Andrew Sullivan's Blog, page 2613

Stemming Federal Funding, Ctd

by Chris Bodenner

In response to the court ruling, Kinsley puts the views of its supporters under the microscope:

Of the tens of thousands of embryos discarded by fertility clinicsevery year, a few are used for stem cell research. Extracting the stemcells involves destroying the embryos, which would be destroyed anyway.True, the destruction of embryos used for research is purposeful,whereas the destruction of embryos in the everyday work of fertilityclinics is incidental. But is that...

Impulses

by Patrick Appel

Bernstein tries to sort ideologies:

I do think that there's something authentically different betweenliberals and conservatives, at least some of the time, and at least insome cases.  If not first principles, though, perhaps we can call themimpulses.  To me, the liberal impulse is basically: We Can Do Better.  And the conservative impulse?  Don't Make It Worse.  Liberals, orperhaps all of us when we're inspired by the liberal impulse, lookaround and see a variety of problems...

"I'm Sorry" Ctd

by Chris Bodenner

A reader writes:

Andrew Marin's "I'm Sorry" campaign is merely a bait and switch to keep the pews and the collection dish full; it is nothing close to love and acceptance. In his own words, "I can still dignify someone's story and humanity and experiences as totally legitimate without giving away what I theologically think, feel and believe." If that isn't a classic example of deception, I don't know what is. What I do know is that isn't what I think of as a sincere apology...

The Used Car Trade, Ctd

by Patrick Appel

 A reader writes:

Couldn't this be a simple case of supply and demand?  We're in an economic downturn and the majority of Americans live in areas where a car is mandatory to function.  As Americans exercise frugality while replacing a necessity, might they not just be increasing the demand for used cars in the same way store brand groceries have experienced much higher sales?  Even at 10-30% higher, they're still cheaper than new cars.

Another reader:

Cash for Clunkers took a...

The View From Your Recession

by Patrick Appel

A reader writes:

I lost my job in May. I finally got an interview with an out of state firm last week.  The thought of moving my family across the country was hard enough to consider. They made me an offer. It would be a cut over my last job but still it would provide health insurance – heck they even would chip in on living expenses.  Talked to my real estate agent today.  We are under water by about twelve thousand. My choices are stay unemployed or walk away from the house...

The Daily Wrap

Today on the Dish, Conor arm-wrestled with Poulos over liberty vs. tyranny. Drezner dissected the millennials' attitudes on war; private prisons seemed a little perverse; and we heard a personal testimony from the ground on dropout factories. Alaska may be the start of the establishment upset thanks to Palin, and an apologetic Christian said sorry to his gay best friends, but still thought it was a sin.

On the Mosque, Santorum spread lies; Harper had faith in American society; and Daniel...

Police, Firefighters, And Their Salaries, Ctd

by Patrick Appel

A couple readers made this point:

Conor's recent post "Police, Firefighters, and their Salaries"highlighted an interesting issue, and one I'm inclined to agree withhim on.  However, I wanted to point out one area where I think DanFoster and Conor were both more than a little misleading.

You quoted Foster as saying "average total compensation for an officerin Oakland — a city in which the median family earns $47,000 — is$162,000 per year."  While I don't know for sure, my guess...

On Elites, Liberty, and Claims Against It

by Conor Friedersdorf

In a post over at Ricochet, James Poulos says a lot of smart things that are difficult to summarize succinctly, as is his wont. I'd like to run through a few of them.

Early on he picks up on the question I posed to Tea Partiers (after prompting from William Voegeli): If
we're choosing our ruling class the wrong way now, what alternative do
you recommend?

Mr. Poulos says:

I think it's consistent with the intuitions and judgments powering the tea parties to answer your...

Quote For The Day

by Chris Bodenner

"The John McCain of 2009-10 was a McCain we had not seen since themid-1990s. The Senator owes his victory to the pressure he receivedfrom conservatives and Tea Partiers. To receive that support,he had to give up his maverick positions that have sometimes given aidand comfort to the liberals. I'm sure Senator McCain knows very wellthat he would not have won if he had continued his reputation as theDemocrats' favorite Republican," - Richard Viguerie, direct mail pioneer and...

Can Church Be Hip? Ctd

by Chris Bodenner

A reader writes:

I recommend Pedro the Lion. It's pretty heavy and often crushingly-depressing music from a deeply disturbed mind, but nonetheless deeply religious. As for songs, I'd recommend "Diamond Ring" above all others, but also "Bad Things to Such Good People" and "Lullaby".

Another writes:

David Bazan, formerly of Pedro the Lion, has true indie bonafides with releases on Jade Tree and a history in the Seattle hardcore scene.  Not all his music is related to religion...