Categorical Aperitif

C&L points us to fellow America's Wang-er Blast Off!, who notes that the folks behind The Political Compass have subjected the 2008 presidential candidates to their test, which seeks to place takers on a grid based not just on traditional left/right economic views but also on how socially libertarian or socially authoritarian they are. I wish I could say the results (which I'm sure are quibbleable to some degree), particularly for the Democrats, are surprising, but they're not—at least to anyone who no longer buys the standard "acceptable range of debate" framing in our current media-driven politics:

What's cool, though, is to compare the 2008 candidates' results with those the Compass people got for some famous composers:

Why, look who's up there in Wagner country. Now, whenever I hear any of 'em speak, I'm going to hear this in the background:

Good thing, too.

// posted by nash @ 9:26 AM