Shots in the Dark

Is it a coincidence that at the beginning of the Bush presidency, Americans (some of us, anyway) hated everything French—remember “freedom fries“?— and that at the end of the Bush presidency, French actress Marion Cotillard wins the Academy Award for best actress—and all of our hearts in the process?

“I’m totally overwhelmed with joy and sparkles and fireworks and everything that goes like ‘boom boom boom’…..”

Perhaps we are returning to sanity…..

A fascinating piece in the Times on the importance of closing doors, both literally and figuratively.

One implication, it seems to me: We are nearing the end of the era in which we consider “multitasking” a cultural good and a personal talent. Thank God.

The Crimson follows up the Times and this blog in reporting that Stanford raised some $200 million more than Harvard last year…..

….till publication of The Greatest Game! And then things are really going to get crazy around here….

Portrait of the blogger as a young fan.

You knew it would have to happen: John McCain has had to apologize for the conservative radio host who introduced him and thrice used the phrase, “Barack Hussein Obama.”

Bill Cunningham, who is host of “The Big Show with Bill Cunningham,”…lambasted the national news media, drawing cheers from the audience, as being soft in their coverage of Mr. Obama compared to the Republican presidential candidates, declaring they should “peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama.” [emphasis added]

McCain subsequently apologized for Cunningham’s implication that Obama is Muslim—and what a shame that that’s considered an insult—though Cunningham did not.

But will the Republicans start using this sleazy tactic frequently? I heard Georgia Republican Jack Kingston say it on “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week, and it was so egregious—”Barack Hussein Obama,” the congressman said, and he might as well have been saying “Barack Hitler Obama.” I wanted to hit him. Or throw something at my TV. But since it’s a brand-new, 46″ flat screen, which I bought to watch the Giants’ glorious victory over the Patriots, I restrained myself.

Anyway, might I also point out that the phrase “peel the bark off” is itself pretty disturbing. I’ve never heard it applied to a person—I’ve never really heard it applied to anything, frankly—and a quick Google search doesn’t turn much up. But when you consider the source, it’s a violent image, and the fact that bark is dark lends it racial overtones…..

You just know that if the Republicans are saying this stuff once in a while in public, they’re saying it a hell of a lot more behind closed doors……

Chris Dodd, the senator from Connecticut whom we actually like, is endorsing Barack Obama today.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff is starting to tear itself apart, which, let’s face it, is kind of fun to watch.

Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes has started a blog, and since mid-January, it’s attracted 340,000 visitors.

It’s kind of a sweet blog—he gave away his fleece from last season, with his number on it, which would be kind of a cool thing to have, in fact.

Perhaps Hughes is feeling competitive with that other incredibly likeable young Yankee pitcher, Joba Chamberlain.

Here’s one thing about pitchers that come up from the minors: Not only are they cheaper than hired guns like Roger Clemens, but….you like them more! Watching these young players grow and develop over time gives fans the chance to bond with them, something that’s been missing from the Yankees in the (George) Steinbrenner era.