The point-counterpoint style columns and blogs are ubiquitous and run very close to being cliché. However, Urbanagora overcomes that problem with two solid writers who do the Hannity and Colmes format the right way.
Brian Pierce and Billy Joe Mills are both columnists for the Daily Illini and two of the more influential political writers in central Illinois. They both are solid thinkers who communicate their points well. In fact, it is hard to read anything they write without coming away thinking you can't really disagree with it.
Their commitment to serious discussion with opposing points of view is a refreshing change from the WWE-style form of political discussion that is all too common in the blogosphere and on cable news channels. In fact, both writing from a college town, they overcome the typical mudslinging that pervades the conversations among the supposed "intellectual elite". Those mediums spend their time presenting personalities and suck up all the oxygen in the room leaving nothing left for ideas. Billy and Brian bring ideas.
By stimulating serious conversation between opposing points of view, they are doing the University community and the blogosphere a great service. This is the way political discussion should be done.
If you would like to suggest a blog for the Overlooked Blog Review, please contact John Bambenek at jcb.blog {at} gmail [dot] com.
Article comments
1 - Snarkattack
Fantastic idea. Look forward to seeing how this column develops and what blogs you end up finding.
2 - Glen Boyd
Hey John,
Your more than welcome to review my blog...quite frankly it could use the publicity...LOL.
Not a whole lot there in the way of politics which I understand is what you like to write about.
But theres lots of music and culture stuff there as well as wrasslin...basically the same sort of thing I write about here on BC as well as the occasional personal post where I cry in my beer all over the Internet. Anyway, I'm over at blogspot if ya wanna check it out.
Whether you decide to review my blog or not, I still think this column is an excellent idea. Good luck with it.
-Glen