Standing Fast

I've been agonizing about starting a blog for months. What's the angle? What should I call it? What should my picture be? Should I go all out fancy, or just slum it with Google.

It's been holding me up for too long, while the world keeps churning out interesting events just looking to be commented on. Blogs only work when people actually blog. So I will keep the intro's short and just get on with the business of regular blogging.

Before I start, let me briefly spell out my philosophy of blogging. I don't buy the citizen journalist thing. I have no plan to break original news here and neither do most blogs. I saw the Frontline special on them media Tuesday night and it showed a bit of exchange between Nicholas Lemann, Dean of the Columbia Journalism school and Jeff Jarvis of the Buzzmaster blog.

Lemann remains critical of those like Jarvis who claim that blogging has become the newest form of journalism. I agree. I've done real journalism before. I don't plan to do that here.

I'm not breaking news here. This is political commentary. As you could guess, its commentary that comes from the left side of the political spectrum. A least some of you might think it is. however I have no intention of promoting boiler plate or following party lines(unless I happen to think the party line ain't too far off). I'm starting off slow and this is definatly a work in progress. So stay tuned.

Now lets blog.