POLITICAL MAGAZINES

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OOOWe have defined politics in terms of the two dominant political parties: an obvious over-simplification of a complex and fluid situation. It's advantage is that it organizes issues according to the choices voters will likely have come November. Naturally there is some bleed-over between categories. Incremental political differences are not clear-cut, and a publication's editorial policy will often agree with part of, though not all of, a particular party's policies.
OOOIt should also be said that Republicans and Democrats not infrequently agree with those on their respective extremes, they just find it politically expedient not to say so.

OOO$ Requires subscription. | $ Requires subscription for some areas or features. | $ Requires free registration.


RIGHT: LIBERTARIAN TO "RIGHT" IDEAS BEYOND OR OPPOSING MAINSTREAM REPUBLICAN POLITICS.
The American Conservative
The voice of Patrick Buchanan. Not everything is available on line, but what is is worth the read. Even - or especially - liberals will appreciate the magazine's critique of Bush administration policies. You don't always have to agree to occasionally applaud.
The Cato Journal

Libertarian voice on public and foreign policy. The journal can be depended on to oppose all but the most basic of Federal initiatives, whether Republican or Democrat. This is the magazine that called President Bush's No Child Left Behind program "snake oil" and congratulated Chief Justice William Rehnquist's critique of the federal sentencing guidlines as "an unwarranted and ill-considered effort to intimidate individual judges in the performance of their judicial duties".
Chronicles

Serious-minded paleo-Conservative organ of The Rockford Institute, not always friendly to mainstream Republicanism. This is conservatism that attempts to understand the Palestinian position in the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, calls the Iraqi war "ill-advised and unnecessary" and is horrified by the scope and cost of the recent Medicare bill. These are people who consider the possibility that American Conservatism has failed, not because it was wrong, but because it was betrayed.
The Conservative Monitor

Standard positions on almost everything Conservative excepting opposition to free trade. In a 12.03 article, the Monitor blasts Watergate-"personality", Christian Conservative Chuck Colson's program, Prison Fellowship, which distributes toys to the children of convicts for "inadvertently rewarding criminals for criminal behavior." As the Monitor puts it, "Had Mr. Colson not been blinded by his affinity for jailbirds, he would have realized that the children of prisoners aren’t the littlest victims of crime after all. That is an infamous distinction belonging to the children of those these scumbags victimized or to children who were themselves victims." Ah well...the sins of the fathers...
Enter Stage Right

In a 01.04 article entitled "WTC memorial should celebrate America's producers", Dianne Durante advocated making the World Trade Center site a memorial to Captailsm because, as she quotes Ayn Rand, "Productive work is the road of man's unlimited achievement and calls upon the highest attributes of his character: his creative ability, his ambitiousness, his self-assertiveness, his refusal to bear uncontested disasters, his dedication to the goal of reshaping the earth in the image of his values." Maybe she's right. ESR seems devoted to God and the market. Maybe they are. (Maybe they don't know the difference. Maybe...)
Executive Intelligence Review

The house organ of Lyndon LaRouche. We're not always sure what EIR is talking about. Give it a try, you might be better at this than we are.
Free Congress Foundation

Dedicated to fighting the culture war, from Paul Weyrich, the FCF is the place for Conservative true-believers. Along with all the standard fare, FCF warns that the President's 01/04 immigration policies along with the bloated budgets of the 108th Congress could well drive Conservatives away from the Republican Party.
$ Freedom Daily
Organ of the Future of Freedom Foundation advocating free markets and limited government. As a 01.03 article pointed out, "Americans in 1890 lived without income taxation, Social Security, food stamps, welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, public housing, gun control, drug laws, immigration controls, and a Federal Reserve System. Moreover, there were virtually no public (i.e., government) schools, economic regulations, or occupational-licensure laws. There was no U.S. involvement in foreign wars." Presumably that is a past FFF would like to honor by emulation. (No subscription necessary for back issues.)
Issues & Views
Conservatism from a Black p.o.v., including opposition to busing, hate crime laws, university speech codes and reparations. I & V believes that a mixture of Liberalism and "vicitimhood" as identity - what they call "failure as ennoblement" - has destroyed the African-American community. "So you still believe all blacks think alike....?" No, we never did.
The New American
The house organ of the John Birch Society. No friend to the current Administration, NA accuses the President of deception over the war in Iraq, too close ties to the UN (a traditional demon in the Birch theology), and betrayal of the American worker in his immigration policies. Add to this a contempt for regulation, environmentalism, gun control and abortion, as well as free trade and the USA Patriot Act and you have an interesting portrait of one from of Conservative purity.
Regulation
Published by the Cato Institute. Libertarian take on the relationship between government and the economy. In other words, they're against.
p CONSERVATIVE: EDITORIAL OR NEWS POSITIONS FAVORABLE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR ITS POLICIES.

$ The American Enterprise
Organ of the American Enterprise Institute. Standard Right/Conservative fare, including opposition to taxes and regulation, a belief in God and free markets, with a healthy bit of American triumphalism to top it off. Recent editions carried the titles, Things Go Better With God (10/11.03), Real Men: They're Back (9.03), How The Media Push Our Hot Buttons (7/8.03) and How America's SWAT Team Helped Swat Saddam (6.03).
$ American Outlook
Button-down organ of the Hudson Institute, offering commentary on a wide range of subjects, from economics to war, from God to cyberspace. Definately conservative, though not so Republican (it stands in apparent opposition to the 1.04 Bush immigration policy) as it is decidedly anti-Liberal, a fact that occasionally produces the odd ad hominem argument and meaningless, though convenient, generalization.
The American Spectator
American Spectator is more topical than other journals of its ilk, meaning more commentary on breaking news, like the elections, and of course leaving no doubt about its preferences. AS hews closely to Republican loyalties, save for its unease, along with many conservative journals, with Congressional spending and the President's seeming unwillingness to curb it.
City Journal
From the Manhattan Institute, CJ gives lie to the myth that all things New York are liberal. Though its primary focus is on New York, it ranges over urban issues generally. Its conservative delivery is certainly less shrill and nasty that others of its ilk, and a our search under the topic of "History" (actual articles on history, not back issues) unearthed some gems of broad value; e.g., Richard Brookhiser's short biography of Gouverneur Morris.
$ Commentary
Some articles are available for free. Others, and the archive, require subscription, though the price isn't prohibitive. If you do, you get access to conservative intellectualism dating back to 1945 with one of the most impressive lists of contributers to be found anywhere on the web.
$ The Federalist
Reagan Conservatism seeking to renew America through its founding documents, of which it provides an impressive list of texts. The interested should also consult its "Patriots' Library", and extensive list of recommended readings.
$ Human Events
News-oriented conservative take on current issues. HE maintains the expected critique of the "Left", though a few darts fly rightward, landing squarely, for example, on the Bush administration's 1.03 immigration reform plan; along with skewering the Perle/Frum tome, An End to Evil, as being altogether too "Rambo".
Insight On The News
Commentary and reporting on current events. IOTN's conservatism is both wide ranging - its commentary is not all in-house - and independent - disinclined to tow a particular party line (though we have no illusions about its likely endorsements come November). Though IOTN is not entirely free of invective, for the most part it steers clear of gratuitous vitriol.
$ National Review On Line
William Buckley's grand dame has defined mainstream conservatism since its beginnings in 1955. Its essays from a wide range of conservative commentators cover both recent events - primarily the elections for the nonce - and the perrenial economic, political and cultural themes dear to Conservatism. For anyone interested in conservative thought from a periodical, NRO is a good place to start.
$ $ Opinion Journal
From the Wall Street Journal opinion pages, it's always good to know what the WSJ is thinking. Most comment is on the news of the day, as might be expected from a daily. The double dollar signs mean that you have to register for the free stuff, and subscribe for everything else.
Policy Review
This scholarly internationalist organ of the Hoover Institute delves at length into the broad themes of conservative thought and interests. Among its most requested articles are Lee Harris', "The Intellectual Origins of America-Bashing" from 12.02 (those origins to be found in Marxism), and Mary Eberstadt's "Home-Alone America" (outlining the effect that working women have on childhood and adult disfunction). PR's archives are open to 1999 and are well-worth a perusal.
$ The Weekly Standard
Begun in 1995 by William Kristol TWS quickly rose to become the neo-Conservative flagship. It divides its time between reporting and commentary (much of it, for now, on the elections). TWS was an early supporter of the war, but not always of the administration's handing of it, or its management of the aftermath - a consistently independent trajectory TWS can be expected to maintain. Its treatment of those with whom it disagrees though highly critical, seldom dips below the merely snarky. Its influence and intelligence make it a must read.
$ World
Conservatism from a specifically Christian point of view. Like other conservative organs, World opines that the President is not quite conservative enough, but concludes that America and the world are better of with him than without him.
p CENTER: EITHER SUCCESSFULLY OBJECTIVE, NON-EDITORIAL OR IDEOLOGICALLY CENTRIST.
$ Congressional Quarterly
Venerable, thorough and influential spotlight on Congress. CQ is the source for detailed information on pending legislation, the work of congressional committes and members of both the Senate and the House. For those who want to stay up to date on the workings of Congress, it is indispensible - it is also not cheap.
$ The Globalist
International news journal encompassing a variety of sources, the Globalist focuses on issues of globalization - which it supports - from a variety of aspects and viewpoints. Recent contributers have included Kofi Anan, William Sloan Coffin, Lester Therow and Alan Greenspan.
$ National Journal
A variety of voices on a variety of issues with evenhanded and intelligent criticism for everyone. Its articles and commentary come complete with links to the facts behind the story along with original background documents. In most respects, NJ is what good on-line journalism should be. The link given here goes directly to the features available on-line to non-subscribers; subscriptions are very pricey.
$ The New Republic
TNR's analysis of current issues and events is often described as left-leaning, but we feel it earns its center position by sparing no one. It's humor and irreverence, along with its frequent insight and occasional outrage, consistently remains within the bounds of fair debate and intellectual integrity. TNR is an excellent resource for thought, and not too pricey to subscribe to.
New Perspectives Quarterly
NPQ is a broad-net, internationalist journal of politics and society. To give an idea of its content, recent editions have featured articles by Madeleine Albright, Mikhail Gorbachov, Frank Gehry, Purvez Musharif, Condoleeza Rice, Wesley Clark and Norman Mailer.
$ New York Review of Books
The closest America has to an accessible intellectual journal. You may not think you're interested in book reviews, but in publications like NYRB (and TNR above) they become the starting point for serious, informed and insightful discussions. NYRB may be too pricely for most to subscribe, but many gems are available on line.
The Public i
From the Center for Public Integrity, TPi explores the connection between money and politics. What is immediately apparent is TPi's utter contempt for big money and its influences; but this "lefty" stance is mitigated by its occasionally overwrought, but always earnest, condemnation of venality in both parties.
Reason
Okay, Reason is very, very Libertarian, (its motto is Free Minds and Free Markets) and persons on either side might take exception to putting it center, which is reason enough to do so. But if you want more reasons, one is that it fully lives up to its name, which doesn't mean you need to agree with it to appreciate it.
$ Roll Call
The more political version of Congressional Quarterly. Unfortunately, nothing is available without a subscription, and that aint cheap.
Slate
On the left of center, admittedly, but contempt for the contemptable, wherever they reside. Slate, like the other entries in this area, covers everything - art, politics, culture, media. It site offers a whole weeks worth of articles culled from its daily editions.
LIBERAL: EDITORIAL OR NEWS POSITIONS FAVORABLE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR ITS POLICIES.
The American Prospect
Liberalism without cant or rant. If you want s sustained critique of Republicans and a heart-felt skepticism of the market without name-calling, innuendo and spurious arguments, read here.
The Atlantic Monthly
Always urbane and intelligent, AM adds politics and policy to culture and the arts, in in-depth articles, interviews and reviews. The writing is consistently superior. Not partisan as such, it's trajectory is nonetheless liberal/progressive. AM is also very generous with its on-line content.
Consortium News
Vocally and angrily partisan, CN so narrowly focuses on the sins of the current adminstration, we scarcely know what they would do should the Democrats win in November. Their "getting down", however, usually avoids getting dirty - though we suppose that, too, is a matter of opinion.
Moving Ideas
Associated with The American Prospect, MI is a digest of progressive ideas. Like-minded people will appreciate their especially resource-rich approach to issues with reference and links to a multitude of outside articles and studies butressing its editorial and political positions. There is also an extensive link library.
PopPolitics
"Where popular and political cultures meet" you won't find much on politics, save for a few wire feeds on the side, but you'll read quite a bit on culture - religion, marriage, work, war, identity - and maybe its nexus with politics. To its boast of being brainy, relevant and "where you are" we'll give an often, sometimes and rarely.
Tom Paine
TP is mostly a critique of the Administration, its works and allies, followed on with analyses of both parties. There are links to articles from the mainstream of similar organizations as well as lengthy in-house essays. Recent contributing authors have included Tom Daschle, Daniel Ellsberg and Robert Reich.
$ The Washington Monthly
News and views critical of the GOP and Republican policies or, as it says, for those fed up with fed up with "the imperial Bush White House...The timid Democrats...The spinnable national media." WM supports an impressive list of columnists - available only to subscribers - but most of the featured articles are available.
$ Salon
Liberal-leaning Salon bridges politics, culture, commentary and the news. Serious, witty, irreverent, it can sometimes go over the top; but you can find everything from the devastating effects on post-Columbine zero-tolerance school regulations on children and families to the Superbowl exposure of Janet Jackson's bosum (01.04). (Thus proving, we supposed, that Janet and Micheal are not, uh, ....nevermind.)
p LEFT: PROGRESSIVE TO "LEFT" IDEAS BEYOND OR OPPOSING MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.
Common Dreams
American Progressivism, advertizes itself as the real Democratic Party in opposition to the quasi-Republican "conservatives" within the party. CD's ongoing criticism of the Bush administration comes from an impressive list of contributors such as Robert Kuttner, Paul Krugman, Roberrt Reich, Helen Thomas, Arianna Huffington, Sidney Blumenthal, David Corn, etc. The site is also very link-rich with media.
Cursor
Its difficult to know what, exactly, Cursor is for. Against, though, is easy: anything partaking of what was once called "the Establishment". Cursor follows the media and politics, nose to the ground for the scent of money and influence, finding the trail leads...well...everywhere. (There is also an impressive list of links to the like-minded.)
$ Dissent
In the Winter 2003 issue, Michael Walzer ponders the possibility of a just occupation after an unjust war (Iraq), and Sean Wilentz posits the idea that the aim and tactics of the modern Republican Party are eroding American democracy. Another issue crtitcizes the Democratic Leadership Council for its pandering to big business and its abandonment of the working class. This is the serious, straight-faced Left, down to Kevin Mattson's Spring 2003 critique of Michael Moore's "...deeply cynical view of politics that blurs entertainment and argument", followed by Mattson's summation of the Left in general, "...we are angry and sometimes vocal, but we have too little to offer those looking for or needing social change."
In These Times
ITT is all progressive populism, focusing on the big three of left thought: race, class and gender, with a healthy dose of politics and a smattering of media. Recent issues have covered AIDS, "The War on the Poor" and Migrant Rights.
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
FAIR's main criticism of the media is not so much a conservative bias, as toothlessness and willful ignorance. The site serves up the machinations of the Right and the failures of the Left.
Mother Jones
A "legacy of raising Hell" has become a bit of desultory, though articulate and largely responsible, muckracking.
The Nation
The grand dame of what passes for Socialism in America, The Nation has been around since 1865. A consistent supporter of Greens and Progressives, The Nation has found itself so appalled by Gerorge Bush, its 02.16.04 issue urged the long-supported Ralph Nader not to run in 2004 for the sake of a tolerable Democrat.
Online Journal
One knows the extreme Left by its similarity to the extreme Right. Political discourse is not a line, but a circle.
Pacific News Service
News service oriented to issues of interest to the left, not covered in the mainstream press, centered around international, minority and immigrant issues and points of view.
The Progress Report
One of its banners announces, "Going Beyond Left v. Right", which may be true, as PR advocates such things as using the market to solve environmental problems (or, as PR's senior editor put it, "...a marriage of Ms Earth and Mr. Market) by shifting taxes from income to the consumption of natural resources. In the same issue (02.04.04) PR bemoans poverty, low wages and the "cultural junk heap of popular television". (Well, at least they're for something.)
$ The Progressive
The Progressive has been around since 1909, and publishes many of the established names of the Left such as Nat Hentoff, Molly Ivins, Barbara Ehrenreich, Howard Zinn and Ruth Coniff. The Progressive condemns, with a sort of decorous outrage, all the usual suspects: the president, the war, the state of health care, the assault on civil liberties, the rich, big business, polluters, etc. The Progressive is one of what might be called the "index journals" of its particular politics.
Progressive Review
Aggressive, alternative populism with as much disdain for the actions and inaction of the Left as for the policies of the Right. PR is a sort of a Left issue omnibus, including an impressive collection of links.
Tikkun
Oriented toward peace, understanding and non-violence. Tikkun's aim is to bring a spiritual dimension to the politics of the Left, believing that social change is impossible without spiritual transformation. A large portion of its attention is given to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where it supports the 12.03 Geneva Accord.
Truth Out
TO is primarily a digest of writings from elsewhere: not something we would normally include here. We have chosen to do so, however, for the representative significance of the authors it places on its site, most especially the many Democratic members of Congress speaking on a variety of issues.