Andrew Sullivan's Blog, page 2733
July 20, 2010
Back From A Breather II, Ctd
A reader writes:
I think that Ms. Palin is handling the matter perfectly. Why in Heaven's name would she fulfill what you call her "burden of proof"? Why would she "clear up a question for which there must be a mountain of readily available medical records"? The political calculus - one that seems entirely accurate - is that she does not benefit from proving that she is Trig's mother and that she benefits from refusing to prove that she is Trig's mother.
If she is not Trig's mother, then any...
Dissent Of The Day
A reader writes:
I find it interesting that you and Hitchens talk about Mel Gibson in psychodynamic terms - as though either of you are qualified to evaluate his rantings from a clinical perspective. In his more lucid moments, Gibson has admitted to being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder.
This doesn't excuse his behavior, but it certainly explains it a lot better than most commentary on the subject so far. His behavior - certainly his rage - is actually rather common in the manic phase of...
Mental Health Break
I missed the Old Spice boomlet last week. But the inevitable parodies live on:
Hosting - Web Design and Development - Free - Old Spice - Sports Related
Palin-Johnston Feud Update
Levi's mom and sister talk to Inside Edition about first hearing about the engagement on the cover of Us magazine. Jesse Griffin shares what's in store:
... Levi's most recent girlfriend (before he
lost his mind), is giving an interview this evening on Inside Edition
as well, and divulging the things that Levi told her about the Palins. Oh THIS might ruffle a few feathers in the new love nest! Apparently the young lady's name is Brianna, and she is gorgeous!
Elsewhere in the tabloids...
Top Secret America, Ctd
Here's part two. Marcy Wheeler's criticism:
I'm beginning to agree with Rayne's comment of the other day that the only explanation for the length of the WaPo series on contractorsis to please the Pulitzer committee. The other most (perhaps more)likely explanation for the style of the piece is that editors havetried so hard not to piss off the security establishment–and to stopshort of voicing the conclusions that Dana Priest and William Arkin'swork support–that they've turned Priest and...
Weigel's Quote From The Doctor
Many readers have pointed out that the citation Dave used from the two page fax issued hours before polls opened on election day 2008 was inaccurate. Dave cited this:
From the letter: "Routine prenatal testing early in the second trimester [of Palin's pregnancy:] determined that the fetus had the chromosomal
condition known as Down Syndrome. [The Alaska governor and her husband,
Todd, decided to go ahead with the pregnancy.:]"
Dave added the words in bold. They do not exist in the original ...
Sarah Palin, Human
Ambers studies her press strategy:
Here's where Palin is getting quite savvy as a politician: when shemakes a mistake, or appears to do something dumb, she is quick toexploit her own misfortune ... not in a way that excuses her originalmistake, but that alludes to the improbable fact that there is somein-joke, some secret code that the rest of us aren't getting. As muchas the verb "humanize" is overused, Palin knows how to humanizeherself. That's a rare talent for a politician to cultivate...
The Unstoppable Sarah Palin, Ctd
Frum deciphers Palin's endorsement of establishment candidate Kelly Ayotte, the New Hampshire attorney general running for US Senate:
1) The "early states" theory. Palin wants to earn favors in
primary states: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. In those
she is nominating likely winners even when (as with Iowa's
Brandstad) that likely winner tilts more to the middle than
current political identity.2) The "go with the winner" theory. Palin is seeking to make...
Andrew Sullivan's Blog
- Andrew Sullivan's profile
- 153 followers
