Yet precisely because they are seen as closer to Iran's revolutionary establishment than Mr Khatami is, neither of the two rivals is as likely to inspire the crucial constituency of fence-sitting sceptics to bother to vote.

ECONOMIST: Iran's presidential choice

With Mr McCain at one end of the spectrum and Mr Buchanan at the other, the risk for the rest of the Republican field is that of appearing to be either intellectually uncertain or a fence-sitting poll-watcher.

ECONOMIST: The Kosovo test | The

Fence-sitting will prove as hard as bridge-building.

ECONOMIST: George Papandreou, flouting Greek tradition

Just in time for those immensely popular MLB playoffs and NFL kickoffs, ATI is dropping a new OTA HDTV tuner card that it apparently hopes will catch the eye of those who have been fence-sitting the issue of making a high definition DVR out of their PC.

ENGADGET: ATI releases TV Wonder 650 OTA HDTV tuner card

The Lib Dems have always been opposed to any further expansion - but now their leader seems to be sitting on the fence - telling us we should wait for the independent commission to report.

BBC: Cambridge MP calls on Lib Dems to oppose new runways

This view would be seen by both religious and atheist zealouts as wishy-washy and sitting on the fence.

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