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DEARTH OF MN LEFTY BLOGS?
Fraters Libertas says there aren't any good local lefty blogs:
FRATERS LIBERTASI think the primary reason for this disparity is that the mainstream media already adequatley [sic] presents the perspective of the Left on these matters, every single day, over and over again. Numerous media outlets employing hundreds of professional, highly educated journalists to articulate their exact feelings on politics and life. So, there is no motivation for amateurs to take up the cause.
I don't know that the local media is less balanced than anyplace else in the country. Are local journalists "articulating feelings" on politics and life, or are they reporting fairly? I don't know the answers, and I have to admit I don't read local papers much since blogs and online news commandeered my reading habits.
Fraters seems to discount the Northern Alliance's nemesis, Twin Cities Babelogue, because they're spawned from City Pages. I'd say the Northern Alliance Radio Show makes them just as much an alt-media conglomerate as the City Pages/Babelogue folks. Not to mention, Power Line has a long history of publishing articles in the mainstream press, and Hugh Hewitt has quite a few books under his belt.
Regardless, the Northern Alliance is very good at what they do. Most independent local lefty blogs aren't as seriously committed, in-depth and influential as those guys. Nearly everyone in the "Upper Midwest Blog Managers Association" is lefty – see Let's Fight and Secret Farm – but most of us don't post exclusively about politics. Why? It's bloody exhausting! I tend to go in political spurts, then I need to focus on other things. Like my documentary, or... strippers. Space Waitress was Minnesota's best left-leaning blog last year, easily on par with the Northern Alliance.
I'm inspired to seek out more DIY lefty political blogs of Minnesota. Here are a handful - feel free to add more in the comments:
Democracy for Minnesota
Bushout.TV
Moderate Left
Minnesota Liberal
Chris Dykstra
Minnesota Progress
The Game and How We Played It
cursor.org (do they count?)
DFL Blog
July 28, 2004 at 07:30 PM in Local, Weblogs | Permalink
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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference DEARTH OF MN LEFTY BLOGS?:
» Condescension from the Right Same Old, Same Old from Eat Your Vegetables
A right wing site from Minnesota, Fraters Libertas (i think it translates to "We Hate Goddamn Liberals!"), posted about Chuckumentary's list of good Minnesota left leaning sites. Like any good right winger, Saint Paul is condescending and dismissive: H... [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 1, 2004 1:26:05 AM
» Condescension from the Right Same Old, Same Old from Eat Your Vegetables
A right wing site from Minnesota, Fraters Libertas (i think it translates to "We Hate Goddamn Liberals!"), posted about Chuckumentary's list of good Minnesota left leaning sites. Like any good right winger, Saint Paul is condescending and dismissive: H... [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 1, 2004 1:41:48 AM
» Searching For A Good Leftyblog from Shot In The Dark
Before I get into the actual post, let's be clear on one thing: being in the Northern Alliance is one of the great flukes of my life. I personally consider myself a very run-of-the-mill blogger who happens, from being in... [Read More]
Tracked on Aug 6, 2004 8:37:44 AM
Comments
Hey there:
You should add http://www.Bushout.tv to the list of political blogs. It's by Luke Francl
who is more responsible for the existence of the DFL blog than I am.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Dykstra at Jul 28, 2004 8:23:35 PM
Thanks for the correction - BushOut.TV is awesome! I've run across that blog before and didn't know it was local-ish.
I'm sensing a vast left-wing blog conspiracy forming... darkness is spreading... Mwoohahahahaha!
Wait - that's the other guys. We're all about flowers and bunnies and crap like that. Bunnies are spreading.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 28, 2004 8:35:23 PM
Thanks for the props.
I've got a regular MN blog mafia going...http://www.bushout.tv, http://justlooking.recursion.org (my personal blog: nerdy stuff + politics), http://www.dflers.org, and http://www.democracyforminnesota.org (successor to the Minnesota for Dean campaign).
One of my goals with the DFL stuff is to kickstart a Minnesota progressive blogosphere. Suggestions are welcome.
Posted by: Luke Francl at Jul 28, 2004 9:03:47 PM
Well, you've come to the right place my friend.
This here is like a, like a progressive noodle ranch.
Can we have kickball matches with the Northern Alliance?
(I'll have more helpful suggestions after a good night's sleep.)
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 12:04:22 AM
The Moderate Republican
If you are a moderate Republican who wants to bring the Party of Lincoln back to its roots, you've come to the right place. I am your host, Dennis Sanders a 30something, gay, African American, Republican minister living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 12:09:19 AM
Minnesota Politics, a blog about Minnesota politics. Not to be confused with MNpolitics.com
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 12:31:20 AM
I think The Game is a pretty good MN lefty blog. Although he does use a lot of swears.
Posted by: spacewaitress at Jul 29, 2004 8:28:22 AM
OMG! I am shamed. Jason kicks ass and is totally hilarious. I likes the swears. Be cautioned: If you're conservative and you read his blog, your head will explode.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 12:31:29 PM
Thanks guys, but we'd prefer not to be taken seriously... but anyone.
Oh, and speaking of Fraters Libertas: fuck those guys.
Posted by: JasonC at Jul 29, 2004 6:00:24 PM
I have actually... it was expensive, but well worth it.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 6:37:52 PM
"Regardless, the Northern Alliance is very good at what they do. Most independent local lefty blogs aren't as seriously committed, in-depth and influential as those guys."
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this is because most of those guys have more money and thus more time/flexibility to do more research, and spend more time writing. And/or they get paid for writing. Also, aren't they all male? I know I'd have a lot more time to research and blog if I was male and didn't feel so goddamned guilty about the dirty dishes and rugs, and not to mention cooking and this damn green thumb I've got.
And, as far as the local media goes, I'd have to say that most of the time, they are fairly reporting things. I do read a bit of the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, and I'm more often annoyed at a "let's follow what all the big guys are reporting" take on things rather than thinking, hey - they are doing something different. As far as local journalists articulating feelings, I think maybe he's just thinking of Kare 11 and their "touchy feely" take on "news". At least in the papers, it's pretty strait stuff. If it were lefty, I'd feel validated reading it, much like I do listening to Air America Radio.
Posted by: Lorika at Jul 29, 2004 7:42:13 PM
CHUCK: "Damn you woman! You WILL wash those goddamned dirty dishes and rugs, and you'll do it NOW!"
CHUCK raises his hand violently, his eyes fiery red with rage.
FADE TO BLACK.
END SCENE.
---
Hi, I'm Chuck Olsen. The scene you just witnessed was a dramatic recreation of the horror of domestic violence. It happens in houses just like yours and mine across America every day. And it's no laughing matter.
I would never slap Lori, but for just a few cents a day, you can ensure Lori continues to remain unharmed so we can hire a maidservant to keep our home clean -- and safe.
Please, give me money. This blog - and Lori's continued safety - depends on it.
God bless.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 29, 2004 10:02:01 PM
Funny, I was just thinking that there weren't any good local Righty blogs...
Blah, blah, blah, liberal media, blah, blah, blah, regurgitation of what Rush just said, blah, blah, blah, Hannity is Jesus, blah, blah, blah, Bill Clinton is responsible for all bad things for 50 years before and after his presidency...
Yup. Must be that liberal media. Oh well. Rumor has it that us Lefty bloggers are much more attractive than our local Righty counterparts. Tee-hee.
Posted by: ryan at Jul 30, 2004 3:26:14 AM
Lorika said: "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this is because most of those guys have more money and thus more time/flexibility to do more research, and spend more time writing. And/or they get paid for it."
Well, Lileks is obviously a fulltime writer. Beyond that? Uh uh. We have two software geeks, three lawyers, a project manager, a market research guy, a professor, an architect and an engineer.
As to "more time"? Well, speaking for myself, I'm a single parent with two jobs. I get up at 5AM to find the time to blog.
Scratch one stereotype.
"Also, aren't they all male?"
Nope.
" I know I'd have a lot more time to research and blog if I was male and didn't feel so goddamned guilty about the dirty dishes and rugs, and not to mention cooking and this damn green thumb I've got."
FWIW, I have all that, plus a bunch of musical instruments and, by the way, a couple of kids.
"And, as far as the local media goes, I'd have to say that most of the time, they are fairly reporting things."
From Sacramento, Boise is "east".
Posted by: mitch at Jul 30, 2004 6:52:20 PM
Who's not male in the Northern Alliance?
Now I"ll go out on a limb and say that guys with jobs like: lawyer, professor, architect, engineer - have a lot of independence and control over their time. You don't have someone looking over your shoulder when you're an accomplished professional in those positions.
Regardless, blogging at the N. Alliance level does take serious commitment as Mitch is attesting to. Odin "Plain Layne" got up at 4 or 5am to spend a couple of hours blogging, sometimes a couple more hours in the evening if a lot was going on. That's a huge commitment, and he works his butt off around the clock at his job and has two adorable kids.
I choose not to give up that much of my life. Err, at least I think I choose that...
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 30, 2004 7:35:52 PM
By the way, fraters responded to this this thread. I emailed him back---
I'm enjoying the exchange... honestly I didn't know many of these lefty blogs existed, either, until I went searching for them. I wouldn't say these are the ones that meet my standards - they're simply what I found.
I think you're right about the MN lefty blogosphere being in formative stages. Again, I don't think it's fair to discount the Babelogue blogs; some of those have a higher standard of discourse.
As for The Game... well, I often find politically incorrect humor funny. Larry Flynt introducing John Kerry = funny! You have to admit that's politically incorrect on a couple of levels. Granted, it's no Hitler, but give me a break... Charlie Chaplin was poking fun at Hitler before we were born. I think both the right and the left need to loosen up over this Hitler nonsense. I'm going to have to start a left-wing pro-Hitler blog just to confuse people.
Posted by: Chuck at Jul 30, 2004 7:41:52 PM
Methinks Fraters is referring to a little run-in we had together during the developmental stage of the Game. I put up a photo from Bartcop that compared Bush to Hitler, and they were none too pleased. Hilarity ensued...
For the record, I do respect what Fraters does. They're like totally smart and stuff. And much better at what they do than I am. But that said: fuck those guys.
Posted by: JasonC at Jul 30, 2004 10:55:21 PM
"Who's not male in the Northern Alliance?"
Eloise from Spitbull, Whiskey from Captain Ed, and Fraters' frequent contributor Warrior Princess.
"Now I"ll go out on a limb and say that guys with jobs like: lawyer, professor, architect, engineer - have a lot of independence and control over their time. You don't have someone looking over your shoulder when you're an accomplished professional in those positions."
Not directly, but there are definite expectations.
"I choose not to give up that much of my life. Err, at least I think I choose that..."
The funny thing is that it really gives more than it takes.
Posted by: mitch at Jul 31, 2004 6:51:25 AM
I can't believe nobody's mentioned the Rational Enquirer, formerly dack.com. Not only a well maintained, easy-to-use, egoless lefty blog in itself, but Dack is definitely one of MN's pioneer bloggers (his was the first MN blog I linked to way back when Cheek started in April '01, and he had already been around since 1999).
Posted by: desrosiers at Aug 1, 2004 11:12:47 AM
hmmm, now I'm thinking: Fraters Libertas and Power Line are both communal blogs, yet I can't think of a single lefty communal blog in Minnesota. (The Babelogue doesn't count, since it's more of a blog-referral hub.) I wonder why? Let's start one up!
Posted by: desrosiers at Aug 1, 2004 11:41:03 AM
Desrosiers - actually, except for Lileks and I, all of the NAOB blogs are group blogs.
Being Republicans, we avoid the term "communal", though.
Posted by: mitch at Aug 1, 2004 6:14:25 PM
Mitch, yeah I used the word "communal" deliberately in order to provoke, but you know what I mean. Still, historically, MN lefties have been more adept at organizing and group efforts (this is why the DFL still exists), yet in the Minnesota patch of the blogosphere, this is hardly the case. In fact, hereabouts I must concede that the Right is *so far* winning the race in terms of organizing, humor, and attention-grabbing communal blogs. I wonder why?
Posted by: desrosiers at Aug 1, 2004 7:48:00 PM
Because we have the liberal media, silly!
I looked up ol' dack when I wrote this post. He wasn't doing much on dack.com, and the Rational Enquirer seemed like a different beast... very little commentary. I actually thought there was no commentary, but going back now I think I just missed it. Well worth noting, though.
Posted by: Chuck at Aug 2, 2004 1:02:29 PM
I disagree with the characterization of City Pages as mainstream. Steve Perry frequently attacks the Democrats and seems to be coming from a green/anti-globalization perspective. AM 1500 has been broadcasting around quite a bit longer than Babalogue--a different medium, to be sure, but no less influential.
To this notion that the left is already well represented, I don't think that's the reason why there are so few left bloggers. First of all, even if the media is liberal--and I don't think it is--opinionated people aren't going to stand by and let others express their opinions for them for very long. Actually, I think people are more likely to express their opinions in an atmosphere which is conducive to them doing so. Those on the right may not think so, but the political environment--including the media environment--has been very hostile to the left for decades. I think it has more to do with the fact that, early on, the left was much more pessimistic about the potential for the internet to make a difference in the political process. Most of the techno-utopians, it seems to me, were libertarian.
Most liberals I know don't read the newspaper, and if they do, it's the New York Times, not the Star Tribune. And almost no one, left or right, watches local news coverage, do they?
No, I think the dearth of liberal bloggers has more to do with the general disengagement of liberals from the political process, a trend that might now be in the process of being reversed.
Posted by: thistle at Aug 2, 2004 1:33:23 PM
You might want to add Tensegrities to your list of lefty MN blogs. Tensegrities is run by a professor a Luther Seminary and comes from a progressive Christian perspective. She's been around for a while and was, in fact, one of the first blogs to link BushOut.tv. She hasn't been posting as much lately, but has come up with some good stuff in the past, with a lot of emphasis on local St. Paul issues.
Posted by: Luke Francl at Aug 16, 2004 10:55:02 PM
We're definitely from MN here at idiosyncrasy. Check us out.
Posted by: lonepair at Jan 25, 2009 5:59:54 PM
