Dave Weigel is now in the employ of Slate, owned by the Washington Post, following his abruptly abbreviated tenure at — well, at the Washington Post, but let’s not get into that.

Instead, let’s take up his Wednesday column subheaded “African-American conservatives explain that the only racists are those who worry about race-based prejudice.” And let’s ignore the substance of the column, in order to focus on the complaint of commenter “Sissy Willis,” who calls Weigel out for using “code” language:

“Chorus line of black conservatives” = minstrel show
“tan suit/black shirt” = not authentically black/supporter of fascism
“reverse racism grievance industry” = anti-racism, anti-reverse-racism, all black people are alike
“whipsawed by conservative media” = punished by the overseer, e.g. Simon Legree
“bumper crop of black conservative stars” = sharecroppers
“professional black conservative” = paid puppet or Uncle Tom

And while we’re ignoring things — because hey, life is short — let’s dwell on Alleged Codeword #4: “whipsawed”.

Quite honestly — and we do pay attention — that’s a new one to us.

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Rahm Emanuel has been documented referring to Washington as “Fucknutsville” since at least November 2008. Why it’s suddenly today’s hot Twitter meme is beyond us. But heck, buy the mug.

Our guest columnist this morning is Vaughn R. Walker, United States District Chief Judge, Northern District of California, as told to our Citation Removal Bot.

Marriage has retained certain characteristics throughout the history of the United States. Marriage requires two parties to give their free consent to form a relationship, which then forms the foundation of a household. The spouses must consent to support each other and any dependents. The state regulates marriage because marriage creates stable households, which in turn form the basis of a stable, governable populace. The state respects an individual’s choice to build a family with another and protects the relationship because it is so central a part of an individual’s life.

Never has the state inquired into procreative capacity or intent before issuing a marriage license; indeed, a marriage license is more than a license to have procreative sexual intercourse. “[I]t would demean a married couple were it to be said marriage is simply about the right to have sexual intercourse,” [wrote the Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas]. The Supreme Court recognizes that, wholly apart from procreation, choice and privacy play a pivotal role in the marital relationship.

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Oh please please please let her make it onto the ballot:

The ruling’s in: Prop 8 is “unconstitutional under both the due process and equal protection clauses”…

Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same sex couples.

But don’t get your hopes up — opponents were already working the angles last night:

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Ben Quayle, son of the former vice president and Champion Speler, would like to be Your Next Congresscritter from Arizona’s Third:

As a part of his campaign strategy, Quayle has started to send out mailers emblazened with his slogan, “A New Generation.” In one of these mailers, Quayle poses with two young girls — one seated in his lap and another holding his hand. Below the picture of Quayle and the children is a quotation by the candidate: “My roots in Arizona run deep. My grandparents and great grandparents lived in this district. My parents and all of my siblings live in this district. Tiffany [his wife] and I live in this district and are going to raise our family here.”

Aren’t the girls cute? Oh, by the way, they aren’t his. Ben and the Missus are childless.

In campaign mailer, Ben Quayle discusses raising a ‘family’ by posing with girls who aren’t his [Think Progress]

We’re starting to think that Sarah Palin’s bendy straws are a metaphor for our polity:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is warning voters that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s policies, particularly his efforts to boost bike riding, are “converting Denver into a United Nations community.”

“This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed,” Maes told about 50 supporters who showed up at a campaign rally last week in Centennial.

Maes said in a later interview that he once thought the mayor’s efforts to promote cycling and other environmental initiatives were harmless and well-meaning. Now he realizes “that’s exactly the attitude they want you to have.”

The issue at hand appears to be a Commie bike-sharing program that undermines our values. Once you’ve established From each rider according to his ability, to each rider according to his need, the Republic is lost.

Bike agenda spins cities toward U.N. control, Maes warns [Denver Post]