At the door to American democracy, God is the bouncer.

The New Republic celebrates Frist's support of stem-cell research. The editors are fully aware that Frist came out in support of stem-cell research to compensate for coming out in support of quackery back when Terry Schiavo was in the headlines. But they point out that pandering to reason is better than pandering to quackery any day, and we agree.

They also have some great insight into the Christian Wrong. The money quote:

Politically speaking, the Christian right is a kind of sacralized protection racket: nice little presidential campaign you have, pity if something should happen to it.