Favourite political writer/analyst?

For me, it's gotta be PJ O'Rourke. A nice antidote to a world of Michael Moore and Michael Moore wannabes. Not that there's anything wrong with Moore, it just wears me down. O'Rourke is a good writer, a funny guy if a bit of a smartass, and sounds genuinely entertaining. Plus, when you read the Moore type stuff, one almost assumes that the American right wing is moronic, whereas while one might not always agree with O'Rourke has has a sharp mind.

'Holidays in Hell' is great read.

simu

Don't have a favourite writer on these topics tbh - there are a few I think are ok but that's about it.

PJ O'Rourke has his moments although some of his stuff I find tiresome (possibly because they've been copied so much by others). His account of visiting Disneyland or whatever in Holidays in Hell is hilarious and spot-on, though!

black_jack

Conor74 wrote:

For me, it's gotta be PJ O'Rourke. A nice antidote to a world of Michael Moore and Michael Moore wannabes. Not that there's anything wrong with Moore, it just wears me down. O'Rourke is a good writer, a funny guy if a bit of a smartass, and sounds genuinely entertaining. Plus, when you read the Moore type stuff, one almost assumes that the American right wing is moronic, whereas while one might not always agree with O'Rourke has has a sharp mind.

'Holidays in Hell' is great read.

His economic solutions in Holidays in Hell vis a via military spending and low tax for high earners makes Moore's solutions to NI and Israeli seeem like erudite intelligent well thought out ideas.

I like John Freedland at the moment.

Snickers Man

For style over substance old Conor Cruise O Brien was hard to beat in his prime. A wonderful writer and an impish sense of humour when it came to putting a point of view across. His original article on the GUBU scenario was brilliant. But that was more than 20 years ago.

Mind you, he's a complete right wing twat and I wouldn't agree with most of what he says. Nor would I vote for him in a blue fit.

For a more tabloid style, Eamon McCann was hard to beat, though I don't see his stuff anywhere now. Maybe he's slowing down in his old age. His book War and an Irish Town is the best account of the troubles in Northern Ireland. It captures the atmosphere of Derry at the time better than a novel.

Mind you, he's a complete left wing twat and I wouldn't agree with most of what he says. Nor would I vote for him in a blue fit.

Hunter S. Thompson if he counts.

Diorraing

Mark Steyn

black_jack

Deleted User wrote:

Hunter S. Thompson if he counts.

Rar, I'm an iconalist just like thompson!

Mark Steyn

Mark Steyn, Kevin Myers, and Mary Mc Donn (whatever, saturday indo supplement) form my three minute hate. I read them to remind me why I hate them and their ilk.

Ray777

I've always found Robert Fisk's articles to be interesting reading. By far the best of the Middle East based journalists, whether you agree with his opinions or not.

jrey1981

Eoghan Harris
John Pilger
George Monbiot
Robert Fisk
Peter Hitchens
Richard Littlejohn
Stephen Glover

MrJoeSoap

Chomsky, Monbiot.

Goodshape

Chomsky; although my knowledge of authors doesn't stretch to far.

Michael Moore is entertaining and relevent at times, but I wouldn't rate him too highly above entertainment value.