It’s Friday, the weather is supposed to be good (they’re actually saying “balmy” — a pretty funny term on the muggy Gulf Coast), and yesterday’s posts sucked my brain dry. So I’m loading up the camera gear and heading out to… somewhere.
Since I’m utterly disinclined to opine on much of anything, I’ll share some posts from others that I read.
Here’s Andrew Sullivan, for instance, responding to Mickey Kraus about why he supports Barack Obama, and the degree to which race / ethnicity is a factor:
To argue that a teenager in Lahore would get this message instantly from Obama’s face if he were president of the United States is not to say that Obama’s candidacy is only successful because he’s black. The most important point that teenage would get is not about Obama but about America: that we are not bound by racial or religious animosity, but open to all. And it would reflect Obama’s capacity to transcend his race rather than exploit it.
Yes. What he said (and he said more than this, as is often the case). Unfortunately, this level of subtlety is beyond the reach of many. Also — I’m sorry to say that electing Obama would only prove that some Americans are not bound by racial or religious animosity. Better than nothing, but…
James Joyner finds (via WaPo) an odd German ban on the use of the honorific “Doctor”. From the article:
Under a little-known Nazi-era law, only people who earn PhDs or medical degrees in Germany are allowed to use “Dr.” as a courtesy title. The law was modified in 2001 to extend the privilege to degree-holders from any country in the European Union. But docs from the United States and anywhere else outside Europe are still forbidden to use the honorific. Violators can face a year behind bars.
Not a problem for Polimom, who neither possesses a PhD, nor has plans to visit Germany anytime soon. An interesting tidbit nonetheless.
And finally, here’s Dr. Steven Taylor — one of my favorite PoliSci gurus — with an update from one of our many well-planned Wars. The latest dangerous drug? Salvia:
[M]y point isn’t the support salvia smoking, but to note that this notion that we make policies based on saving one life is absurd, yet it pervades anti-drug politics. Further, I am so thoroughly convinced of the failure of our current approach to drugs that any expansion gets my hackles up.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so sad.
On the other hand, my Floral Set doesn’t include any salvia at all. I think Dr. Taylor may have provided my photographic target for today’s session…
So what are you reading? Feel free to share interesting stuff you’ve come across in the comments thread, and have a great Friday!
Obama-Clinton, Clinton-Obama – either dream team is McCain’s worst nightmare. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama can easily make that nightmare a reality for him now. Here’s how:
Both publicly pledge that if are nominated for President, the other candidate will be their first choice for the Vice Presidential spot.
This immediately puts a stop to attacks on the other, or calling their ability into question. They can still debate the issues and clarify their differences, but the main focus of their anger and outrage can now be directed at the Bush-McCain policies of the past 8 years.
The enthusiastic support of the other is exactly what each candidate will need in the fall to win. Each appeals to the voters the other has the hardest time attracting. If they combine their strengths – “hope” and “work” – they both will almost certainly be in a position to lead America out of the mess we are in.