Grand Cafe. Union Square. On my second pint and my pure blue dem fundraiser for CA assemblywoman barmate announces that Obama has had a sitdown with Gates and the cambridge cop. Some might consider it the most naked media photo op. I differ. One, this conversation was bound to happen. Who better equipped to have a thoughtful, bristly, well-informed discussion about race relations than these three men? And, two, who better equipped to call the two antagonists together than Barry O? He can advise Gates to sit down and shut up. And he can tell Crowley to reign it in. And he can provide space for them to talk. This conversation could have, should have, and probably would have occurred anyway, and might have been better in private. Instead it’s public. Whatever. It doesn’t negate the value in it happening.

Anything to quiet the noise, move dialogue forward, and put the nonsense to bed.