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Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

"Reasonable Republicans"

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sep 9 2009, 11:00 AM ET Comment

Interesting video from GMA. Obama, again, maintains that there are conservatives who he can work with, and who he hopes to work this. I think when you've got Obama shouting out Chuck Grassley and then Grassley turning around and running against health care reform, that sort of sentiment drives liberals crazy. I think Obama should have taken, and should take, the hysteria a lot more seriously. Stupid is seductive--and it kills.

That said, I think the "reasonable Republicans" line is a smart one--as long as legislation gets done. If you do get bipartisan support, great. If not, when time comes to run again, you get to cite all the times you tried, and decry your opponents obstructionism.

In other news, Sarah Palin doubles down on death panels.


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