He is a classic creature of the political world: The centrist who finds middle ground on any issue, no matter what the merits of the opposing arguments are. Worse, the centrist often prides himself on being the only adult in the room, his unerring ability to find the precise center of a debate evidence of a maturity beyond the comprehension of callow partisans.
Centrists obviously drive some very smart people nuts, like The New York Times' Paul Krugman. And sometimes compromise really isn't best, as evidenced by a series of tweets trending under the hashtag #CivilWarCentrists. Enjoy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Retrievals, series two: 'essential listening'The Week Recommends The second instalment of this hard-hitting podcast delves into the 'appallingly common injustice' of women having C-sections without pain relief
-
Cool off at the best saltwater pools in the UKThe Week Recommends From 1930s Art Deco lidos to 'magical' tidal pools, these sheltered spots offer a safer alternative to sea swimming
-
Kinmen Islands: Taiwan's frontline with ChinaIn Depth Just a few miles off the mainland, the Kinmen Islands could be attacked first if China invades Taiwan
