On the Radar in the Third Party and Independent Blogosphere

Some new discoveries in the third party and independent blogosphere:

• The Skeptical Eye is a politically independent left-leaning group blog with anarchist and libertarian tendencies, judging from its blogroll at least. Motto: "Opposing the Machinery of Mass Conformity."

• Rise of the Center, maintained by Solomon Kleinsmith, is a moderate, centrist political blog with tons of links as well as original reporting and commentary. From the "about" page: "A cursory view of support of the two party system over the last few decades shows a steady move away from the two parties . . . But it wasn’t until more recently that those who consider themselves unrepresented, or underrepresented, began to coalesce into a political force in some areas."

• The Pragmatic Center is another moderate, centrist political hub, maintained by Nicholas Goebel and based in Michigan. In addition to its forum, it also has a social networking component, and follows world, national and local news items. Goebel writes: "More than 60% of Americans are either independents or moderates. Yet our political process is dominated by the extremes of both political parties and their special interests. ThePragmaticCenter.com gives a voice to us, the Rational Majority who demands collaboration rather than confrontation, moderation rather than extremism, and pragmatism rather than irrational adherence to outdated ideologies."

• Free From Editors has been online for a few years, but I first came across it in the last few weeks. Jim from L-Town mixes personal blogging with political commentary and reporting from a libertarian-leaning perspective informed by a desire for greater political choice within the context of the ruling two-party state.

• Political Thermopylae demands: "Give the partisans nothing! But take from them everything!" Unfortunately, the the site is not regularly updated, but you'll see a lot of familiar names from the third party and independent blogosphere in the blogroll.

If you've recently come across a new third party or independent blog or site, or if you maintain one yourself, drop a link in the comments.