Political Discourse

Brad Grimes

Folks throughout the nation may still gather at diners and barbershops to discuss politics, but they're also settling in at their computers and blogging the heck out of the system. Political blogs have fast become among the most popular online forums, whether written by liberals, conservatives, or people in between. Politicians themselves have taken a page out of the bloggers' manual: During the 2004 presidential election, you couldn't be a serious candidate without a blog.

Below is a mere sampling of political blogs. They'll give you a flavor of what people are talking about--and, more importantly, how they're talking about it. Because it's important to understand that political blogs, like other kinds, don't necessarily adhere to facts. Many have an ax to grind, while others openly deal in rumor and innuendo.

Which isn't to say most political bloggers aren't well-informed or can't uncover news like traditional news outlets can. You'll recall that last fall it was initially avid bloggers who questioned the authenticity of documents that allegedly showed (but ultimately did not prove) that President Bush had shirked his National Guard duty.

By and large, political blogs are good places to share ideas, read a fresh outlook on things, and launch or renew your engagement in political discourse. For a longer list, check out Yahoo's directory of political blogs.

Here are some of the best:

Daily Kos: Rich in content, this influential Weblog is aimed at Democrats and has a far more interactive feel than other political blogs. Founding author Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, an Army veteran, and other principals post often and inspire hundreds of comments that often balance out the discussion. The Daily Kos also runs collaborative diaries, which are like blogs within a blog. Also check out dKosopedia, a spinoff political encyclopedia.

Instapundit.com: Instapundit author Glenn Reynolds is a University of Tennessee law professor and self-described libertarian. His blog is widely read, probably because it isn't laser-focused on politics but also touches on politically sensitive subjects like technology versus personal liberty. Reynolds posts often and frequently pulls together links to other sources of information.

Little Green Footballs: This blog focuses heavily on Middle East politics, terrorism, and the war in Iraq. Written by Los Angeles-based Web designer Charles Johnson, LGF is often thought-provoking, but it's sometimes criticized for being anti-Islam. It rarely hides its disdain for "mainstream" media and often uses slang that first-time visitors may not get. You'll either love it or hate it, but if you're interested in its subject matter, you'll probably come away with your brain massaged.

Talking Points Memo: Written by accomplished political writer Joshua Micah Marshall, TPM culls information from a wide swath of media outlets. Marshall doesn't always pontificate, but he questions, suggests, and hints at what might be going on behind the headlines. For more in-depth analysis and broader insight, Marshall started TPMCafe, which includes reader blogs and the same type of collaboration you find at the Daily Kos. Both are powered by Scoop, a site-building application that blends content-management tools with blogging and online bulletin boards.

Power Line: Published by a trio of lawyers based in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., Power Line is credited with being one of the first blogs to claim that the documents questioning Bush's National Guard service were forgeries. While the blog admirably covers top-of-the-news issues such as Iraq, the Supreme Court, and CIA leaks, it also branches out. Author Scott Johnson recently posted a glowing review of a new book on the history of the saxophone.

Wonkette: Often cited as one of the best political Weblogs, Wonkette traffics heavily in humor and gossip--much of it racy and profane. Author Ana Marie Cox blogs from Washington, D.C., but frankly has few journalistic credentials. Read it for enjoyment, not for a serious (or necessarily accurate) discussion of politics.