Andrew Sullivan's Blog, page 2659

Bin Laden vs The Cordoba Mosque, Ctd

A new study finds that contemporary mosques are a deterrent to Islamic terrorism.
















Osama bin Laden - Islamic terrorism - Terrorism - Mosque - Terrorist Organizations

A SCOTUS Marriage Compromise?

The Chicago Tribune backs what Jon Rowe predicted would be Anthony Kennedy's ultimate decision:

This ruling, of course, will stand only if it is upheld by the U.S. Supreme
which would be a drastic and highly controversial step. But the
justices might seize on the same middle option used by several states —
civil unions. The court could rule that equal protection requires
gay couples the same prerogatives granted heterosexual couples, but
by the same name.

That course...

Dear President Bush

Goldblog tries to do with the mosque controversy what I failed to do with torture:

One American politician who has always understood the differencebetween the mass of American Muslims, on the one hand, and radicalIslamists on the other is President George W. Bush. ... I would hope -- especially now that he isfinished writing his book-- that he would speak out for Muslim enfranchisement in America, inparticular in the wake of the "Ground Zero" mosque controversy. Heshould let American Muslims...

Oil In The Gulf Of Mexico

So why was that news?

At least half a million barrels of oil and drilling fluids had been
spilled offshore before the gusher that began after the April 20
explosion, according to government records. Much more than that has
spilled from pipelines, vessel traffic and wells in state waters --
including hundreds of spills in Louisiana alone -- records show, some
it since April 20.

Runoff and waste from cornfields, sewage plants, golf courses and oil-stained parking lots drain into the ...

Mental Health Break

Happy summer:

Rainbow Timelapse - Napoli, Italia from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Vimeo - Multimedia - Development Frameworks - Flash - Business

Quote For The Day IV

"Those who pushed hardest for the Iraq war, Reuel Marc Gerecht, Frank Gaffney, William Kristol, Charles Krauthammer, Liz and Dick Cheney and many others familiar and obscure are now turning up the heat for an attack on Iran. Why so much pressure so early? The reason may lie in the very improbability of the cause. Given the geographical position of the U.S. and the overwhelming strength of our offensive weapons and armed forces, the only way that we could possibly feel threatened by Iran is by...

Quote For The Day III

"As for the few of you who wrote to Goldblog to say they were praying
for Hitch's death, I can say that he does not care one way or another
what you do or think or pray, but on behalf of myself and the entire
team here at The Atlantic, let me just say, Go fuck yourselves," - Jeffrey Goldberg. He talks with Hitch here.
















Religion and Spirituality - Christopher Hitchens - Atheism - People - Cancer

Finally, Pushback On Che Trendiness

From the streets of New York City:

Helpful comparison with Mussolini after the jump:

Pennsylvania Station - New York City - United States - New York - Metro Areas

Quote For The Day II

"I hate to say this, but I set the Internet up. I set the
Internet up so they would talk bad about me because it's the only way
to get hits," - Basil Marceaux, former gubernatorial candidate but forever in our hearts.
















Basil Marceaux - Tennessee - Politics - United States - Republican Party

The Medical Labels Bias, Ctd

A reader writes:

I enjoy the Dish immensely and rarely find myself in a position of vehement dissent, or find a post just hurtful and shallow.  But the one on Dan Ariely's research hit a nerve. He did near-anecdotal research finding that we feel like big jerks if we discover we've laughed at a person with a legitimate disability.  We even try to see the good in them when we realize they're overcoming an obstacle.  Then he extrapolates to say that this encourages us to embrace labels so that...