Center of Attention

A round up of recent commentary by assorted voices who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view.

Steven Benen re-visits the subject of the GOP’s continued implosion. He also discovers that he’s “less optimistic” than the legendary Studs Terkel re: Americans’ level of tolerance for government over-reach.

Andrew Sullivan offers what strike me as several of the most reasonable paragraphs written, to date, on the strange case of Scott Beauchamp.

Cobb shares a strange hypothetical scenario to illustrate one approach to shrugging off “the demons of race.”

Tom Bevan counters “Krugman’s fear.”

Ed Morrissey is not buying any suggestion that earmarks are justifiable. Money quote: “If we could keep more of our money in our own communities, then we could decide locally what really matters to us, rather than what matters to politicians in DC and their lobbyist and contributor cronies.”

Faiz looks at McCain’s obfuscation on the subject of AG-to-be Mukasey and waterboarding.