The Best of Christopher Hitchens

Part 1

Part 2


H/T: JediJesseS

Trial of the Will
Reviewing familiar principles and maxims in the face of mortal illness, Christopher Hitchens has found one of them increasingly ridiculous: “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” Oh, really? Take the case of the philosopher to whom that line is usually attributed, Friedrich Nietzsche, who lost his mind to what was probably syphilis. Or America’s homegrown philosopher Sidney Hook, who survived a stroke and wished he hadn’t. Or, indeed, the author, viciously weakened by the very medicine that is keeping him alive.
By Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair
January 2012

Christopher Hitchens, 1949–2011: In Memoriam -Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair

Christopher Hitchens, 1949–2011 - David Frum, Frum Forum

Polemicist Who Slashed All, Freely, Dies at 62 - William Grimes, New York Times

Postscript: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011 - Christopher Buckley. The New Yorker

Christopher Hitchens: A Reading List - Alex Koppelman, The New Yorker

Sneaking Into Iraq With Hitchens
And smuggling in booze, too. - Matt Labash, Slate

“Eeyorish”
Anyone who believes in the power of words will miss Hitchens. - Anne Applebaum, Slate

RIP Christopher Hitchens: Provocateur and Damn Good Writer — Monika Bauerlein, Mother Jones

Christopher Hitchens, Author and Television Personality, Dies at 62 - ABC News

Christopher Hitchens: my hero of 2010
A gentleman and a truly formidable debater, Christopher Hitchens is a giant of the mind and a model of courage - Richard Dawkins


Christopher Hitchens Dies: His Best Writing, Photos, and More
Christopher Hitchens, perhaps the greatest essayist of our age, lost his battle with esophageal cancer at age 62. The Daily Beast looks back on his life.

The Longform.org Guide to Christopher Hitchens
A great journalist’s greatest magazine stories. -Max Linsky, Slate

Poll Watch: Quinnipiac 2012 Presidential Survey

Quinnipiac 2012 Presidential Survey

• Barack Obama 47% (44%)
• Mitt Romney 41% (45%)

• Barack Obama 48%
• Tim Pawlenty 36%

• Barack Obama 48%
• Jon Huntsman 34%

• Barack Obama 53% (48%)
• Sarah Palin 36% (40%)

Among Independents

• Barack Obama 45% (35%)
• Mitt Romney 38% (46%)

• Barack Obama 47%
• Tim Pawlenty 32%

• Barack Obama 45%
• Jon Huntsman 28%

• Barack Obama 56% (44%)
• Sarah Palin 29% (37%)

Among Moderates

• Barack Obama 55% (56%)
• Mitt Romney 31% (32%)

• Barack Obama 58%
• Jon Huntsman 23%

• Barack Obama 59%
• Tim Pawlenty 23%

• Barack Obama 65% (63%)
• Sarah Palin 22% (22%) 

Among Men

• Mitt Romney 45% (51%)
• Barack Obama 43% (40%)

• Barack Obama 46%
• Tim Pawlenty 38%

• Barack Obama 46%
• Jon Huntsman 37%

• Barack Obama 50% (44%)
• Sarah Palin 37% (44%)

Among Women

• Barack Obama 50% (48%)
• Mitt Romney 38% (39%)

• Barack Obama 50%
• Tim Pawlenty 35%

• Barack Obama 50%
• Jon Huntsman 32%

• Barack Obama 55% (52%)
• Sarah Palin 35% (36%)

College Degree

• Barack Obama 51% (51%)
• Mitt Romney 41% (42%)

• Barack Obama 50%
• Jon Huntsman 35%

• Barack Obama 51%
• Tim Pawlenty 36%

• Barack Obama 58% (56%)
• Sarah Palin 32% (33%) 

No College Degree

• Barack Obama 45% (42%)
• Mitt Romney 42% (46%)

• Barack Obama 47%
• Tim Pawlenty 37%

• Barack Obama 50% (46%)
• Sarah Palin 38% (42%)

• Barack Obama 47%
• Jon Huntsman 34%

Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President, do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?

• Deserves reelection 46% (43%)
• Does not 48% (49%)

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about an Evangelical Christian president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 43%
• Somewhat comfortable 24%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 14%
• Entirely uncomfortable 12%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 30%
• Somewhat comfortable 25%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 18%
• Entirely uncomfortable 17%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 57%
• Somewhat comfortable 24%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 10%
• Entirely uncomfortable 5%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 41%
• Somewhat comfortable 24%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 17%
• Entirely uncomfortable 12%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a Jewish president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 55%
• Somewhat comfortable 25%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 9%
• Entirely uncomfortable 6%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 49%
• Somewhat comfortable 26%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 11%
• Entirely uncomfortable 9%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 60%
• Somewhat comfortable 24%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 8%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 56%
• Somewhat comfortable 27%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 10%
• Entirely uncomfortable 3%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a Catholic president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 60%
• Somewhat comfortable 23%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 8%
• Entirely uncomfortable 5%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 57%
• Somewhat comfortable 22%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 11%
• Entirely uncomfortable 7%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 64%
• Somewhat comfortable 25%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 6%
• Entirely uncomfortable 3%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 62%
• Somewhat comfortable 22%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 7%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about an atheist president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 24%
• Somewhat comfortable 13%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 16%
• Entirely uncomfortable 44%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 31%
• Somewhat comfortable 12%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 13%
• Entirely uncomfortable 38%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 12%
• Somewhat comfortable 11%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 18%
• Entirely uncomfortable 57%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 27%
• Somewhat comfortable 16%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 18%
• Entirely uncomfortable 36%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a woman president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 68%
• Somewhat comfortable 20%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 6%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 69%
• Somewhat comfortable 18%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 6%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 65%
• Somewhat comfortable 23%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 7%
• Entirely uncomfortable 3%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 71%
• Somewhat comfortable 19%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 4%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about an African American president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 76%
• Somewhat comfortable 14%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 3%
• Entirely uncomfortable 2%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 81%
• Somewhat comfortable 13%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 2%
• Entirely uncomfortable 1%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 70%
• Somewhat comfortable 18%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 5%
• Entirely uncomfortable 3%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 79%
• Somewhat comfortable 14%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 3%
• Entirely uncomfortable 2%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a Hispanic president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 63%
• Somewhat comfortable 19%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 9%
• Entirely uncomfortable 6%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 65%
• Somewhat comfortable 18%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 8%
• Entirely uncomfortable 6%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 59%
• Somewhat comfortable 21%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 9%
• Entirely uncomfortable 8%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 63%
• Somewhat comfortable 18%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 12%
• Entirely uncomfortable 4%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a Muslim president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 21%
• Somewhat comfortable 17%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 23%
• Entirely uncomfortable 36%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 29%
• Somewhat comfortable 19%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 22%
• Entirely uncomfortable 25%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 11%
• Somewhat comfortable 14%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 21%
• Entirely uncomfortable 51%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 22%
• Somewhat comfortable 17%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 28%
• Entirely uncomfortable 29%

If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about a Mormon president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable with?

• Entirely comfortable 35%
• Somewhat comfortable 25%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 19%
• Entirely uncomfortable 17%

Among Democrats

• Entirely comfortable 28%
• Somewhat comfortable 21%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 24%
• Entirely uncomfortable 22%

Among Republicans

• Entirely comfortable 38%
• Somewhat comfortable 30%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 14%
• Entirely uncomfortable 15%

Among Independents

• Entirely comfortable 38%
• Somewhat comfortable 26%
• Somewhat uncomfortable 20%
• Entirely uncomfortable 12%

Would you say you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Mormon religion?

• Favorable 45%
• Unfavorable 32%

Among Democrats

• Favorable 39%
• Unfavorable 38%

Among Republicans

• Favorable 51%
• Unfavorable 31%

Among Independents

• Favorable 48%
• Unfavorable 26%

Survey of 1,946 registered voters was conducted May 31 - June 6, 2011.  The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted November 8-15, 2010 are in parentheses.

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