Andrew Sullivan's Blog, page 2629

Reflections on Dr. Laura

by Conor Friedersdorf

I'm confused by news of her impending retirement.

After her controversial exchange with a caller, she issued what seemed to be a forthright apology:

I talk every day about doing the right thing.  And yesterday, I did the wrong thing. 

I didn't intend to hurt people, but I did.  And that makes it the wrong thing to have done.

I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the "n" word all the way out - more than one time.  And that was wrong.  I'll say it...

Dog Toy Or Sex Toy?

by Chris Bodenner

The answer, and ten more tricky examples, here.

Chris Bodenner - Arts - Movies - United States - Recreation

When Does Disapproval Become Coercion?

by Chris Bodenner

In a sharp and nuanced post, Wendy Kaminer warns liberals who both condemn Cordoba critics and want Dr. Laura off the air:

[L:]inguisticbans enforced by social disapprobation are not legal bans that violateFirst Amendment rights, and Schlessinger's critics have their ownrights to shame or boycott her and other speakers they disdain.  Butthey have no right not to be offended, and if she should be wary ofencouraging bigotry, so should her liberal critics, as the furor overthe...

The Flooding In Pakistan

by Patrick Appel

NASA provides jaw-dropping before and after pictures.

NASA - Space - Technology - Education - Images and Movies

Coulter at Homocon

by Conor Friedersdorf

Matt Lewis rounds up some heartening reactions from the right. Says Jon Henke: "In time, conservatives will argue that the positive impact that marriage
has on the gay community is further evidence of the importance of the
institution of marriage."

Sounds familiar.

Conservatism - Ann Coulter - Politics - People - Gay community

A Flip in Perspective

by Conor Friedersdorf

Is Imam Rauf of Park 51 "with us or against us" in the War on Terrorism? That's the stark formulation used by many of his critics, who complain about his various shortcomings. Stephen Schwarz rounds up his most controversial statements in The Weekly Standard:

-- On March 21, 2004, he told the Sydney Morning Herald that the U.S. and the West would have to recognize the damage they have done to Muslims before terrorism can end. The Australian daily reported "Imam Feisal...

The Copyright Balance

by Patrick Appel

David Post reignites the debate:

It's not just that copyright protection lasts absurdly long, stillprotecting recordings made more than seventy years ago; it's thatcopyright, inherently, operates to the detriment of the public whenapplied in retrospect, to works that have already beencreated. Lester Young, alas, can no longer be incentivized to producethese performances — they've already been created. We won't get anymore brilliant performances by Teddy Wilson if we protect...

The Free Market Of Speech

by Chris Bodenner

Linda Holmes gives Dr. Laura and Palin an introductory civics lesson:

[T:]he First Amendment doesn't guarantee that speaking your mind will have no economic consequences.Proclaiming that those without thick skins probably shouldn't marryoutside their race is always going to be, let us say, commercially risky if you're aiming for a broad audience — or if your sponsors are. General Motors and Motel 6 both reportedly pulled their sponsorshipover the flap, prior to...

Chart Of The Day

by Patrick Appel

Howard Gleckman reads a new paper (pdf) by Adam Looney on the Bush tax cuts:

Keep in mind that Obama's plan to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for nearlyall--as opposed to all—would still add trillions to the deficit overthe next decade. When Adam says the Obama plan would make a "small downpayment toward fiscal responsibility" he means it would make thedeficit less bad—relative to current law—than extending the tax cutsfor everyone, including the highest earners. Still...

Dear President Bush, Ctd

by Chris Bodenner

His spokesman on the Cordoba controversy:

President Bush has no comment.

Goldblog tried. Others did too.

President of the United States - United States - President - George W. Bush - History