If Newsgroups are like talk radio or barroom arguments, mailing lists are more like salons. But Cohen is nothing more than a liberal in Republican clothing. He voted against the balanced budget deals that would have freed America from big government, or at least started this process, he's voted along with many other liberals in the Senate who on a host of other issues. Most of these votes along with the Democrats have been listed in C-News, that I've seen. Baldacci admires Cohen and calls him a good Senator.
Many lists keep archives of all previous postings.
These are places to find real people and monitor discussions and opinion trends. But facts offered here can be just as suspect. Although mailing lists tend to attract more knowledgeable people than Newsgroups. Some active lists can send out 20 or 30 postings a day. Subscribe to only a few at a time and rotate them often.