My brother collected the Grant/Breyfogle run for quite awhile. Excellent stuff. In fact, I think it was Grant who introduced Tim Drake as the new Robin. I'll always thank him for that.

Jim Starlin was decent as well, but I'm not sure I remember the political commentary you're mentioning. Then again, it's been years since I last read those issues, so the details are a bit fuzzy to me.
As for the recent writers, well I agree with your assessment on Morrison. I enjoyed the initial part of his run on New X-men, but when it came to the part with the whole Xorn/Magneto crap I turned away in disgust. Loeb however I'm not to sure of, the only thing I've read of his is Superman/Batman, and I
hated it. His writing is far to preachy and condescending for me to relate to. That said though, I'm glad he brought Supergirl back, though the way he writes her leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Among the elite writers, I have to agree that Frank Miller wrote the perfect Batman stories with DKR and Year One (that doesn't mean though I'll forgive him for the travesty that is
All Star Batman and Robin). But there's one writer who doesn't get mentioned when it comes to the caped crusader, and that's Alan Moore. Sure he didn't write as much on the character as someone like Miller, but I've always liked his take on Batman.
Really, I have to agree with Klaus, if Batman isn't written with some sense of humor, he falls flat character wise. Alan Grant showed that aspect of him well.