Sometimes waking up really early is a nice way to start your day. Sadly, that's not the case today. I deeply regret giving myself enough internet time before work this morning to wander over to Andrew Sullivan's blog. Today he links to his article in Time on why he
supports Dean in the Democratic primary.
Because he hit on several reasons why I still support Howard Dean--despite HoHo's miserable poll numbers in the primary/caucus states today--I now feel dirty. Icky, even.
Full disclosure: I can't stand Sullivan. I loudly and vociferously quit my Salon subscription because they insisted on publishing his crap. The main reason why he makes my blood pressure go through the roof is that he is the media's ONLY OUT GAY/HIV+ writer and, as such, represents the gay community to much of the media-consuming world.
At the same time, the press gives him a platform for his self-hating, pro-catholic, right-wing, self-serving rhetoric as if he had ANY currency or credibility in the gay community. He does not. He's on a strange personal mission to make it OK to worship Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and "root for" Republicans, without admitting the obvious problems in having those same people decimate your civil rights and demonize you for any number of society's ills. It's not valid and it's unfair to give him such a large voice.
His recent dustup with Atrios on the radio reminded me all too well why I dislike Sullivan so strongly. Sully's child-like baiting of Atrios as not sufficiently contrarian was remarkable. He tried to "shame the Lefty" for not playing by Sully's imaginary rules. Whatever.
That being said, he's not going anywhere. Also, I do think Sully is a reliable "canary in the coalmine" voice for conservatives who think.
His current take on the Democratic primary is that
If Dean is a doctor, he's got the diagnosis dead right. I say, Unleash the id.
After reading the Time article twice, I'm still scratching my head. I understand it just fine. It even makes sense. That's what makes me nervous. If Sully agrees with me, is he a genius? Or is this something more sinister? Are those flying monkeys up there? Pigs? Who knows.
I note, however, that it is in the article's subtitle that he gives away his real intent: whatever may happen, Sullivan will still "root for" Bush. Despicable.
Any thoughts?