THE BROADER VIEW Televised competition

TV Impact on sports, politics

We’re at an intersection of major sports seasons. With the World Series underway, baseball is in the final days of the 2009 season. College and NFL football teams are deeply into their seasons. NBA basketball has begun another lengthy season, with college teams beginning play shortly.

Trash talking Comments have consequences

Unless you have been engaged in a prolonged snooze, you are aware that the monologues and dialogues on public affairs have been increasingly marked by unsubstantiated blather, unwarranted accusations, misleading claims and a general tendency to attribute the worst possible motives to opponents — not to mention gross hypocrisy.

THE BROADER VIEW : The international barometer

Does world opinion matter?

There was widespread surprise at the announcement that Barack Obama is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

THE BROADER VIEW: Deliberate deliberations needed Obama faces complex choices

Decisions on complex and weighty foreign policy and security issues are being pondered in Washington. They could determine the course of U.S. policy in the coming years and have profound ramifications.