Spoken like a true neoliberal. Progressives(tm) are unafraid to throw minorities under the bus to cater to the traditional Democratic base: racist white men.

Was it ever particularly good? I assume his popularity has always been due mostly to people not knowing much about him or thinking he has much of a chance.

His grandfather isn't, but Randy Bryce—steel worker—is gunning for Paul Ryan's seat. His ad announcing his candidacy is perhaps the greatest, white working class ad I've ever seen (and I use the term WWC without the usual irony).

"I Am Not Your Negro" is a great documentary, but now I really want to recommend others to you.

Pretty sure Trump has no idea who TR is. The only thing he knows about Jackson is people compare him to him.

I'm also somewhat cheered when companies or (actual) people do the right thing for self-interested reasons. Would it be better if they acted out of the goodness of their hearts, likely facing some financial loss? Perhaps not since it would show society largely disagrees with them.

Not just Shakespeare, but Shakespeare in the Park is fairly anti-elitist. It's free, after all.

Union Square is a great place to hang out. Also has a farmer's market. The nearby Argo Teahouse is a nice place to relax as well.

I would add the Frick Collection, which between the actual paintings (Vermeer! Whistler!) and the building is probably my favorite.

"And BTW, "Progressive or Left" and Christian are not mutually exclusive."

You're right, but I suspect if Epstein had a basis for her tale, it's this (even if I don't think Stendahl's story is true either).

"L'année dernière (août 1822), le soldat qui était en faction dans l'intérieur du théâtre de Baltimore, voyant Othello qui, au cinquième acte de la tragédie de ce nom, allait tuer Desdemona, s'écria : « Il ne sera jamais dit qu'en ma présence un maudit nègre aura tué une femme blanche ». Au même moment, le soldat tire…

His bills are also just embarrassing. His "Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Exist" bill that would have broken up banks was about a page long. His healthcare plan would have outlawed abortion (still might, actually, since getting rid of the Hyde Amendment doesn't seem to be a priority).

"The Dems worst enemy is, as always, themselves."

"going over the list of controversies and crimes Scientology is guilty of I don't see one that Christianity doesn't currently do"

There's a great little novel by Harry Crews from the 70s titled Car about someone eating a car.

Yeah, I know partisanship is strong but I can't help but wonder who else has colluded with the Russians or been compromised.

Why is it unfair? While one shouldn't read back our contemporary ideas of race into history, racists (and non-racists) do that all the time.

Sadly, it's not unfounded. Jill Stein's running mate, Ajamu Baraka, is an Assad apologist. Here is he on the 2014 Syrian elections.

"Human-rights are simply a tool used by the West to continue oppressing others."