Being an guide to and for blogging politic in Thanet.

I have previewing our high quality blogging from Thanet and today choose to focus on politics. Not my own but those of the bloggers. I have arranged the blogs in a sort of not all that accurate spectrum from right to left. Right is at the top mainly to get it over with quickly rather than try to end on a damp fizz. Right wing politics is not widely blogged about in Thanet. (Unless you care to prove me wrong).

This guide to the World of Thanet blogging is a continuation of my quest to "really get to the bottom of" the current ecosystem and understand who, what and where. It contains plenty of links (links are good) and a little opinion. With all things that are mostly personal judgment there is bond to be something you disagree with. Why not let me know your thoughts.

Without further ado...

A cross section of Poltics in Thanet

Eastclif Richard is capitalist fiction a good way to the right of centre. While amusing and satirical it's aims beyond the obvious fun (if any) are as yet unclear. What is clear is the friendly "connection" to the far left side of things with Tony Flaig of Big News Margate (see below).

The (painfully) slowly improving website of Roger Gale MP (conservative). In tone the site is right of centre but not as far right as the MP himself. That said he sometimes shows a markedly leftish streak on rare occasions so who can say? Included in this list more as a marker to gage my opinions by.

Thanet Life is slightly right of centre in tone. Political comment seems to be light and focused on reporting rather the current aims and opinions of the council and "Conservative Group" than commenting. That is not to say that both opinion and personality don't shine through (they do) but that the tone is more nutral. But then what would you expect from a councilor?

The (in dire need of a make over but at least they are not on freeserve anymore) website of Stephen Ladyman MP (Labour). More aggressive in it's political stance and party affiliation than Mr Gale's site and while in the left of things technically I'd be tempted to place it right of centre if I did not know my political landscape better after all the issues address on what we shall call the front page are all very capitalist and right(ish) topics and stances. On that note that is what I am going to do. Again this is more a marker for my general feel of the political landscape on line.

Zumi - buzzing Ramsgate and Thanet. This is a hard blog to place politically. It seems to be well focused on the news but with the ability to think about things and investigate a little. Tone wise there has been no clear expression of opinion that would make me think left or right and so I am going to place Zumi in the centre. This blog features no aggression nor outright criticisms of institutions although "knee jerk" reactions come in for a pounding. I'm tempted to place Zumi fractionally to the left though through general impression.

Turn Around Margate. Quite near to the centre but for a strong Arts pull to the left. Not at all impressed with Thanet Council (a Thanet bloggers theme it seems) especially with their support of the Arts. (Bloody Tories!) The focus is on regeneration of Margate as a whole something that can not afford to stray to for from centre to the left as businesses tend not to like that and business is what regeneration rests on (not alone but rest there is does).

Dan valley Ted. Leaning to the left politically but staying both largely positive and within contacting range of the middle. Ted does not focus on exclusively political content but when he does he is quite critical of Thanet Council (not to hard at the moment). Inconsistent paragraph breaking is what what hurts this blog the most as the actual content (formatting aside) is of a good standard, interesting, sometimes light hearted and readable.

Eastcliff Matters the blog of Labour Councilor David Green. Old School left wing political stance tempered by practical experience. This blog is often critical of the current right wing council. Somewhat opinionated and a little aggressive this blog is a joy to read if the current council have irritated you one to many times this week (not hard). Eastcliff Matters was silenced for a period of time by threats of red tape much to the outcry of the Thanet Bloggers. It has gone silent again (as of writing) and one is left wondering if this is more of the same or an invasion of what Generation Y call RL (real life).

Observing Thanet. A left wing blog an aggressively so. Political infighting and spotlighting seem to be the order of the day here. A blog to which the word "critic" seems to attach itself. If this is a positive thing or not remains to be seen.

Big News Margate. Politically a more hard line left, "class war", working mans blog. Political commentary is more aggressive and more negative in tone especially when being (highly) critical of Thanet District Council, Kent County Council or The Government which is presented as being a bunch of money grabbers. Tories are the enemy here and no mistake. With comments that are critical being entirely "anon" it is clear that some local bloggers disagree but it is not overly clear who.

I don't pretend to have covered everything nor to have been more than 90% accurate in my understanding. I have used only my regular reading list plus links thereof (and anything that search engines showed up). Everything included has been active within the last two weeks.

I would be interested to see what these local bloggers make of the national news item "Open Letter to The British Government Regarding the Loss of Sensitive Personal Information on every household with a child under 16 years old". For that mater I would be interested to read the opinion on the likelihood (or not) that Thanet Council security is of "the same standard". Plenty to debate.