Hitting the Nail on the Head

Andrew Sullivan is a vocal, passionate, and intelligent supporter of Barack Obama. And I think this is exactly the reason, more than any other. It's not just the brilliant rhetoric, the appeal of post-racial politics, or even his detailed policy proposals - although I like all of these things about him. The man's philosophy of government is as brilliant as it is rare.

In politics, detailed policy positions certainly do matter. But style, instincts, integrity, and philosophy matter a great deal as well. These are the areas where Hillary Clinton patently fails, and where Obama succeeds - or at least has a chance of succeeding - in a way that few politicians ever have. I'd also point out that I think that none of the Republican candidates come anywhere near the mark on these fronts either.

This One Is For Melissa

Megan McArdle posts twice on the ridiculous aggression that sometimes occurs between meat-eaters get around vegetarians/vegans. Shit is whack yo.

Muhammed is His prophet

This is a great piece in the Atlantic from a few years ago about the Koran and it's textual history.

Words do matter

Which is why I am voting for Obama.

Obamamania!

Obama is my choice for President. Both because of his general centrist, non-confrontational, hopeful, consensus rhetoric, but also because of many of the details of his policies.

As far as I am concerned, no one makes the case for Obama better than Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic. This long feature essay brilliantly expounds the reasons why Obama has the chance to change American politics like no one in a generation. These two blog posts from Iowa caucus night are great little feel-good pieces that can't help but get you inspired. In a lot of ways, the fact that Obama even has a chance makes me love America. He's got lots of other good stuff, besides just the posts I linked to.

I have seen a lot of different analyses of the details of who voted for whom and why that matters, and turnout and whatnot but here is probably the most succinct, important version - and it looks great for Democrats!

OBAMA!

The Best Paragraph She's Read All Year

That is how Megan McArdle describes this bit from Tyler Cowen. Two of my favorite very smart people.

The paragraph in question is extremely elucidating. I am not entirely sure I understand exactly the reasoning behind the first points about lowering costs - I'd like to see the evidence for these. But the final sentence is brilliantly succinct.

[A single-payer health care system] would be raising taxes and lowering medical innovation to give poor people a good deal more financial security and a slight bit more health; that is the relevant trade-off.

As in most things, reasonable people can disagree on which is the preferable alternative, but all should concede that this fundamental tradeoff exists.

The rest of Tyler's paragraphs are well worth reading as well.