How do people get to be pundits, anyway? Why does anybody pay attention to them? Who are they to begin with?

These probing questions come to mind whenever I read anything by or about Andrew Sullivan. He never seems to be coming from a consistent place, and his opinions shift wildly.

In this interview, he basically is saying that most of what he has said before, about Bush and the Iraq war and the Republicans in general, was all wrong, even though his heart was in the right place. But now he thinks so and so . . . and we are supposed to listen to him again, and also care what he thinks?

His promotions of the war, as it was ramping up, were declamatory and buttressed in what he, apparently, believed to be fact. Now he says he was wrong, because he was deceived. And now, he believes, he has the Real Facts; and the very existence of this interview implies that what he says from now on will be of some value.

I and millions of others could easily discern that the supposed facts supporting the war were just sheer nonsense. So I don't think I will trust Andrew Sullivan's opinion on anything. He seems, at least, to be very gullible, and easily influenced. What worth could his opinions possibly have? For all the critical insight he has, he could be replaced by just about anyone.

I am queer, so of course I agree with any pro-gay ideas that float around. I guess it's better having a gay gasbag occupying us than a christian-right gasbag. But it's still just gas. Mark my words, here is man to ignore.

So . . . I don't get it. Is the son gay or not? First it seems he is not, then we are obliquely informed that he may be. But he still might not be, apparently, since she finally says it's none of her business. I'm too confused to be offended - or amused. The sub-headline says he's straight. But he acts gay.

In short, WTF?

Mireille C (above) has it right. Just watch and count how many angry and abusive letters this article draws. There is plenty to be said about the import of the Beatie phenomenon -- things about our emerging new understanding of gender, and how social construction of it is constricting even to straight-ahead men and women. But no -- the Haters will chime in, with a certainty that clearly is not derived from actual experience. Let me try it: "These so-called self-styled transsexuals are just mentally-disturbed men and women who MUTILATE THEIR BODIES in order to better pretend that they are something they are not. Being gay is something you're born with, but transsexualism is a choice. These people deserve no sympathy and certainly no insurance money for their surgeries. I don't mind when trannies are hookers, but when they attempt to be normal citizens, they are being sick and disgusting. Why, I oughta just haul off and . . ." Okay, you've seen it before. I suggest to all the Haters that they learn something about the subject - anything - before spewing what is not an opinion, but a blind prejudice. And let's the rest of us talk about gender in an intelligent way, as this article does. [And yes, I am a transsexual - or, as I like to say, a Former transsexual.]