Instapundit weighs in on republic.com. Predictably, he insists that the "multiple exclusive factions" hypothesis is wrong. (well, actually he just says "republic.com isn't holding up", but it's a fair extension).

It's pretty easy to assume that a community exists when you're a part of a hegemonic and self-reinforcing faction. I imagine the rest of us might disagree, and might point out, once again, that a horde of bloggers complaining about the same linked New York Times article does not a healthy debate make.