Reclaiming the Political Middle

The middle ground is becoming awfully empty in America these days.
It seems that the farther out to the wings you go, the more you claim leadership for your side.
Take a look at the Cheney incident.
The right would have you believe that it is no big deal, and that the MSM is demonizing the vice president as part of a liberal scheme to retake the government and surrender to the terrorists.
The left would have you believe that the government should be impeached because a witness to the shooting got to the press before Scott McClellan.
The truth is that the vice president accidentally shot a man, causing a serious condition. Mr. Cheney has taken responsibility for the incident. At worst, which is if the man dies, this is what Jack McCoy on Law and Order would call a class B felony. Not reckless endangerment, just involuntary manslaughter. Serious, but not world shaking.
The delay in meeting the press was probably due to the amount of bad press the administration has received lately. They wanted to spin it. Spin is not an impeachable offense.

Take a look at the wiretapping incident.
The right would have you believe that no crime is involved; it's just the president doing what a president should do.
The left would have you believe that the administration is preparing a palace coup, to install Presidente-for-Life Bush as our master.
The truth is that the president overstepped his boundaries. If he were Cheney, he would no doubt have said his Mea Culpa by now, promised to go back to wiretapping only with an easily-obtained warrant, and gone back to work. Not being Cheney, he has managed to turn this incident into a scandal.
Nonetheless, we are looking at the same sort of thing. Bush has committed a minor crime. Not a felony, not an impeachable offense, but a crime.
He should admit it, apologize, and go on.

As for us, we need to take a few Valiums. Society is not being overthrown by the Right, and the Left is not helping to smuggle terrorists over the border. We need to stop listening to these overreactors, reclaim the center, and start thinking again.