Centerfield

Esmay is on target with these two words: "incautious assumptions." I don't think these maps tell us much more than that people generally prefer to have their world view confirmed rather than challenged. And we already knew that.

Yeah. But it's cool to see it so starkly.

But disturbing too, to think that "people" interested in politics only include people on the left and right.

In a sense, maybe, it's that intensely partisan literature is more entertaining than the kind of measured, substantive stuff those of us in the middle would relate to.

The question is how to make moderation interesting. I kind of suspect Andrew over at the Poorman has a few ideas on that.

I think one answer is frequent discussion of problems of the day and putting criticisms against centrism in their place.

Clinton sure made centrism interesting, and Tony Blair continues to do so (if only he could run for President here!). How? Well, part of it is their personal magnetism and the fascination that attaches to leaders. But I think another big part of the answer is the 'daily spin.'

When the GOP thundered about what he'd done in Whitewater, the White House would package a message that reminded people how little actual evidence had surfaced. When a Latin American country was threatened with a coup, the Administration had a hemispheric response ready that day, and the coup planners shrank from the sudden daylight and gave up their plans. He and his team were always cheerleading for American companies and innovation, as well as globalization and the positive changes that stemmed from that.

Bush doesn't do that, and thus lacks that advantage. I think that if it weren't for blogs, he'd be in much worse shape. Cheney should've taken Instapundit fishing rather than Scalia!