GOOD READING YOU MUST NOT MISS! (Part One)

By Jack Jodell, October 26, 2011

I have been an active member of the blogosphere for only the past 3 + years, but in that time I have been pleasantly astounded and continually enlightened by the quality of progressive writing found in this realm. I often marvel at the depth of thought and great attention to detail that I have seen at other blogsites. Some of the blogs I visit regularly are humorous; some are angry; many are passionate. But nearly all share a deeply-held frustration with the status quo and are dedicated to seeing a measurable and beneficial change in the American political system. Intermittently, then, I will feature information on various sites I have found to be of great interest for the progressive reader. I begin today with a listing of several sites which I would strongly recommend you also stop by at from time to time. I list these randomly and without preference, as ALL of them featured in this series are definitely worth a read!

First and foremost, I would like to offer a tribute to my old friend BURR DEMING, whose superb writing can be viewed almost daily at the fine blog FAIR AND UNBALANCED (http://fairandunbalanced.com/).  Mr. Deming’s articles are always well-researched and well-reasoned, with a pervasive logic that is nearly impossible to refute. This is a thoughtful and very articulate man who has a great sense of conscience. He has crafted an exceptional thinking-person’s blog. Burr was a very early supporter of mine who encouraged me greatly, and I began to follow him almost immediately. You should too, as your life with be enriched by his tremendous insights! 

Next comes GWENDOLYN H. BARRY’s superb  A NEW GLOBAL MYTH   (http://newglobalmyth.nlogspot.com/). Here is a passionate and highly dedicated woman who is an unabashed liberal fighting always for decency, economic justice, environmental concerns, and basic common sense in our political and economic lives. She is one of the consistent contributing writers for the blog Roundtree7 (see my next entry below).  Gwen even hosts (often with yours truly) the extrairdinary all liberal talk radio program called HERE BE MONSTERS (http://www.blogtalkradio,com/here-be-monsters) each Sunday from 6-7 PM Eastern time. ALL liberals and progressives are invited to dial in at 213-816-0357 and give us your input on the latest events dealing with liberal progression and corporate regression. During the duration of the Wall Street occupation, this show can also be heard DAILY between 4-6 PM. It is a highly recommended method to blend a new planetary consciousness!

ROUNDTREE7 ( http://www.roundtree7.com/) is the creation of a very gifted writer from Oklahoma by the name of DAVID WILLIAMS (aka Krell).  Here, the brilliant Mr. Williams consistently provides us with well-researched and often little known topics from the world of politics and economics, but he has also assembled a staff of fine liberal contributors to submit informational and provocative articles on a twice-daily basis. These writers include not only the aforementioned Gwen Barry and myself, but also AL OSORI, who often writes sensitively and intelligently about the impact of white America on various minorities and indigenous peoples globally; MIKE STIMPSON, a superbly talented author from Winnipeg, Canada, who gives a unique Canadian perspective on the follies of American politicians;  DUSTY, HELLS MOST VOCAL BITCH, who provides us with meaningful and FACTUAL rants about topics of the day, and a number of others as well. This is one blog that should be on your most frequently visited sites list! 

TomCat, the creator of the fabulous blog POLITICS PLUS (http://www.politicsplus.org/) daily blesses us with a three or four piece vignette on relevant topics. He has deservedly built up  quite a worldwide following with his relentless hard work and research, and the conclusions he reaches are always well-reasoned and sound. He is a selfless promoter of liberal causes and often volunteers to aid prison inmates. DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS FINE GEM!

MANIFESTO JOE, an underground writer living in Texas, presents us with original insights and omtelligent observations in his blog MANIFESTO JOE’S TEXAS BLUES (http://manifestojoestexasblues.blogspot.com/). Joe gives us interesting behind the scenes views into both Texas and national politics, and is an accomplished writer whose articles have appeared in USA Today, both CNN and Reuters Online, and numerous other publications, both mainstream and underground. This is one author’s blog which is not to be overlooked!

Also from Texas, and hopelessly surrounded by hardcore, ignorant community of conservative Republicans just like Manifesto Joe, is MARC  McDONALD and his outstanding blog BEGGARS CAN BE CHOOSERS (http://www.beggarscanbechoosers.com/). A longtime Texas journalist who once worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Marc’s progressive articles have prompted reviews in a number of venues, among them CBS, The Washington Post, CNN, the BBC, USA Today, Crooks and Liars, and Headline News, among many others. Provocative and well-researched, you can always count on Marc to give some important food for thought. Two recent pieces by him, for example, were entitled “Bush Was Greater Force for Evil in the World than Gadafi Ever Was” and “Steve Jobs Represented Much of What’s Wrong with the US Economy Today.” Need I say more? CHECK HIM OUT! 

S.W. ANDERSON of OH!PINION (http://ohpblog.ohpinion.com/) is always a treat to read in that his work is  well thought-out and very factual. Wise, expertly calculated conclusions are in abundance at this site, so it, too, should become one of your most fequently viewed destinations!

Who would have ever thought an 87 year YOUNG lady would produce a masterful political blog on a frequent basis? Well, DARLENE of DARLENE’S HODGEPODGE (http://www.darleneshodgepodge.blogspot.com/) does  just that! While not always writing about politics, when she does she blesses us with her abundant common sense, her concern for others, and her many years of practical experience. She is a true treasure and I would suggest you visit her often, as I do!

These are but a few of the sites I am highly recommending to you. In my next installment, I will describe the outstanding work found consistently at the sites RANDOM THOUGHTS, PLUTOCRAP, DAVE DUBYA’s FREEDOM RANTS, TRUTH SHALL RULE, MAN WITH THE MUCKRAKE, ENGINEER OF KNOWLEDGE, CRITTER’S CRAP, and a number of others, in subsequent posts. We progressives can take great comfort in knowing that many others share our basic outlook, even if we sometimes disagree slightly on specifics. I only hope that my own work will always measure up to that of these great writers and journalists!

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