Frank Rich on the Smithsonian Furor and Gay Rights

Mr Rich points out the obvious that no one else quite seems to see.

It still seems an unwritten rule in establishment Washington that homophobia is at most a misdemeanor. By this code, the Smithsonian’s surrender is no big deal; let the art world do its little protests. This attitude explains why the ever more absurd excuses concocted by John McCain for almost single-handedly thwarting the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are rarely called out for what they are — “bigotry disguised as prudence,” in the apt phrase of Slate’s military affairs columnist, Fred Kaplan. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has been granted serious and sometimes unchallenged credence as a moral arbiter not just by Rupert Murdoch’s outlets but by CNN, MSNBC and The Post’s “On Faith” Web site even as he cites junk science to declare that “homosexuality poses a risk to children” and that being gay leads to being a child molester.

Ken Boothe - Everything I Own

Great reggae version of the Bread song.

Krugman on the Recent Tax Deal

In Krugman's opinion, it's not a good deal. As usual, he's almost certainly right.

You may say that economic policy shouldn’t be affected by partisan considerations. But even if you believe that — how’s the weather on your planet? — you have to consider the situation likely to prevail a year from now, as the good parts of the Obama-McConnell deal are about to expire. Wouldn’t there be pressure on Democrats to offer Republicans something, anything, to improve economic prospects for 2012? And wouldn’t that be a recipe for another bad deal?

Surely the answer to both questions is yes. And that means that Mr. Obama is, as I said, paying for the release of some hostages — getting an extension of unemployment benefits and some more stimulus — by giving Republicans new hostages, which they may well use to make new, destructive demands a year from now.

Dave Dudley - Six Days on the Road

A little more of the old country stuff.

John Lennon - Oh My Love

With George Harrison and Nicky Hopkins. Phil Spector and Yoko are seen at the beginning. From the Imagine album.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Racing In The Street

Little Feat - Cold Cold Cold