How interesting to come across this story from the NY Times today (hat tip to Pat Dague) after we’d already prepared to post the entry below on the new faith and politics blog that’s past of the Washington Post/Newsweek’s On Faith site. Blogging, faith, and politics especially in relation to the 2008 Presidential election certainly seem to be a very hot topic at the moment.
WASHINGTON ”” The morning meeting could have been at any news outlet, with discussion around the glass conference-room table about stem cells, Iraq and the presidential candidates. But afterward the members of the small group in the room bowed their heads in prayer.
“I just pray for all of us, reporters, photographers and editors,” said David Brody, a reporter. “Give us the strength to get through the day. Bless our work, Lord. Give us the right words to say.”
Mr. Brody, 42, writes a blog and covers politics for the Christian Broadcasting Network, the television station founded by Pat Robertson. With the three leading Republican presidential candidates in the early going each confronting his own serious obstacles in winning over evangelical Christians, Mr. Brody occupies a position of influence in the 2008 presidential campaign as a gatekeeper to a crucial constituency.
CBN has about a million viewers a day on television, making it a big platform for Mr. Brody and the Republican candidates.
In addition, Mr. Brody’s blog, the Brody File, which scours the conservative credentials of Republican candidates but also looks at Democrats on occasion, has become required reading for political insiders, and is frequently cited by mainstream news organizations and bloggers on both ends of the political spectrum. With its blend of reporting, jokey commentary and savvy explanations of the concerns of evangelical voters, it now draws almost 100,000 hits a month, more than five times the traffic it was getting just several months ago.
Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York recently became the latest Republican presidential candidate to appear with Mr. Brody on the network’s main news program, “The 700 Club,” with segments posted on the Brody File. Earlier this year, Mr. Brody interviewed Senator John McCain of Arizona. He has twice sat down with Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts.
The link to the Brody File is here.
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This elf confesses that she isn’t yet following the Presidential election very closely, has never to her knowledge read the Brody File, and doesn’t have a lot of political blogs in her list of bookmarks. (Unless, of course we’re talking ANGLICAN politcs! That’s a whole ‘nother story! 😉 )
What political blogs do you all recommend, and which do a good job of focusing on issues of faith and politics?
Faith and politics? The best I know of is Hugh Hewitt. The best blog on politics in general, as far as I’m concerned, is Powerline.
I refuse to follow the ’08 elections until ’08. I will not support any candidate that tries to enlist my support before ’08. I am tired of this country always being in “election” mode.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
#2, Lucky for you your primary isn’t until March 4 (see http://archive.stateline.org/flash-data/Primary/2008_presidential_primaries.pdf). Since I’m in Florida, we have to look at the candidates now since our primary is January 29.
Ah but Philip, when are your primaries? That’s the rub now for many of us. A huge number of states, including Florida where I vote, have now jumped on the early Primary bandwagon. Meaning I have to pay attention MUCH sooner than I would normally plan to. I assume I’ll start paying close attention round about Sept/Oct.
Oh too funny. FlaAnglican and I basically cross-posted the identical comment. I confess the switch to such an early primary has got me flummoxed.
I agree with Philip. While Florida has moved its primary up, the Democratic Party has announced it will not send any delegates elected by Florida to the national convention because of the change of date, refusing to give validity to the process (the state Democratic Party is trying to get them to change their minds on this, however)! I don’t know if the Republican Party has made any similar statements.
However, The field is not even complete yet, with Republicans Fred Thompson and Newt Gingringh still hinting they [i]may[/i] run for Presidential office (Mr. Newt said he will announce in September (?) if he decides).
What? All the Floridians are on line now? 😆
All too true. And the Republicans are having a “Presidency IV” debate extragavanza in Orlando October 21-22 (http://www.rpof.org/events/presidency_IV.php). The Democrats are having their state convention a week later, October 26-28 (http://www.fladems.com/content/w/2007_state_convention_delegates) at Disney World.
It’s not a blog, but the Faith in Public Life news blotter is good.
I have to agree that of the political blogs I check, Hugh Hewitt’s site does the best job of handling faith and politics. PowerLine, another good blog, also handles faith issues from time to time. I think Captain’s Quarters is another good one.
Elf Lady, I check the following sites regularly in addition to the three above. These provide links to news items and usually brief excerpts from them. A quick survey of these sites gives me a daily news summary. Some are farther to the right than others. Several have comments allowed; I almost never read the comments. I don’t have time, and also, in several cases the comments are unmoderated, and the few times I have looked they have gotten out of hand. It is no more fair to characterize these sites by their commenters than it is to label leftist sites by some of theirs. I look at the main items posted on the main page. Lucianne.com, Instapundit, Michelle Malkin, and if you want jihad news, Little Green Footballs. (Comments on LGF are especially wild; don’t go there. Just read the news excerpts.) I believe on the left side there is a blog at The New Republic called The Plank which is worth checking. If you go to thenewsrightnow.com, you get a spectrum on the left and right. The left side’s updates appear to be inactive, so you’d need to go to the sites linked individually.