In 1967, Thurgood Marshall made history by becoming the first black Supreme Court judge, and a very liberal one at that.
24 years later, in 1991, Clarence Thomas, an arch-conservative black man (of meager qualifications and questionable ethics), found his way to the Supreme Court.
In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro made history by becoming the first woman chosen as a VP candidate of a major party, on the Democratic party ticket.
24 years later, in 2008, Sarah Palin, an arch-conservative woman (of meager qualifications and questionable ethics) was picked for the Republican VP ticket.
Pretty original, huh?
In 2011, 24 years after Barney Frank came out as gay, some Republican congressman (of meager qualifications and questionable ethics?) will doubtlessly do the same.
