Andrew Sullivan Freak-Out Advisory: Chagrined

The president's press conference last night was, I think, perhaps his best ever. He was confident, in command of the facts, moderate in his views, engaging and appealing. It was much better than anything we've seen in a very long time; and it makes me wonder why his handlers keep him in such hermetically-sealed partisan settings. He's better than that; and it seems to me he keeps getting better in these contexts. ... I doubt it will shift the public mood, which is souring on the Republican hegemony. But it certainly reassured me that he is trying to tack away from the extreme right.

But compare with last night's:

Banning new books in public libraries that feature any gay characters or are written by gay authors? There are no theocratic tendencies among the Republicans, are there? ... The guy wanted to ban some Shakespeare. But Capote, Wilde, Auden, Proust and who knows who else will be barred. Government as the protector of souls. What are these "hysterics" worrying about "theocratic impulses" going on about?

And today's praise of Derbyshire, for being brave enough to agree with him on "theocracy:"

But I'm glad to see that not everyone at NRO has been drinking the big moral government Kool-Aid.

That's why the Sully Freak-Out Advisory can never drop below Chagrined. Even when he's reassured, he's still terribly, terribly concerned about the forces of Theocracy and Oppression.

From "Filled With Heart-Ache at Such Gobsmacking Vileness" to "Chagrined" in just 24 hours?

Well, as the title of my in-the-works TV sitcom says, That's My Sully!

The guy has more severe ups and downs than the Anaconda at Busch Gardens.

PS: There's still a war on, you know.

posted by Ace at 01:49 PM

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