John Gorenfeld has noted an unusual assertion by New Republic editor Michael Crowley on Slate.com. Speaking of L. Ron Hubbard, Crowley states: "Comparable crackpots-in-chief like Lyndon LaRouche and Sun Myung Moon have had almost no detectable national influence."

What influence does Scientology really have? The minds of Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Beck are pretty slim pickings, national influence-wise.

Update (7/19): Correction made re: location of Crowley article; see comments.