Quick hit: Nancy Goldstein on awkward Thanksgiving meals

Specifically, the one that will take place in the McCain household later this week. In a column at the American Prospect today, Nancy Goldstein points out two truths. Firstly, Thanksgiving at the McCain house is going to be really tense this year, what with Meghan, Cindy and John all publicly taking their different stances on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Secondly, the age gap between the people making decisions about DADT (Congress and the President) and the people they’re supposedly most concerned about (the troops) is huge:

These same divisions also fuel the Kabuki theatrics now playing in Washington over DADT. The actors? Congress — where the median age in the overwhelmingly male Senate that has repeatedly failed to repeal DADT is 63. A White House led by a risk-averse 49-year-old guy who has surrounded himself with similarly minded 50-plus guys. And then there’s Defense Secretary Robert Gates (age 67), who warned of “enormous consequences” last month when, heaven forefend, a federal judge struck down the ban before his Pentagon’s report could come out and lend yet more political cover for our decision-avoiding decision-makers.

But what about the troops, the folks — fully half of whom are 22-30 — who are actually going to have to live with this decision?

Go read the whole thing at the Prospect! Despite the serious subject matter, it’s a very funny column. And if you’re celebrating the holiday, have a very happy, hopefully only slightly uncomfortable Thanksgiving.