Recommendations: Blogs

A brief intermission from the weightier matters for a some overdue credit where credit is due. As regular readers know, I’m pretty picky about my political reading fare, especially when it comes to pundits. But there are a few political blogs that are must-reads for me. I thought I’d pass along my recommendations and let you tell me who you think I’m missing. I’ve added a list on the side bar, but here’s a brief overview of each:

The Becker-Posner Blog – Two intellectual conservatives who blog once a week (usually) on a joint topic. Becker won a Nobel Prize in economics. Posner is a judge on the U.S. 7th Circuit. Both teach at the University of Chicago. Their posts aren’t for the casual browser – be ready to wade in, perhaps for a few weeks, before you adjust to the level of their argument. But it’ll be worth it.

Presidential Power – Professor of Political Science Matthew Dickinson provides political analysis grounded in scholarship. He writes frequently and cogently about the latest twists and turns of presidential politics, often reminding us of the longer, deeper trends below the latest gaffe or spin, the ones that ultimately matter much more. Also, his comments are a civil place where you’re likely to get a personal answer to a well-asked question.

David Brooks (New York Times) – This should be obvious to any of you by now.

James Fallows (The Atlantic) – My father finally convinced me to subscribe and I’ve been glad I did. Lately Fallows has been pursuing the U.C. Davis story, anti-Mormon bias in politics, events in China, his passion for flying, and email security, among other things. A well-informed writer who obviously enjoys the back-and-forth relationship that blogging allows him to share with his readers. He regularly shares readers’ contributions (including one of mine).

The Fix and 2chambers (Washington Post) – For up-to-the-minute political analysis by a team of reporters dedicated to the nuts and bolts of modern politics, I don’t think you can beat these blogs. Chris Cillizza (the original Fix) and his team are great at the campaign coverage and I’ve really appreciated Felicia Sonmez’ reporting on Congress. If you’re feeling a bit out of the loop in terms of the political discussion, this is probably the best place to start.

Lexington’s notebook and Democracy in America (The Economist) – I’ve long appreciated The Economist’s slightly-outsider perspective on American politics and broader focus on world affairs. I have a paper subscription that I devour weekly, but I’ve only recently tuned into their U.S.-topic blogs. Lexington is the name of their weekly column on U.S. politics, so Lexington’s notebook is that reporter’s blog. Democracy in American is a collaborative work by their team of U.S. reporters.

Honorable Mention: Confessions of a Community College Dean – As you can tell by the title, this isn’t a political blog. But ‘Dean Dad’ is a thoughtful writer whose comments about education often carry broader relevance (beyond the intersection of education and policy). He’s a model moderate thinker and writer. (Anyone who can write a thoughtful column five days a morning while also working as a college administrator is pretty impressive.)

So, whom did I miss? I’m always on the lookout for thoughtful, respectful writers from across the political spectrum.