Althouse: Quick! Questions!

July 29, 2007

Quick! Questions!

Vlogging will commence in 1 hour, so write me some questions.

ADDED: The vlog:

AND: The entire 10 minute vlog is a response to the first question -- "Do you still think that Mr. Peavoy is an *sshole for releasing the Hillary letters?" -- which is based on this post about the release of letters Hillary Clinton wrote between 1965 and 1969.

38 comments:

AllenS said...: Do you still think that Mr. Peavoy is an *sshole for releasing the Hillary letters?; 7/29/07, 3:17 PM
PeterP said...: What do you people make of Gordon Brown?

Clue: he's the new Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;); 7/29/07, 3:21 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: Why doesn't the government consider Totem Poles to be a religious symbol like Christian crosses?

Totem Poles found on City Hall grounds. Totem Poles at the side of the public highway etc...doesn't that violate the establishment clause in the Consitituton?

Even if Native American culture doesn't constitute a religion, (I think it is a religion).... then, at the very least--- isn't setting aside free land and reservations.....an act of favoring one race over another?; 7/29/07, 3:21 PM
Bissage said...: What's your opinion of B. Kliban?; 7/29/07, 3:26 PM
Meade said...: You were about 12 when President Kennedy was murdered, right? Do you remember, up until that horrible day, the feelings you had toward Jackie Kennedy? Was she a role model for you during the early 60's?; 7/29/07, 3:29 PM
Brent said...: How long do you plan to continue being a full time law professor?

Do you see yourself winding down teaching in the future to, say, write more or pursue other interests?; 7/29/07, 3:42 PM
Douglas Hoffer said...: What advice would you give someone about to begin law school?; 7/29/07, 3:53 PM
Jennifer said...: What do you think of the "trophy wife" idea - separate from the sexist trophy wife labeling of definitively non-trophy wives? Anna Nicole was presumably a trophy wife, and I know you have warm feelings for her. Do you think it's an inherently sexist arrangement? Is there a reverse equivalent? If so, is that more or less accepted?

This is my first attempt at a question and apparently I got so excited I coughed out 47 of them.; 7/29/07, 4:14 PM
Bender R said...: When did we repeal the First and Fifth Amendments? Since when do people not have the right to make statements and to destroy their own personal property to make those statements?; 7/29/07, 4:17 PM
Lindsay said...: Do you think it is worth the effort for non-profits/companies/agencies/anyone to write and file an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case?; 7/29/07, 4:22 PM
Simon said...: What's your view of Justice Scalia, either/both doctrinally and in terms of his success in moving the conversation on the court and in the legal academy?

The Federalist Society began shortly before you became a professor, but it has essentially existed over the span of your teaching career. Do you thnk it's been a net plus, a useful force in the academy?; 7/29/07, 4:24 PM
amba said...: Did you save your old letters? Why/why not?; 7/29/07, 4:26 PM
Simon said...: [Peter: I think Private Eye's new feature nails him, see Eye 1189 at 21. But we'll have to see. Since there's no recognizably conservative opposition, what can one do; I really feel sorry for Britain's options.]; 7/29/07, 4:28 PM
marklewin said...: Two questions that may be overly broad (as a result, if you find that you are not able to address them I will understand).

1. How do you believe the legal system has changed since the beginning of your career.

2. What would you say are the two or three biggest challenges facing the legal system today.; 7/29/07, 4:31 PM
J. Cricket said...: Are you excited about visiting at a third-class law school?; 7/29/07, 4:37 PM
hdhouse said...: please comment on harriet miers ... is her position worse for failing to show up at all or would it have been better to show up and refuse to answer..or is there a difference.; 7/29/07, 4:42 PM
dave™© said...: How many boxes of wine do you go through in an average day? Do you get a volume discount?; 7/29/07, 4:53 PM
dave™© said...: Are you excited about visiting at a third-class law school?

A followup: is this your back-up for when your current employer gets tired of the constant embarrassing incidents and inevitably dumps your drunken ass?

I'll take my answer off the air, thanks...; 7/29/07, 4:56 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Times up... And the whole clip is on one question!; 7/29/07, 5:05 PM
Bissage said...: I predict Althouse answers Doug H.'s 3:53.

Anybody want to bet?; 7/29/07, 5:22 PM
Bissage said...: Hedge bet: Jennifer's 4:14.; 7/29/07, 5:30 PM
Bissage said...: I predicted wrong.; 7/29/07, 6:36 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: I've been asking for the last two years about Totem Poles. One of the first comments I ever put up on this blog was a Totem Pole question. And, it went unanswered.

Althouse's continued obsession with Hillary Clinton.; 7/29/07, 6:37 PM
PeterP said...: On breaking the density of the elms...

The Elms family were close neighbours of our Hillary at that time. They weren't terribly bright or important - nothing was swinging or groovy, they just did stuff and moved on quietly not seeming to get anywhere. They were not 'in-volved' in anything other than their own lives.

The worst of it was of course that to them Hillary was utterly invisible. Her concern for advancement and notice could not in any way break through their complete indifference to this smart WASP-ish young woman across the street.

But beyond an offence to vanity, to amour propre, these trolls were Voters - people that people like her would need to court and woo. Oh how gross a prospect. Compassion for such underlings was then a useless emotion - you can only pity what you rule and dominate.

There could be no question of wasting time on the Elms family: too many personas to chase, too many men to vanquish.

Something fast, swift and easy was needed. A simple surgical strike to break through that lowering, mucky density.

Hillary put down her pen, reached for her pretty little hippie type frock she'd bought on Fifth Avenue [It has shops right?] - low cut, no bra required, designed to be see-right-through if you chose to squint hard with the sun behind the her.

Old Pa Elms was out cutting the front lawn as Our Hill strolled by with an armful of books and a wave.

Pa's density was shattered in a moment. Dang but if he hadn't seen a bud of youthful nipple poking through that young woman's scandalously skimpy dress. Hadn't happened to Pa since the night they Drove Ol' Dixie Down he reckoned.

Darn heck the lawn, he mused. I'm gonna write me a letter to Cousin Jeb this minute, telling him to vote Democrat if he hoped to get laid before he died.

Young Jeb never did vote Democrat, but he sure as heck kept Pa Elm's letter. "Never know when a thing like that might come in handy," Jeb opined to Bro. Dubya.; 7/29/07, 7:09 PM
Simon said...: Maxine - Some might take that as a hint.; 7/29/07, 7:46 PM
AllenS said...: And, it was my question! I have another question. The You Tube stuff loads terribly slow. Is there some settings that I can change to speed up the process, or is my dial up connection the problem?; 7/29/07, 8:11 PM
Unknown said...: hat do you think about the NYT Ethicist's response to today's Q#2? Strange to prohibit a bargain in which two parties win and nobody loses.; 7/29/07, 8:28 PM
Galvanized said...: You know, after hearing the vlog on it, I'm thinking that Hillary strategized in those letters that she could maybe present herself to women (possibly young adult woman) as an Everywoman who, like us, was in the process of becoming, as though she evolved into this potential leader. Plus, it shows a vulnerability. Maybe her stats have shown her as hard and unappealing to women, and she felt this would be a good avenue. After this strategy, I'm starting to think that the cleavage controversy was also an attempt to have women "own" her as a candidate and protect her right to redefine the office with a hint of femininity, and to draw her situation into conversation. I think that she has achieved both here. Don't think that the jacket being pink was a coincidence. Not such silly PR after all. After all, the rule is more or less just to keep yourself in conversation.; 7/29/07, 8:57 PM
Galvanized said...: Oh, yes, and thanks for the Sassafras info. Too bad they don't have a website. Still, you could market their items on the vlogs for a pretty penny. Forget that PayPal button! LOL; 7/29/07, 9:07 PM
DirkDiggler said...: I think you are over analyzing these letters that Hilary Clinton wrote when she was what 18-21 years old?

I would hate to see what I wrote at that time.

She certainly could of wanted them to be leaked and agreed with Mr. Peavoy to do this but if that is the case than he has lied. He said he hasn't spoken with her since her 30th class reunion which was in 1997. He also said the only correspondence with her was a letter she wrote regarding him giving copies of the letters to someone who was writig a book in 1997.

For someone so calculating would she risk having this man lie in this article about her not knowing he was going to give them to the Times? This could set her up for quite a fall and I think she is too smart for that.; 7/29/07, 9:24 PM
Anonymous said...: "Your future President".

You heard it from Ann first . . .; 7/29/07, 9:36 PM
Meade said...: Galvanized, Nicely summed up.

Peter Palladas, Superb comic writing.

I have to say, I'm beginning to find Hillary Clinton tiresome. I'm tired of, irritated by, and bored with her: her time-released letters, her creepy clumsy cleavage, her phony forced conversation.

I don't despise her. I don't hate her. I do however trust her. I trust her to have exit strategies, plans, and bureaucratic in-volve-ment. I trust her to manipulate, control, and orchestrate.

She's starting to make me feel almost wistful for the not-even-yet-bygone hapless days of Bush.; 7/29/07, 9:45 PM
amba said...: It's 10:59. Do you know where your breasts are?

Marvelous vlog. A real performance piece, with a structure and some deep spots that haunt and snag ("the three faces of Hillary," "what breaks the density of the prose"?). You're getting this down. It could be a kind of one-woman show.; 7/29/07, 10:02 PM
Simon said...: Amba, is that a Tori Amos reference (Spark) or something else?; 7/29/07, 10:15 PM
Godot said...: What is the quote from Aria da Capo by Edna St. Vincent Millay?

Was it "I love humanity ... I just can't stand people"?

Ms. Millay identified this type of political creature many decades before Hillary appeared on the scene.; 7/30/07, 1:04 AM
DirkDiggler said...: I absolutely love your vlogs. They are fantastic. Please continue.

Through these we learn of another Althouse. A more introspective Althouse that I don't always see from your writing.

I know this is going to sound corny but you are very special.

As a gay man I find you very attractive but not in a sexual or threatining way.

Your not Madonna because in my book she is the utlimate and I absolutely love her performances. I know very gay. I know you aren't trying to be her but want you to know that I see why the gays are attractive to you; you have what we like. And if I am comparing you to Madonna that is the ultimate compliment.

But you are a performer. I agree with one of the previous comments in that you could definitely put your performance on a stage and just go wherever it takes you. Just you answering questions-it would be an interesting night.

I don't necessarily agree with all of your politics but do find you to be a fascinating and interesting woman.; 7/30/07, 4:00 AM
amba said...: Simon: I confess to ignorance of Tori Amos and Spark (a next-generation friend swears by Tori Amos and has been trying to get me to listen to her, but it's hard to listen to anything but jazz in my husband's presence, where I always am. I guess I just need some good headphones).

Tori Amos and I were probably both referring to the public-service spots that used to be on radio (when? in the '80s? '90s?) saying, "It's [time], do you know where your children are?" I got a kick out of Ann's line in the blog that women do know where their breasts are, and if they don't know that, do you want them to be president?; 7/30/07, 9:24 AM