Do You Have a favorite Political Analyst ?

[swamprat]

There ya go.

 

"Professional" only means that the "analyst" gets paid to promote his opinion and agenda. Neither of which I am interested in.

 

It may surprise many, but I did minor in political science in college. Political science is basically all about the analyzation of statistical data, obtained from various sources, and the presentation of that data, in a specific way, to achieve the political end of an agenda.

 

Personally, I prefer to analyze and interpret the data myself and not accept interpretation of a paid spokesperson.

[Getslow]

I don't know how many "analysts" I even know. I definitely have writers I enjoy when it comes to politics, but they tend to be journalists rather than analysts.

[Habib]

Of course, I trust my own thinking, but confirmation bias is a real thing and I think it's important to seek out perspectives different from my own. There are smart, sincere, insightful people out there who don't share your point of view, and I think it's healthy to see their reasoning on different issues. It helps ward off the tendency to overlook evidence that doesn't align with your notions and gives you a better sense of the breadth of thought that exists on a subject.

 

With that in mind, and since I'm usually critical of this perspective, here some of the conservative/right-leaning libertarian commentators I follow:

 

Philip Klein (on healthcare especially), Michael Brendan Dougherty, Jay Cost, Megan McCardle, Russ Roberts, Reihan Salam, Max Boot, and Jonah Goldberg, among others I'm not remembering.

 

Like Getslow, I'm not sure analyst is the word I would use to describe some of these people. But if you're looking for that sort of thing, you can find perspectives from more practitioners/professionals at outlets like the "Cipher Brief" or "War on the Rocks," or more theoretical/empirical work in academic journals like "International Security."

[Science Friction]

I'm really surprised by some of the responses here. I had assumed that many of you watch more political programming. Not saying its a good or bad thing, just very surprising.

[Getslow]

I'm really surprised by some of the responses here. I had assumed that many of you watch more political programming. Not saying its a good or bad thing, just very surprising.

 

I would be very surprised if I ever found out I watched more than an average of 30 minutes of televised news per week. It just doesn't interest me.

[Habib]

I'm really surprised by some of the responses here. I had assumed that many of you watch more political programming. Not saying its a good or bad thing, just very surprising.

 

I would be very surprised if I ever found out I watched more than an average of 30 minutes of televised news per week. It just doesn't interest me.

 

Same here. Besides what's on at work, gym, lobbies, etc. I wouldn't watch any of it.

[Science Friction]

Where I live, almost all of the food establishments and other businesses have FOX on 24/7. I've gotten to where everytime I frequent a local McDonald's(which is not often), I have them to change the channel from FOX to something else. Only once did they seem resistant to my request and I quickly remind them that not all of their patrons wanted to watch that fake news channel.

[BlueFan]

Myself. I don't need some analyst to tell me what I just saw or heard. All I need are the facts and I'm more than capable of figuring it out to my satisfaction.

 

Whenever you find a credible source for "just the facts and no opinion" please let us all know!

[nkypete]

In the break room, there is a big screen TV that plays Fox or CNN in the morning and at exactly noon, the TV switches to the other network. I have gotten good at seeing how fast I can go in and grab my lunch or a cup of coffee while ignoring what is currently on the TV. I don't know what is worse - listening to the political analysts from any of these networks or watching the endless commercials for medical products or Lending Tree.

[spindoc]

In the break room, there is a big screen TV that plays Fox or CNN in the morning and at exactly noon, the TV switches to the other network. I have gotten good at seeing how fast I can go in and grab my lunch or a cup of coffee while ignoring what is currently on the TV. I don't know what is worse - listening to the political analysts from any of these networks or watching the endless commercials for medical products or Lending Tree.

[swamprat]

Whenever you find a credible source for "just the facts and no opinion" please let us all know!

 

Information is everywhere...

 

Want to know what Congress is doing? Legislative Search Results | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

 

What's the White House doing? The White House | whitehouse.gov

 

The Judicial Branch? Home - Supreme Court of the United States

 

My US Representative? Representative Kathy Castor

 

My US Senators? U.S. Senator Bill Nelson | Serving Florida

https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/

 

My State Legislature? http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

https://www.flsenate.gov/

 

My Governor? http://www.flgov.com/

 

My State Senator? https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s18

 

My State Representative? https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4504

 

The State Judicial? http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/

 

My County Commission? http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/government/board-of-county-commissioners

 

My County Commissioner? http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/government/board-of-county-commissioners/sandra-murman

 

MY Local Judicial? https://www.hillsclerk.com/

 

My Law Enforcement? http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/

 

That's where I get the majority of my information. I also utilize the Hillsborough County Library System and the resources of the University of South Florida, if I need to do in-depth research on a topic.

 

You can glean facts from all over the internet, too. Google is your friend. Just be sure that you can satisfy your own sense of data confirmation.

[formerkywrestler]

@Habib

 

@Habib

 

Same

[BlueFan]

Information is everywhere...

 

Want to know what Congress is doing? Legislative Search Results | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

 

What's the White House doing? The White House | whitehouse.gov

 

The Judicial Branch? Home - Supreme Court of the United States

 

My US Representative? Representative Kathy Castor

 

My US Senators? U.S. Senator Bill Nelson | Serving Florida

https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/

 

My State Legislature? http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

https://www.flsenate.gov/

 

My Governor? http://www.flgov.com/

 

My State Senator? https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s18

 

My State Representative? https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4504

 

The State Judicial? http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/

 

My County Commission? http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/government/board-of-county-commissioners

 

My County Commissioner? http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/government/board-of-county-commissioners/sandra-murman

 

MY Local Judicial? https://www.hillsclerk.com/

 

My Law Enforcement? http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/

 

That's where I get the majority of my information. I also utilize the Hillsborough County Library System and the resources of the University of South Florida, if I need to do in-depth research on a topic.

 

You can glean facts from all over the internet, too. Google is your friend. Just be sure that you can satisfy your own sense of data confirmation.

 

Number 1 & 3 Ok, I'll trust their facts at pretty much face value

 

Numbers 2, 4- 9 All pretty much give their view on the issues......a long way from "just the facts"

 

As to "Google is your friend"........since when does Google have any type of fact checking filter......assuming you seldom clear your cache, it even helps to accentuate ones personal view of the world over time.....seldom a good thing!

[rockmom]

Number 1 & 3 Ok, I'll trust their facts at pretty much face value

 

Numbers 2, 4- 9 All pretty much give their view on the issues......a long way from "just the facts"

 

As to "Google is your friend"........since when does Google have any type of fact checking filter......assuming you seldom clear your cache, it even helps to accentuate ones personal view of the world over time.....seldom a good thing!

 

So.....where do YOU get your info?

[Hellcats]

I watch CNN. I read everything. On CNN I like most of the analysts even Geoffrey Lords.

 

Axelrod and Gergen are the two I believe are really solid.