Links gone wild!
A pair of worthy voices today: To begin I’ll offer this essay in the New York Times from law professor Stanley Fish, who counts Duke University among his academic postings. Fish is a fellow with whom I hardly ever agree, but like anyone with a truly supple mind he’s capable of surprising readers (or annoying them; see below). In this case he rises to the defense of both Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford, two high-profile Republican who’ve endured much bad press lately. Fish argues that their explanations for recent events can, and should, be taken at face value — essentially, that their cigars are just cigars, and that it’s a mistake to plumb for deeper meaning. Be sure to read the comments, though. Lots of Times readers seem to want their attitudes certified, not challenged.
Also in the Times was this piece from David Brooks, who articulates a point I’d been pondering for a while. It’s fine to disagree with the course set by President Obama (and God knows I have endless quibbles with what he’s doing), but it’s nice to see someone bring dignity to the job. When it comes to dignified comportment, Clinton was a disaster, of course, and Bush wasn’t much of an improvement. I give Obama credit for, as Brooks says, conducting himself in a way that “may revitalize the concept of dignity for a new generation.”
I read about this video while thumbing through Sports Illustrated at the gym recently. A college softball player hits a home run (her first) in a tournament elimination game, but hurts her leg while running the bases. Two players from the other team decide to carry her around the base path, carefully lowering the injured girl so she can touch each base with her foot. And they did so knowing it would end their season. It’s true that how you play the game matters most.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:00 am
IMO, Sarah Palin shows an incredible amount of dignity considering the amount of sludge and mud that has been hurled at her and her family over the last 6 months. I don’t know where she gets the restraint not to go ballistic against these assassins. Andrew Jackson would have challenged David Letterman to a duel and shot him dead had he made those jokes about his family. Brooks is correct in that BHO appears dignified and dispassionate. He’s a thoroughly polished package designed by his handlers to appear that way; that is as long as the teleprompter doesn’t break down. One more thing, any columnist that uses the word “equipoise” has too much starch in his shorts.
July 12th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
GD, got excited when i heard you were blogging again, but so disappointed to read this. most pundits took their explanations at face value (though it’s not wise to take anything a governor who goes awol and lies to his staff about his whereabouts at face value) and didn’t plumb for deeper meaning. the pundits merely wondered how the recent events would affect Palin’s and Sanford’s political careers, which is natural since they are politicians. didn’t have time to read more than a few Times’ readers comments, but none that i read seemed to be wanting an attitude certified.
Mikey: Sarah Palin shows an incredible amount of dignity? she throws poor Bristol, who flagrantly disregarded abstinence, onto the national stage as a spokeswoman for abstinence. Palin constantly seeks attention from the media, then whines when that attention makes it painfully obvious she is poorly qualified to hold high office. about Obama: his dignity has nothing to do with how well he reads from a teleprompter or how thoroughly polished his package is. it’s that he treats others, whether or not he agrees with them, with respect.
July 12th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Lippzee: Why are you arguing with me? I just pointed you to Stanley Fish’s analysis. Your quibble is with him.
July 12th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
G.D., i’m quibbling with you because you pointed me to Stanley Fish’s analysis. as if most pundits cared if Sanford’s mistress is really his soulmate or Palin’s resignation was sincere. i want Gearino not Fish. if i want Fish i’ll pick up a copy of field & stream. and i know that damn Mikey never practiced no abstinence.