Columnists/Essays You Respect, Either Side, for Students

[garthranzz]

I've asked my students (college) to start reading about half-a-dozen columnists. The list includes well-respected writers from the other side of the aisle. (Don't worry, they've gotten a heavy dose of Olbermann this semester; but in the classroom setting, all reasonable (emphasis there) positions need a hearing.) I've listed a bunch from the Washington Post for them to choose from, as well as Molly Ivins, of course. But the NY Times recently - this week - removed the free access for .edu sites. It's all pay for TimesSelect now. So, for the moment, no Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd or Nicholas Kristof.

But I want them reading more than WaPo folk. any suggestions? (I know the DU community will help.) They can be bloggers (Robert Scheer, for instance?) or newspaper folk. And if you know any on the other side of the aisle who are cogent, rational and polite - worth reading even when you disagree - that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[blm]

1. ROBERT PARRY - one of the best investigative reporters of the last 30 years

consortiumnews.com

[saltpoint]

2. Sounds like you are running one terrific class, garthranzz.

Lucky students.

I like Eric Alterman, Frank Rich, Katha Pollit, Cynthia Tucker, just about anything there is by Bill Moyers in any medium, and Joan Didion's pieces in the NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS.

Didion's piece on Dick Cheney a couple weeks ago was devastating.

On Huffingtonpost.com, there are several columnists listed on the left side of the screen with a variety of temperaments and takes.

[applegrove]

3. I like Huffington Post for variety. They pretty much cover all the breaking news.

Nora Ephron is good. Michael Kinsley did a great article on how the stock market works a few years ago. Paul Krugman is the greatest. Yes I too no longer get Times Select and miss is already.