch Cinderella Man.

And Obama denouncing Wright today? All part of the plan. What conversation serves Obama better – talking about religion or talking about health care? Religion. Clinton is left out of that conversation. And Obama gets to denounce a racist! How cool is that? Heck, even within the constructs of the hero’s journey, Obama has now had to sacrifice a loved one. Perfect!!

She’s on O’Reilly and her surrogate is accusing her opponent of being a "pansy". Classy – but vintage Clinton. Never miss an opportunity to exploit homophobia. Remember DOMA? Remember doubling the discharges from the military? Remember inaction on AIDS? Remember the Clintons’ using anti-gay marriage ads in the South in 1996? And yet the gays keep coming back for more. I don’t understand why. I really don’t.

A reader writes:

I saw your post about the flier that is running connecting Ayers to Obama.  Wow. Ayers only contributed $200 to Obama’s campaign?  I’m WAY more connected to Obama.  In fact I’ve:

• Contributed more than $200 to his campaign
• Ran registration at a convention he attended and spoke at
• Ate dinner in the same restaurant as him, and at one point, was within 10 feet of him
• I’m a member of several Obama related facebook groups

So I think Obama should probably repudiate me now and avoid the rush.

Me too. I’ve been in the same room as Obama and have spoken with him on the phone. I support the flat tax, oppose affirmative action, want social security means-tested, published "The Bell Curve", helped kill off Clinton’s healthcare plan in the 1990s, favored the Iraq war, and endorsed Bush in 2000.