The New Republic has three articles on evolution this week, with Ross Douthat How Darwinism Hurts Conservatives probing what has rapidly become the explicit politicization of evolution (but is there anything new here?). Commentary on two of the articles, here and here Actually, Darwinism was always a crypto-conservative philosophy. Liberals need to stand back and look at the broader picture and take a critical look at the whole question of evolution.

The Darwin debate is getting increasingly polarized along liberal/rightwing lines, a dangerous development of liberals. Krugman
in the Times Op Ed section section takes on the religious right on evolution. He no doubt has a point about right wing strategies on evolution, but the problem here is that liberal thought has let this one get away, the victim of its own propaganda. No use blaming Kristol for one's troubles on this score. Both takes serve an agenda, and the ID tactics are proving effective because Darwinists are so convinced they forget to do their homework. How did it happen that the ID faction managed to hijack criticism of Darwin's theory?  

Thomas Frank's What's The Matter with Kansas brought home the problem liberals are having with conservative mindsets, in the process taking a look at the question of evolution. But a point was missed that Darwinism has a secular critique, and that liberal politics doesn't have to be blindsided by the current Intelligent Design movement, or close ranks around Darwin's theory. Politics of Evolution
Time has a
cover story on the Evolution Wars this week and, as if nothing has been learned, they simply repeat all the tired formulas about evolution that have ironically given the religious critics a golden opportunity.