Moneyball & Modern Family

Big year for the "Moneyball" and "Modern Family" types in the culture wars.

Nate Silver gains prominence and Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly lesbian U.S. Senator.

Is there a flaming gay data nerd who combines the two?*

As Victories Pile Up, Gay Rights Advocates Cheer ‘Milestone Year’

States’ Votes for Gay Marriage Are Timely, With Justices Ready to Weigh Cases

Election Result Proves a Victory for Pollsters and Other Data Devotees

A Record Latino Turnout, Solidly Backing Obama

Senate Races Expose Extent of Republicans’ Gender Gap

I'm reading Chris Hayes book on the failure of U.S. elites and "Meritocracy" and it's pretty good except for his Arab Spring blind-spot and insistence that Saddam Hussein and foreign dictators "aren't that bad." Its a common thing for anti-war liberals. But he's totally right about the lack of trust and respect in authority and the failure of institutions.

I was struck about how on election night Chris Matthews was disappointed in Obama's victory speech in that he didn't thank Clinton or really mention the Democrats, both of who were essential to his victory. As Hayes reports people don't respect institutions and the Democratic Party is an institution that often fails to deliver. Congress has had abysmal approval ratings.

In a way Matthews is right, but maybe Obama won in part by not being so closely identified with the Democratic Party. I don't know.

-------------------------
*He isn't flaming, but the New Yorker reports Silver is openly gay.