British Expatriate Network

I was wondering which political commentators you believe and those you don't. Are there people who's word you trust and those you think "plonker" every time they open their gob or write on a page? And are you dedicated to reading any political blogs? I dont mean "I think Bill O'Reilly is a twat" - although he is - I mean when you want to know what is going to happen, who do you go too?

I have this thing for Dick Morris. The man is a horrible horrible little prick, but he makes a wonderful argument. Watching him on his new book tour (Condi versus Hillary is the book) only reaffirms how much I think he's a disgusting weirdo, but a brilliant one. If he makes a claim, I damn well listen. I like David Brooks - he writes very very well. If only more on the right were as capable of admitting it's all gone to crap. I also read David Frum closely - another weirdo (portrait of Stalin on his wall...) smart commentator if not a smug git. I love to read Chris Hitchens, Krauthammer, George Will, and MArk Steyn for the way they write, though I tend to find their arguments to be not as convincing. I tend to listen to Howard Fineman and Ron Brownstein too. I get both Newsweek and the Weekly Standard in the mail. I pay close attention to what Kristoff says in Newsweek, and Bill Kristol says in the Weekly Standard though lately it's just been silly half-page editorials. Lastly I read Anne Althouse any time she makes the NY Times.

I will however gladly wipe my arse with anything Fred Barnes writes in the Standard. And I wil never understand the point of listening to Rush Limbaugh. I am not and never have been a fan of Fox News - as far as commentary goes it doesn't serve any intelligent purpose. I feel the same about much of the Guardian editorial board - it's just not worth reading half the time.

As for blogs the standard for me used to be Instapundit, but it's turned into a GOP echo chamber over the last year and a half. It's very dissapointing because it used to be a pretty decent indicator but no more. I never miss Slate and in particular Mickey Kaus. He really is a great example of how Dems feel today. I've taken to reading Talkingpointsmemo lately (Josh Marshall) along with Brad DeLong and Kevin Drum - some very sharp guys there. From Britain I read Talkleft for the left, and Scott Burgess (Daily Ablution) for the right. Both are very good at what they do.

How about you?

The Rude Pundit. This man is great.

NSFW language though.

THE ONION lol lol lol lol lol

Jon Stewart. lol lol lol

Jeff Rense - he seems to provide knowledge without motivation. I don't feel he is gearing my mind to the propaganda machine AKA the media. Never listened to his radio show but do look at his site time to time. It is really about wellness in general but he covers some stories.
      http//www.rense.com/
 I also like Alex Jones but he is an extremist, I fully recognize that but he is pretty right on with his info.
      http//www.infowars.com/

American politics is just hollow facade selling the illusion of atomistic individualist philosophy while protecting the concept of the state and justifying corporate capitalism.

Any debate in American ‘politics’ is meaningless, they all basically argue the same point.

So, no, I don’t listen to any of their apologists, they only serve to inflate the egos of the powerless public.

Couldn't agree more!!! It is funny every election it is the same BS campaign rubbish but nothing seems to change no matter who is in office. The right wing and the left wing are all connected to the same bird. If you think the American politician is out for YOU you've got to be joshing, they serve their own special interest groups and the biased media plays right along with them. If you want to be in the know it is imperative to follow the independent media the big four are not media outlets, if they were they would carry news and not program the ignorant (ignorant-not knowing and doing something, stupid- knowing and doing it anyways)public into doing what they want them to do. You always have got to question why am I being told this and who does it benefit.
I believe it is in the Protocols of Zion that the role of the politicians is to give comfort to the citizens, so they do not question the behind the scenes monkey business that would infuriate a majority of you. That was written over 200 years ago. The role of the media is to hoodwink the public into buying whatever has to be done to address the agenda desired, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD,WMD,WMD,WMD,WMD, we know they are there WMD, OK in lower case "u.n. inspector says no WMD", next night CNN NBC CBS ABC- WMD WMD WMD, what is it since 2004 30,000+ civilian Iraqis, who knows how many soldiers, 2000+ Am. among the other UK Pakistani and other soldiers serving only to find out, opps no WMD we were wrong, but we're here and we're going to get us this here oil hee haw. If the media was not biased they would be telling us about the tons of depleted uranium being dropped that is going to give these boys that mysterious gulf war syndrome and the insane birth defects and miscarriages that is still going on in Iraq from '90 and that will be minuscule compared to what the US has done this time.
OK in case you didn't notice I do have a problem with mainstream media. I actually am not aware of alot of the names on here that others have named. Jon Stewart makes some great points but I have not seen or heard him enough to give an opinion love his take on the things that I have seen him discuss.
Moo I agreed with what you wrote and don't know if this ties into what you were saying and don't want to turn your quote around with my views so my apologies if you feel I distorted your message by quoting you.

I cannot believe someone has just cited the Protocols of Zion as a reputable source. shock

When I read about them I was told they are from 1770-1795 somewheres in that range. I do not know nor care about their authenticity what is written in them is whats important. There is alot of debate as to if they are official or not. When read and compared to what is going on worldwide I  highly doubt them as unreliable. It is the message not the messenger. I have read now that they date from late 1800-early 1900.  It's a bit off topic.
http//aztlan.net/protocols.htm



 I must add that I AM NOT ANTISEMITIC,please do not confuse me with political views. I am just a 33yo construction worker out to make the world a better place to live and to try to get the human race to love and not have so much strife that 1.Media  and 2. politicians strive to do. They would just as soon watch us destroy ourselves with joy like those sick bucks Dumbya/Rumsfeld/Cheney/Wolfowitz in Iraq. These are my opinions right or wrong they are my opinions.

I must admit I do not listen to any American news broadcasts or political commentators, they're all dicks....sorry they are, I refuse to watch any local news as it is complete and utter bollox. I watch BBC world news. I listen to NPR. If I watch any Anerican news its by accident and is usually the Jim Lehrer thing they have on PBS in the evening.

Sometimes I will catch a few minutes of Fareed Zakaria, who I think is fairly intelligent and does what he can with American politicians, but he is facing an uphill battle.

Luckily as Brits we can still get our hands on quality respectable journalism.

http//www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005550115,00.html

"BEEB bosses have gone ballistic after discovering the Daleks are starring in a PORN FLICK.

Dr Who's foes capture three naked “disco babes” in the 18-rated DVD.

They chase the girls around their spaceship and grope them with their plungers.

Abducted By The Daleks — which features grey, red and black pepper-pot baddies watching a lesbian scene — was “five years in the making”, says the sleeve."



Yes, of course there are photos.