Monday, September 14, 2009
Slugger Awards: Best Political Blog 2009…
It’s our view that the real nexus of political debate is moving inexorably online. In the US and the UK, the line between what’s become known as the commentariat and the bloggertariat is rapidly blurring. We hope our political blogger of the year Award will play a role in identifying (and encouraging) the next generation of big political commentators.
Anyone who blogs consistently on Northern Irish politics is eligible: ie they do not have to be based in or be writing exclusively about Northern Ireland. But we are looking for seriousness and purpose. And for blogs that bring consistent quality and impact on the public debate.
In making your nominations, please try to include:
1. The name and the url of the blog.
2. A link to a sample post along with a short extract demonstrating its best qualities.
3. A short pitch on why you believe it is the best political blog of the year.
Be as expansive as you wish, so we can make the best pitch possible to both the reader and judges panels who may not be as familiar as you with your favoured site.
Please note, Slugger is excluded from this category.
Mick Fealty @ 09:25 AM
“It’s our view that the real nexus of political debate is moving inexorably online”
I disagree completely. The real nexus of political debate between political nerds like me is almost exclusively online.
Most normal people, voters, do not waste their time blogging.
Blogging is virtual debate. It is not real.
‘Real’ what goes through the little slit on the ballot box, blogging effects that very very little.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:06 AMalthough not a political blogger in the purest sense, I’d like to nominate AlaninBelfast for his coverage of the euro elections
hands-on coverage of postal ballots, polling day and the utter confusion of the count day were brilliantly and thoroughly examined in a series of posts by Alan. It was a great insight into the meaty workings of an election and a welcome change from the he-said/she-said whataboutery.
He then went on to have a tussle with a govt department and a few local council scoops.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:17 AMNominations please?
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 11:53 AM1. Alan In Belfast alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/
2. “Others took a more deferential stance, hunkering down in front of the tables to try and catch a view of the underside of the papers as they were being set on the table. Can’t resist wondering out loud whether Ian Paisley Junior was praying for votes!”
3. although not a political blogger in the purest sense, I’d like to nominate AlaninBelfast for his coverage of the euro electionshands-on coverage of postal ballots, polling day and the utter confusion of the count day were brilliantly and thoroughly examined in a series of posts by Alan. It was a great insight into the meaty workings of an election and a welcome change from the he-said/she-said whataboutery.
He then went on to have a tussle with a govt department and a few local council scoops.
there.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 12:02 PMI’d like to nominate Holylandswarzone.blogspot.com
I think the guy who writes it is nuts and a looser, but it’s good reading.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 12:21 PMTimes like these, Horseman is yer only man.
http://ulstersdoomed.blogspot.com/
Posts are very well written, and although by their nature clearly ideological they are backed up by the mainly demographic research which is defended fairly when challenged.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 01:04 PMO’Conall Street for top drawer analysis and an honest defence of progressive nationalism.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 01:32 PMhere is a great example of http://www.oconallstreet.com at work.
http://oconallstreet.com/2009/08/24/region-nation-and-us/Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 01:43 PM-
Based south of the border, but the philosophy is ‘Universal’...
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:03 PM Hi Mick !
If you want a job done right , you do it yourself!
That’s my excuse , anyway, to nominate the blog I help to publish - ‘1169 And Counting…’
URL - http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/
Typical sample posts -
http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/2008_10_26_archive.html
http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/2008_03_30_archive.html
Two comments/reviews (from those who should know better!) -
“1169 and counting is a marvellous site with, as the title suggests, a long long memory. Unashamedly unreformed Republican in its perspective, it is never less than compelling reading for any one interested in the Irish Question. Just keep on scrolling.”“1169 And Counting is a wealth of information on our Republican past and present, and demonstrates how the Irish political landscape, like that of any nation, will never be a black and white issue…”
(The source of those comments/reviews is linked to from the blog itself.)
We don’t really expect to be in the final count down , but we’ll be quite happy to add to our over 300,000 hits that this wee mention on Slugger will no doubt bring in !
Thanks!
Sharon.Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:11 PMOnce upon a time I would have railed against a competition that didn’t provide specifically for the Irish language. However, the advent of Google Translate and a more open attitude means that there are no meaningful obstacles anymore so I nominate iGaeilge for this award.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:30 PMI would nominate Bobballs
http://bobballs.wordpress.com/
This is probably the blog I enjoy most outside of slugger, clever, witty writing and a real insight into behind the closed walls of politics and Gov.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:39 PMOf the two CUMBA oriebntated blogs, A Pint of Unionist lite is far the better. Chekov might more lengthy posts, but tends to throw the rattle with people or opinions he doesn’t like, and thus loses half the value of a blog. Oneill is much more likely to engage in debate, and still throws out some interesting stuff.
Sample: http://unionistlite.blogspot.com/2009/09/irish-language-is-there-conservative.htmlI think people are also overlooking Mark Devenport’s blog, which provides plenty of fodde for this very site cf http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/09/how_not_to_deny_a_story.html. Again slightly hampered by lack of comments, but probably shouldn’t be overlooked
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:42 PMI’d second the nomination of unionistlite.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:52 PMSplintered Sunrise
http://splinteredsunrise.wordpress.com/
As our newly-installed finance minister, Sammy the Streaker is supposed to be the man holding the north’s purse strings. However, in a stunning display of béalbochtachas, Sammy has been doing the rounds of the media telling us that there’s no purse and only one string. Not that that’s prevented him striking populist poses.
http://splinteredsunrise.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/i-can-haz-populist-grandstanding/
Easily the best political blog written in the north. Funny and incisive. Who else would put Sammy Wilson and the béal bocht in the same sentence? Also ranges far beyond NI.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 03:18 PMConcubhar,
Do you not think that you are being extremely pretentious in nominating yourself?
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 03:54 PMIf nothing else, this for sheer comedy gold!!
http://www.eastbelfastsdlp.blogspot.com
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 03:57 PMThat east Belfast SDLP thing is brilliant. But surely for worst rather than best?
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 04:05 PMSame blogs, like same faces. A bit like the Irish blog awards, they pass it around among themselves. Alan in Belfast isn’t even a political blog…...
Pass it around chaps…
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 04:07 PMBeing a blogger and having pretensions is an oxymoron. :)
I nominated myself because it’s no big deal. I have no illusions that I’m going to win or anything. If anything it’s a gesture of support for the competition….
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 04:11 PMOconallstreet.com gets my vote. Has a feel of SDLPlite but always well argued posts and a genuine feeling of being open to other views.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 05:51 PMian parsley’s blog it has to be.
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 06:17 PMSplintered Sunrise is up there with the very best.
But let’s not forget the sheer genius that is 1690 and all thonPosted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 06:58 PMSame as last year, I nominate Splintered Sunrise though I’m feeling uncomfortable with his treatment of pornography at the moment and I suspect I’m meant to. Consistently varied, considered, entertaining and informative.
I would have also nominated CLR for similar reasons but to be honest they are a bit high-brow for my liking and I suspect some of them may be actual communists.
Though Garibaldy is another one I’m drawn too for both CLR and his own site.
I’ll think on but they are three great left Irish blogs.
Pity we can’t nominate Slugger. I think FD deserves some recognition after bowing out having given 1,000 entries of consistent quality and interest. Maybe get a wee sketch done for him as a thank you, Mick?
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 08:03 PMRoe Valley Socialist: http://roevalleysocialist.blogspot.com/ and here’s an example of why:
http://roevalleysocialist.blogspot.com/2009/07/other-side-gets-this-and-other-side.html
Single-handedly resurrecting Marxism in both Cambridge and Limivady surely deserves some kind of award…....
Posted by on Sep 14, 2009 @ 08:36 PM
