For those just now tuning in, Ron Paul (the physician turned congressman turned presidential candidate) has been taking some flak for a donation to his campaign by Don Black, the ironically named white supremacist and former KKK leader. Dr. Paul’s campaign site now offers a statement clarifying his views on racism, although Dale Franks wonders if that statement will have the desired effect. Elsewhere, Jesse Benton, the comms director for Dr. Paul’s campaign, responds to an NRO/Mona Charen...

Assorted writers who attempt to strike a balanced note on current affairs or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view ————————– Before we drift off into Turkey-induced slumbers tomorrow, Randy Woodley encourages us to both celebrate the holiday’s meaning and challenge our “dominant myths” about it. Ed Morrissey shares a story about how pesky campaign...

Sometimes — no matter how long you’ve lived on this planet, no matter how mature and serious and all that you try to be — you still have to laugh at sophomoric humor. (Hint: If it’s not already obvious after you follow the link above, “left-wing geeks” can substitute George W. Bush for HRC, and it’s still funny. Maybe more so.)

** Gasp ** Could it be true? Could the Republican Party save itself by divorcing the extremists and moving back to the center? Almost every time I’ve suggested such a ludicruous possibility, TMV readers have voiced doubts. And while the following small slice of politics doesn’t prove me right and them wrong — not by a long shot — it is encouraging, fleeting or not. Consider … In October, the intentionally centrist Republican Leadership Council (RLC) announced...

There are days when I think we political bloggers are canaries in coal mines, providing early warning to our readers that the oxygen is running low and poisonous gases are on the rise. Then there are days when I suspect we’re more like the boys and girls who cried wolf, afraid of the shadows of threats that aren’t there, or unconsciously making a topic sound worse than it is so we have something compelling to write about. And then … there are days when I know we’re probably...

A weekly 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. ————————– Writing at Balloon Juice, Michael D. offers an immigration proposal. While that proposal won’t delight everyone, please remember the first half of our screening criterion...

Please read this post, and then — if you’d be so kind — help me decide which qualifier best describes what that post reports. Would you go with “unbelievable” … or “utterly unbelievable” …. or “(insert FCC-banned curse words here) unbelievable”? [H/t Andrew Sullivan.]

Admitting that you’re wrong is a tough thing to do. Most of us prefer to hide our mistakes behind the door of denial, an act of which I’ve certainly been guilty more times than not. This happens to be one of the “not” times. Wednesday, I opined on the endorsements of the day: Brownback for McCain, Robertson for Giuliani. I committed my errors on the latter pairing, ascribing to Pat Robertson far greater leadership weight than he actually carries in the Religious Right. ...

If, like me, your browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.0, you may notice, as you scroll down the page, that some of the lines in “block-quote” sections of our various posts appear to be missing or jumbled. That issue is purely visual and not a code problem. A simple “refresh” of the page should correct it.

One for the list … Hoffa steals the show at Nixon rally That headline would have probably turned a few heads 35 years ago, and it’s especially jolting with a dateline of November 7, 2007. But no worries. Neither the Hoffa nor the Nixon of infamy has been resurrected. Here’s the real story.

Some readers may be interested in Sen. Brownback’s specific reasons for endorsing Sen. McCain for the GOP nom. The following three paragraphs are excerpted from a letter signed by Brownback and distributed by McCain campaign staff: This morning, I flew to Iowa to join and endorse my friend, John McCain, for President of the United States. John McCain is a true American hero and I’m proud to stand with him today. He is the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition of conservatives,...

Shaun Mullen beat me to the punch on the Robertson-Rudy endorsment, but there is another endorsement of some note in the GOP race: Brownback for McCain. Politico has the details on both. And what are we to make of all this noise? The Brownback-McCain pairing is logical and (though not yet official) may already be helping McCain who (discounting margins-of-error for the moment) seems to be edging into second place in national polls. According to RCP’s averaging of the polls — as of...

A weekly 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. ————————– This post from Steve Clemons caught my eye largely because Steve does not dispute the need for Presidents to occasionally cozy-up to despots; instead, he challenges our...

And there we have it: Michael Mukasey was recommended to the full Senate this morning by the Judiciary Committee, on an 11 to 8 vote, with Senators Schumer and Feinstein (as expected) tipping the scales in the AG-to-be’s favor. MSNBC does an excellent job recapping and expanding on the basics, here and here, including the widely held assumption that the full Senate will follow the Committee’s lead and Mr. Mukasey will become this nation’s next Attorney General. Like Shaun Mullen...

After additional evaluation of TMV’s regular “Center of Attention” feature, I’ve decided to compile and publish it once a week rather than multiple times per week. Part of this decision is driven by new limits on my available time; part of it is driven by the sense that a once-per-week compilation will perhaps: (a) allow for greater focus on posts that truly seek, prompt, or promote balance; and (b) provide a more substantive menu of worthwhile material for interested readers. Accordingly,...

I guess I overlooked it on the calendar, but today is apparently “What Went Wrong Day.” In the NYT, it’s “what went wrong with S-CHIP.” In the WaPo, it’s “what went wrong with No Child Left Behind.” Taken together, these stories illustrate — clearly and painfully — what happens when political debate crosses the line between healthy and toxic. Check-and-balance fanatics might be pleased with these stories, but I doubt the same could be...

Those of you who have been on this planet 40-plus years will probably remember Bill Saluga. No, you might not remember his name, but I bet you remember his signature schtick as Raymond J. Johnson Jr. … ya doesn’t has to call me Johnson. You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Johnny … Inspired by Mr. Saluga — and recognizing that I’m just not, nor will I ever be, the type of neo-con, blind-partisan Republican preferred by Hugh, Rush, Sean, and...

Andrew Sullivan says this video illustrates one of the reasons he loves America. I have to agree.

Michael Totten responds to that question, in the context of what he was “allowed” to see in Iraq. And in so doing, he indirectly builds the case for ranking him among the most sensible, conscientious, and balanced war correspondents of our generation.

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. ————————– John Cole defends Hillary’s response re: Gov. Spitzer and licenses for illegals. (Speaking of licenses for illegals, did you know this?) Patrick Joubert Conlon spotlights...

According to a recent Rasmussen Reports survey, Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich would both be delivering concession speeches at the end of the night, if matched in head-to-head contests with comedian Stephen Colbert. My first reaction: Woop-tee-freakin-dooh. This is a professional satirist, we’re talking about, people. Yes, Colbert is funny, but he has the governance credentials of a termite. My second reaction: Wait a minute. Maybe this poll does tell us something worthwhile. Consider...

Because some of you occasionally read another one of the blogs with which I’ve been affiliated, Joe suggested I might want to share this news. In short, for the foreseeable future, TMV will be my primary home on the Web. I’m very much looking forward to the greater level of focus enabled by this decision. Hopefully, in this case, as in others, less is more.

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:...

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. ————————– Andrew Sullivan is wary of the hate-speech police. (Earlier in the week, he considered a reader’s caveat-ed defense of “The Decider.”) Joe Tobacco revisits and...

Our family regularly enjoys the CBS crime-drama Numb3rs. No, it’s not the greatest TV ever made, but it’s just quirky enough to hold our attention. That, plus it feeds a certain wishful thought of mine, that life would be so much easier if everything could be boiled down to mathematics. Of course, it can’t be, but a little math here and there can shed remarkably clear light on a wide range of topics, including political hypocrisy. [Note: The linked post was prompted by a story...