A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. ————————– NOTE: It was difficult to find balanced posts on distinctive topics today; most seemed to focus on the contested visit by Iran’s President to Ground Zero, Hillary’s health-care...

A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. ————————– NOTE: Today’s round up is severely abbreviated due to a tougher-than-usual “crunch time” at the compiler’s day job. ————————– Based...

This morning, I twice attempted to compile our regular “Center of Attention” feature, but each time I stopped, deterred by the challenge of choosing among the myriad of posts already published on the related events of yesterday and six years ago. I’m not confident in my ability to make judgements about those posts, about which should be featured in our CoA round up and which should not, nor am I comfortable including posts on other subjects. Thus, fairly or not, I have decided...

A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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 skeptical of a relatively radical health care reform proposal highlighted by one of his blogging colleagues at The Atlantic.com. Libby Spencer likes what Rep. Barbara...

If you’re a registered U.S. voter and regular TMV reader, the chances are quite good that you’re more politically savvy than the overwhelming majority of the rest of the nation’s electorate when they head to the polls. I’m confident making that claim for three reasons: (1) I think my co-authors and I do an (ahem) incredible job of covering and opining on political players and developments. (2) The fact that you’re taking time to read these pages (and probably other...

A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. ————————– Kevin Sullivan offers a thoughtful look at what we can and can’t do about Iran. Amba considers a Presidential candidate whose religious beliefs don’t supercede his respect...

A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. ————————– Think Progress excerpts a bipartisan letter from Governors Spitzer and Schwarzenegger to the President, “calling on him to reverse new [SCHIP] rules instituted by his administration...

Michael van der Galien stirred the pot last week in his August 25 post, “Progressives Unite!,” criticizing the efforts of Matt Stoller, et. al., to un-elect Democrats with whom they disagree. Subsequently, 73 comments were attached to Michael’s post, and the resulting dust cloud was significant enough to earn some extra and much-deserved attention at Real Clear Politics. Three days late to the table, an eternity in Internet time, I finally caught up with the scuffle and suggested...

Last week, I asked TMV readers to consider and chime in on the subject of John McCain’s opposition to torture and the cool reception he receives among certain members of the Leftosphere when he voices that opposition — like he did recently on The Daily Show. I didn’t get all of the answers for which I was looking, but this much became clear: Love him or hate him, McCain (of all people) does not deserve to be singled out for criticism on this issue. In the words of Entropy, a TMV...

A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. ————————– Dave Schuler examines why we have universal education but not universal health care. Steve Benen summarizes the debate between TNR’s Jamie Kirchick and Obsidian Wings’...

Earlier this week, I suggested it might be time to freshen up our regular Center of Attention (CoA) feature and offered my recommendations for doing just that. Only a few responded with their own thoughts/preferences, which likely implies readers are more than happy to leave content and design decisions to us. However, those that did respond had some very clear points of view. First, an individual emailed me offline to suggest that I not read too much into the lack of comments on recent CoA posts,...

Regular readers may have noticed that the standard, scales-of-justice image for our “Center of Attention” (CoA) feature was missing from today’s installment. And why was that? Because I thought it was growing a bit stale and was overdue for a change; which, in turn, led me to wonder if a larger overhaul of the feature might be in order. CoA has never been a big comment-generator, but the comments have entirely flat-lined over the last couple weeks. Maybe Michael did a better...

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Dennis Sanders finds a rarity: A think-tank for centrist Republicans. Elyas Bakhtiari chimes in on (a) the already-much-discussed AP-Ipsos poll re: book-reading among U.S. adults of different political persuasions; and (b) the Harris poll re: the same population’s (woeful) world affairs literacy. Daniel DiRito suggests Bush, the would-be architect of democracy around the world, should do a better job respecting...

It now appears, as of approximately 11:00 a.m. ET, that the problems noted below have been fixed and Google/Blogspot-based blogs are back up and running. ————– It appears Google is having trouble with its Blogspot server(s) this morning. As recently as 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, a “Server Error” message appeared on randomly checked Blogspot sites. Accordingly, if you’re attempting to visit blogs that rely on Google — like mine and Shaun Mullen’s...

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. A non-political post by Justin Gardner, for those (like me) who are interested in super-cool science, a.k.a., card-carrying members of the Mr. Wizard and Bill Nye fan clubs. Back on the political front, Justin considers a potential Sam Nunn Independent run for the White House. McQ finds it ironic that John Edwards would take a tougher stance with lobbyists than tyrants. Swimming against the tide, MW predicts Obama’s...

Last week, Senator and Presidential-hopeful John McCain strode into the lion’s den (a.k.a., The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and made some strong statements against the torture of POWs. Those statements prompted wild cheers and applause from the audience, although not everyone was impressed. In response, I did some homework on the subject and reached a conclusion, outlined this afternoon at Central Sanity. As you’ll see, my conclusion there is incomplete, and I’m thus in search...

As many of you know, the site Real Clear Politics is a great resource for political junkies of all stripes. Likewise, RCP’s section on blogs, launched only four months ago, has proven helpful to many of us who regularly troll the ‘Net for leading takes on leading debates of the day. [TMV authors are regularly featured there.] Accordingly, we thought TMV readers might like to know that the RCP editors have re-vamped and re-launched “Real Clear Blogs,” making two primary...

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Dennis Sanders reminds us that, despite the conventional wisdom, “some Republicans actually like gays.” Meanwhile, Andrew Sullivan constructs a poignant and point-blank case for gay civil marriage. Elyas Bakhtiari is concerned about the effectiveness/bias of “behavior detection officers” at the airport. Angela Winters is less-than-thrilled with Newt’s exploitation of the executions of...

Confession: I’m feeling somewhat guilty about not posting original material here the last couple of days. But then, enough of you have shown interest in the previous chapters in this Central Sanity series, that I thought it only fair to include a pointer to the third and likely final installment. Comments, as always, are welcome.

From habeas corpus to foreign policy, my debate with a fellow Republican continues here. (Note: I hope to post the third and final installment tomorrow.)

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. EDITOR’S NOTE: Assuming our readers have (by now) overdosed on the buffet of K. Rove commentary, we decided to avoid that subject in this edition of CoA. Slight problem: There wasn’t a lot else from which to choose. Net: We apologize for today’s slim pickings and encourage you to blame it on Karl. And why not? He seems to be responsible for practically everything else. Dustin Metzger tosses...

If you just can’t get enough on Karl Rove’s exit, scroll down the page. Several of my TMV colleagues offer a formidable series of reactions for your consideration, including this round up by our revered Editor-in-Chief. For my part, as I noted at Central Sanity this morning … I sincerely hope [Rove's] resignation is the end of short-sighted, divide-and-conquer politics, and that the likes of John Danforth and his “politics of reconciliation” will be the rule of the...

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Patrick Joubert Conlon celebrates another space shuttle launch and then asks: “Who gutted our space exploration program?” Daniel DiRito revisits the subject of the 190,000 lost weapons. Justin Gardner thinks Saturday may be Ron Paul’s make-or-break day. Two posts from McQ … One questions the focus on race and gender in a Progressive’s campaign The other questions Rudy’s claims vs....

The Weekly Standard is reporting he did. My quick take here. McQ goes into greater detail. And as of 8:55 am Central Time, it’s the top story at memeorandum, generating considerable buzz. Check it out.

A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. McQ summarizes an interview with MG Douglas Stone, Deputy Commanding General, Detainee Operations. In a post on the WSJ’s James Taranto vs. John Kerry, Michael Dunaway writes: “I have long held that, while unthinking noisy gongs on both sides are obnoxious … the thinking conservatives tend to be much more reasonable and accommodating than their liberal counterparts … ” Dyre42 is resigned...