New Blogroll

We've started adding our blogroll on the right hand side of the page. 

We are doing it a little different. We've divided the list into four categories:

Platinum Blogs:  The best ones you need to read everyday.

Gold Blogs:  Great blogs, but a cut below the platinum.

Silver Blogs:  Either on their way up, or down.

Bronze Blogs:  The rest worth a link

This thread is open for discussion on what blogs you would like to see linked, and who should be in which category.  The platinum list is already up.

----
UPDATE:  On the topic of other blogs, check out the Fairfax Chamber's blog "Policy Soup".  I hadn't heard of it until today, but its an enjoyable read.

Comments

NLS, what about Riley Not ORileys Virtual Conservative blog? That should be on the TOP list.

[Dave Marsden Rocks]

We need a Marsden blog. That would be worth reading everyday.

[Shaun Kenney]

AH! I didn't make the cut!

:)

[Not Larry Sabato]

You are totally on the Gold List Shaun. You were borderline platinum, but it was already getting out of balance. Why are there not as many great Democratic bloggers?

[GOPHokie]

I am interested to see what you guys rank me as.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Your borderline Gold/Silver. I like your blog a lot.

[Shaun Kenney]

You missed Waldo Jaquith's site.

http://waldo.jaquith.org/

The only Democratic blogger I read.

Guess I didn't realize Too Conservative was that popular... guess I'm missing something! Cool stuff.

[not gretchen bulova]

Norm's blog is exactly what the title explains, TRASH, dump him to silver.

Too Conservative is a 16 year old with his mouth attached to Tom Davis' balls. That deserves a demotion to gold

[Not Larry Sabato]

Shaun, to be eligable the blog has to link to us. Yes, its petty.

[tooconservative]

Good pics Ben.

Shaun Kenney-All the cool people read TC, its just a fact.

NGB-Why don't you try reading it once? I just did a post 2 days ago on my frustration with the Congressman on abortion.

and its 17..gosh.

[not gretchen bulova]

Actually I read it daily. I didn't say it wasn't good, just don't put you up on a platinum platform is all. You have some good thoughts and I also like Connaughton, but you must admit, in general, you have a man crush on Tom Davis...

[not gretchen bulova]

Will Vehrs, paging Will Vehrs...

Was this you?

A state employee "cut across three lanes of downtown traffic" today, scraping a car carrying Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) (NBC4.com).

[tooconservative]

haha.From what I have seen of Congressman Davis, he seems to be one of the most intelligent politicians in Virginia. While I do not agree with alot of his policies, I feel he is one of the only people who can unite our party, and work to expand our majority in the va legislature, and on a federal level.

I respect the Congressman for being forward in his thinking, and not just living for the moment.

As him and his staff have taken care of many in many circumstances, I feel also I should show loyalty.

With Connaughton, I agree with all his policies, and believe him to be the most honest politician I have met.

[not gretchen bulova]

Well I respect that. I disagree with Davis on a lot of stuff, but I like that he's a fairly moderate Pub fighting the nutbags in his party. Either way, it's gold material.

[tooconservative]

Well now-I don't agree with that. Some of the "nutbags" Congressman Davis may not like, I actually also have respect for.

I believe a person can be conservative without having to shove it in someones face. This is something we rarely see with the "nutbags", but I still agree with many of them on principle.

Too conservative is certainly an expert on Davis's nuts

[not gretchen bulova]

Agreed, a conservative is one thing, Dick Black, Bob Marshall, Bill Bolling they are nutbags.

Your principled conservatives, like maybe Chris Saxman, who is conservative but doesn't send little fetuses to people are a much more tolerable.

I agree with people on principle to, but I find their approach to handling issues/situations is just as important, if not more important than their beliefs.

[tooconservative]

I agree on Black, and Bolling. I have heard from many people Delegate Marshall has grown into his district, and is more sensible now.

[not gretchen bulova]

He's sensible on local issues, he's always had a good reputation for helping out and standing up for the locality, it is the social issues that make him untolerable. He makes those the centerpiece of his agenda in the GA instead of focusing on what many folks at home like about him.

[tooconservaitve]

agreed.

[AWCheney]

Your Platinum List is excellent, actually my own daily read. I heartily agree with each and every one. I would also, however, suggest that Waldo be added. He often provides an intelligent perspective from the other side of the aisle. For the Gold List, I find Elephant Ears (GOPHokie) and Sic Semper Tyrannis to offer an excellent CR perspective and would recommend their inclusion. Perhaps there are some CD blogs out there of promise, but I just haven't found them yet.

[AWCheney]

Oh yes, another blog of note for consideration to be included on your Platinum List is SouthOfTheJames.com (Conoway Haskins). An excellent read.

[Not Larry Sabato]

South of the James is gold material, I think. It's very thoughtful, but not updated enough to be platinum (yet).

AWCheney- Have you ever considered blogging yourself?

[AWCheney]

NLS, I appreciate the implied compliment but I don't think that I have either the time, talent...or the thick skin...that the rest of you have been blessed with. Besides, it would eat into the time that I have to thoroughly enjoy the blog community which I have only recently discovered.

[Freddie]

Make sure you include Alice Marshall's GOTV blog. The more people read it, the more people will understand Ben's problem with Alice.

[GOPHokie]

Thanks for the kind words.
I would also nominate mason conservative. He is new, but I think its a good blog.

[Will Vehrs]

Hey Not Gretchen, don't believe everything you read. It was only two lanes and Gov. Warner was really nice. We exchanged insurance info and talked about the best body shops in Richmond.

[republitarian550]

How much did those who made the platinum list donate to the tin cup? ;o)

[SE VA MWC Alum]

ben when are you going to post the gold silver blogs etc

[Riley, Not O'Reilly]

To the first poster, my "Virginia Virtucon" (Virtual Conservative) blog is just a side project that I tinker with every so often. I'd give it a Tin rating personally.

My main gig is as a contributor on "Too Conservative". Thanks for bestowing Platinum status on us over there, Ben. Right back at ya!!!

[lighthorse harry]

just for the record, we aren't cr's...i guess we don't link to not larry sabato enough to make the platinum list...but at least you're candid about self-interested blog rankings.

[AWCheney]

My apologies LH...I was sure that I read somewhere on your blog that one or more of you were graduate students and I made that assumption. Well, you know what they say about that word ASSUME...

[ZB]

Why is my blog not included? Not one person has suggested my blog!

Oh wait... sorry... forgot I don't have one.

Nevermind.

[Virginia Centrist]

ZB:

Make a blog. There are hardly any Democratic blogs out there.

[ZB]

Maybe one of these days :).

[I'm Not Emeril]

Other than Raising Kaine and Virginia Centrist you have set about half of my daily reads as platinum. I guess that means you guys at NLS have pretty good taste in reading material. I say that with reservation, pending the final outcome as to where I'm Not Emeril ranks, of course.

[Conaway Haskins]

Ben - thanks for the kudos and inclusion on the gold list. Personally, I was just hoping for bronze, but hey, if you wanna give me a promotion, I'm game. You've raised the stakes for me to go daily.

AWC - thanks for the compliments. You're welcome to post with me at any time!

-- Conaway