the crackpots and these women

from mrs. mccain (the second), last night at the republican national convention: “and let’s not be confused: these are perilous times, not just for america, but for freedom itself.”

well, actually, i am a little confused. that is, i’m not sure how “freedom itself” is in danger right now. is someone threatening to blow it up with a dirty bomb? or maybe permanently scar it with a dirty word? or is it something a little more innocuous, but still perilous – like, is freedom riding a bike without wearing a helmet? no, wait, i got it – someone decided the first amendment wasn’t as important as the second.*

then again, this is all coming to us from the same party that brought us “war” on nouns rather than actual countries or enemy coalitions (see: “war on drugs,” “war on terror,” and “war on grammar“).

* seriously? she wanted to ban books? seriously?