I assume the main reason you like talk radio is because it's just so tough to read with your pointy hood on.

At the end of the day, I want good coverage. There's a reason the American sources I gave make up a lion's share of recent Pulitzers. NPR cleans house every year at the Murrow awards. BBC is the most respected name in international journalism, and subjects itself to rigorous, publically-available impartiality reviews with great frequency. You'll see all of those cited in professional publications, government reports, and the like, because they have that level of weight behind their words. If I cited Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh at my job, I'm positive I'd get laughed out of the room.

And I'm sorry, but if you think Spiegel is "far left", I don't know what to tell you. The reason I suggested it along with Le Monde is that they're often point-counterpoint from an international perspective, and they discuss international issues without the need for a "Democrat" or "Republican" perspective, or a discussion of "who won".

Most of talk radio is shouting matches interrupted by straw-man demolition. (This is also why I've lost respect for CNN, and never had any for Fox News.) It's not real discussion, it's not journalism. At most, it's entertainment.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com