I'm always too late for my comments to have much impact on the discussion, but I was reflecting on this post while watching headline news offhand today...I saw the sheriff in SC explaining why he chose not to prosecute Michael Phelps for a picture of him with a bong from several months ago. He won't prosecute, but he felt compelled to investigate him in the first place, because not doing so would "send the wrong message".

People often claim that sports and entertainment celebrities get away with murder, but there's absolutely no one as insulated from punishment in our society as politicians. What happened to Hugh Grant when he was caught getting a blow job? What happened to David Vitter?

I agree with the complaints against those that are so pro-Obama that they see everything as part of the long-term strategy. That said...I can't help but think that if revelations like the nine memos continue, it's a much more effective way of building support for investigations. Particularly if an administration who has a long record of speaking out against investigations would eventually come out in favor of them, hands tied by public opinion.

You know what we should do? Nationalize health care. Then she'll really see what the "final leap to socialism" is. Then she'll regret her intemperate rhetoric! Don't spend it all in one place!

do you think if the concern over the test was a lack of diversity in other areas - age? geographic location? - that were not strictly merit-based, that conservatives would have been in favor of overriding the state and local laws?

I mean, if it were an older fireman suing the city do you think they would have cared at all?

Got to love the suicidal nature. However you feel about Reagan, isn't his definition of a "Big Tent" exactly the opposite of what Sarah Palin claims he stood for? You don't build majorities by kicking people out. Guess it's true, Republicans really will invoke him for just about anything.

That said, this sentiment:

"Stop being this woman's mouthpiece. We all like to see a good train wreck but it's really just overkill at this point."

while sympathetic, is wrong. We need to hold her up at every possible opportunity, just like Limbaugh. For too long Republicans have hid their know-nothing policies and electoral strategies behind the comfortable faces of people like Buckley and Bush Sr. People who lean libertarian and might choose to vote Republican need to understand exactly who they're voting for.

Can we reflect on how nutty it is to complain about lame streeotypes while engaging in lame stereotypes? From LibTex:

IN the end, this article just shows once again that all Broadsheet writers come from identical backgrounds: upper middle class, college educated white women. Living in big cities, considering themselves "sophisticates", and always willing to complain about being mocked in this case even while mocking others.

Come on, you're this close to calling them volvo-driving, latte-drinking sushi-eaters. What does that have to do with anything?

Re: the article, I think that as others have pointed out, their point about "cool" has more to do with the actual music, more to do with the lineup in the 90s being sometimes vanilla more than with some hipster argument. I went to see the festival in 98 at the Rose Bowl in LA - I was given the tickets, probably wouldn't have paid for them because of the same concerns expressed - and who could argue that some of the big name acts were doing their best live show? It was well past Shawn Colvin's prime, for one. But I agree with the writer's conclusion - it was an interesting idea, a nice effort at a new scene, and broke in some good undercard acts. So for that reason alone it was worth it.

I mean, I grew up in the 80s, with my brother telling me there was no such thing as a good woman musician. All I could point to was Madonna. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) I didn't know about Chrissy Hynde or Debbie Harry or even Joni Mitchell. I still think it wasn't until Exile in Guyville that women carved out a permanent place on the indie scene (others are welcome to disagree and I'm sure they will, this was my experience.) On a theoretical level I appreciate Lilith's efforts to popularize that place, even if it didn't always result in the best live show experience.

Now, however? No doubt it would kick ass. More women singers that are awesome without being labeled riot grrl or whatever than ever before. Bring on Karen O, the Gossip, MIA, Little Boots, Kid Sister, Santogold, Rilo Kiley, Imogen Heap, Amanda Blank, Metric, Lykke Li, CSS, Ellie Goulding, and Goldfrapp. Oh, and if Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift or Rihanna are there, sure, I'll still go. Good on them.