October 3, 2007

Oh, wait.

There's one more thing I've got to say about the Clarence Thomas memoir, "My Grandfather's Son." It's about Al Gore.
Al Gore was ... candid when a friend of mine approached him [before the Supreme Court confirmation hearings], saying he'd vote for me if he decided not to run for president. Strange as it may sound, I appreciated that kind of honesty. It took a certain amount of courage ... to admit to their real reasons for voting against me instead of making up a transparent excuse.
Al Gore did vote against Thomas. And Al Gore did run for President. And... well, you have to ask yourself: Did Clarence Thomas admit to his real reasons for voting against him or did he make up a transparent excuse?

Sorry, now, back to regular blogging. I'll try to find another picture to put up as a solemn promise to get back to regular blogging.

31 comments:

Hattie said...

As usual, I can't figure out what the point is.
Is this more of that laconic Midwestern humor?

Ann Althouse said...

Don't succumb to prejudice, Hattie. Read, read, read. And anyway, I'm not a midwesterner. I just live there, since age 30. I don't reflect the deep-rooted culture... if there is one.

Ann Althouse said...

Age 33, actually. My ways were well set before I went to Wisconsin. And I'm not there now (much as I love it).

Ruth Anne Adams said...

This photo looks solemn and promissory.

Hattie said...

Yes, prejudice is wrong. We must look at all sides of the issue before refusing to make up our minds.

Maxine Weiss said...

This is totally not the way to read a book. You need to let it marinate a bit more, before coming to any abrupt conclusions.

Maxine Weiss said...

"I'm not a midwesterner. I just live there"--Althouse

Insulting.

titus22 said...

I am horny. I think I need to take a walk and see what I am worth.

reader_iam said...

Regarding the Midwestern thing:

Hmmmm. Interesting. I'll have to think that one over, because, Althouse, in my estimation, there is a bit of certain type (or types) of Midwestern sensibility in your mix, unwitting or not.

I have a certain...literacy?...in both regions, having overall spent roughly half of my life in each in an alternating fashion, and with significant periods of time spent in visits "back" during two of the phases. (The latter means: I did not spend significant time periods East during my first 10 years of years.) I'm specifically conversant with subregions in which you've spent significant time.

Perhaps you are a more of a hybrid than you realize.

Or, you could just an entity unto yourself. Now--there's an explanation. Could it be? Shocking idea, to certain of your readers, in this blue/red, coasts/flyover world.

Or, what?

; )

titus22 said...

Also, I am from the midwest but am officially an east coaster as I have been here for long time.

I don't even know what midwest humor is???

titus22 said...

Althouse, will you be my very best girlfriend?

We can go shopping together. I will tell you (honestly) whether the Theory sweater looks good or not. We can get our hair done, massage, yoga, shop, lunch together and you will love it. I will be your eyes and ears in the city.

What if??? Come on girl... a day with titus in the city. Are you up for it? I promise fun, laughs, good food, excellent shopping, some art and a little bonding. And no strings attached. I will drop you off to Brooklyn safe and sound as I move one. I am a mo so you don't have to worry about any uncomfortable good byes. Believe me I will be gone and onto my love of my life (for 30 minutes).

Love me, please.

reader_iam said...

Maxine: Various parts of your [strike]underwear[end strike]** unmentionables are showing, and the seams of your stockings are crooked. As for those pleats... .

Best get back to your First Principles, girlfriend.

-----------------

**I do know how to do strikeout html, but I can't get blogger comments to accept it.

Michael T said...

I don't know the answer to your question, Ann, but it is a very good one.

And, wow, you have some off-the-wall commenters around here.

michilines said...

Did Clarence Thomas admit to his real reasons for voting against him or did he make up a transparent excuse?

Interesting.

Is this what you meant?

Did Clarence Thomas admit to Clarence Thomas' real reasons for voting against Al Gore or did Clarence Thomas make up a transparent excuse?

Or this?

Did Clarence Thomas admit to Al Gore's real reasons for voting against Clarence Thomas or did Clarence Thomas make up a transparent excuse?

Or maybe this?

Did Clarence Thomas admit to Clarence Thomas' real reasons for voting against Clarnce Thomas or did Al Gore make up a transparent excuse?

Or (assuming a typing mistake):

Did Al Gore admit to Al Gore's real reasons for voting against Clarence Thomas or did Al Gore make up a transparent excuse?

Pronoun references are tricky.

reader_iam said...

Oh, wow, man.

Are Titus and Maxine coming out as twin offspring of different mothers? Is this planned, or mere serendipity?

Michael: Timing is everything. Unfortunately, it frequently doesn't respond well to preference or efforts at control.

There's always tomorrow, I'm told.

Maxine Weiss said...

Titus, in a former post you confessed that somebody did bad things to you at age 7.

If you don't call the police and report it---I will!

Love, Maxine

titus22 said...

maxine,
I appreciate your support. I want to move on, sorry. My parents are old and I don't want them to have to be involved with this.

Big kiss and hugs to you though.

Rohan said...

michilines, I think Ann is talking about Thomas' vote in Bush v. Gore.

Did Clarence Thomas admit to [Thomas'] real reasons for voting against [Gore] or did [Thomas] make up a transparent excuse?

Paddy O said...

You're definitely not a midwesterner. You've too much a creative view on the world mixed understanding how ludicrous it can be.

Midwesterners (the native kind) take the world very seriously and do things because that's just how they're done.

You ask too many questions and about all the wrong sorts of things that a midwesterner would allow.

I'm a westerner who spent formative years in the midwest trying to fit in before moving back west.

Ann Althouse said...

GSH is right. I didn't think it was that hard to read, but sometimes the point is that you do have to think to recognize what I'm talking about. The tags are clues.

Too many jims said...

titus22 said...
I don't even know what midwest humor is???


Think Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

Anonymous said...

Ah, now I get it. It's an argument by impressionistic psychodrama.

Ann Althouse said...

Paddy, the limit on that argument is that the "Midwest" I've lived in all this time is Madison.

Maxine Weiss said...

Titus 22: There are no excuses. You must take action. Althouse agrees with me.

Ralph L said...

I don't see Gore's admission as a reason for Thomas to vote against him in 2000. Thomas had to assume every Senator's vote was politically calculated, he was just surprised Gore admitted it. In Washington, it's a scandal when someone blurts out the truth--in this case, privately.

And Gore didn't run in 92.

Jason said...

What's the casserole today?

titus22 said...

I don't think of David Letterman as midwest humor. I think of him as sarcastic NYC humor.

One of the guys I met last night had a Prince Albert-that's kind of hot.

Trooper York said...

Sheridan Whiteside: Is there a man in the world who suffers as I do from the gross inadequacies of the human race?
(The Man Who Came to Dinner 1942)

michilines said...

GSH is right.

duh.

I didn't think it was that hard to read, but sometimes the point is that you do have to think to recognize what I'm talking about. The tags are clues.

Actually, no. Sometimes you lack clarity in your writing. Thinking doesn't much come into the equation.

Paddy O said...

"the limit on that argument is that the "Midwest" I've lived in all this time is Madison."

A city where folks come from all over. Sort of a middle of America San Francisco? My Midwest was suburban Christian college town.

I loved Madison a whole lot more, for a variety of reasons. Maybe it's an oasis from one coast to another, where strange birds and odd ducks can find a bit of rest and restoration when away from their natural homes.

Charlie Martin said...

GSH is right. I didn't think it was that hard to read, ....

You were mistaken.