The war of ideas

Today's NYT OpEd page provides a stark (and better yet, amusing) comparison between serious political analysis by a thoughtful liberal (Tom Friedman) and the empty-headed vamping of the social/Hollywood wing of the liberal left (Maureen Dowd).

Friedman's column discusses how the war against Islamist terrorism is analagous to a third World War, and will pose a grave challenge to our way of life for years to come.

Dowd's column discusses, well, what exactly?   In her first column since last November, Dowd begins by saying (in essence) that the President is more worried about looking fat than about his prospects for reelection.   (Perhaps La Dowd is projecting here.)   She then deftly transitions (via an allegedly witty riff on Republican strategists arguing about "whether to turn some poor gay couple who got married in Vermont into Willie and Willie Horton") to the pressing issue about how lesbianism has suddenly become hip.

Sheesh.   I guess since the Pulitzer board recently decided against withdrawing Walter Duranty's Pulitzer, there's no chance of them doing anything about Dowd's prize...