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Americans For Prosperity - Pennsylvania has a convenient list of links to Pennsylvania's Top Bloggers, including yours truly. Check out the list at the AFP Pennsylvania website.

A federal judge has ruled that bloggers are not afforded the same protections from defamation and libel lawsuits as professional journalists.

The ruling could have a chilling effect on so-called "citizen journalists" who have launched hundreds of millions of blogs.

The case involved Crystal L. Cox, a Montana blogger who made critical remarks about a local attorney. Hint to bloggers: Accusing a lawyer in public of criminal conduct may not be the smartest thing to do.

From The Associated Press:

U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez found last week that as a blogger, Cox was not a journalist and cannot claim the protections afforded to mainstream reporters and news outlets.

Although media experts said Wednesday that the ruling would have little effect on the definition of journalism, it casts a shadow on those who work in nontraditional media since it highlights the lack of case law that could protect them and the fact that current state shield laws for journalists are not covering recent developments in online media.

"My advice to bloggers operating in the state of Oregon is lobby to get your shield law improved so bloggers are covered," said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "But do not expect the shield law to provide you a defense in a libel case where you want to rely on an anonymous source for that information."

Read the full story at the link below:

Federal judge: Montana blogger is not journalist

Sorry for the lack of posting over the past 24 hours. I've been incapacitated by a kidney stone. Spent 7 hours in the emergency room of my local hospital waiting for urine test, X-ray and CT to confirm diagnosis. Finally feeling better now that the pain medication has kicked in. I'm sending out this dedication to me: "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison.

She says it right on her blog: Her 15 minutes of fame were not enough.

The suburban Philadelphia woman charged with prostitution after she allegedly offered undercover cops sex in exchange for Phillies World Series tickets, has launched a blog to share her fantasies about the Phillies.

(She was found not guilty in court of the most serious charges but was sentenced to one year probation).

You can check out Susan Finkelstein's R-rated fantasies at Rounding 3rd with Susan Finkelstein

Do you have a question about regional, state or national politics? Tony Phyrillas has the answers and will respond to your question via video posted online at The Mercury’s Web site. If you would like The Mercury's award-winning political columnist and blogger to respond to your question about current topics, e-mail him at tphyrillas@gmail.com and look for Tony's video response on The Mercury's Web site, www.pottsmerc.com

As if there weren't enough blogs to choose from on the Internet, politicians are now getting into the act.

Rep. Joe Pitts, a Republican who represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, has announced he has started his own blog.

Pitts says the blog is "one more way to keep in touch with constituents."

The blog is linked to Pitts' official Congressional Web site, www.house.gov/pitts/

"I hope to use this blog as just one more way for me to keep in touch with the constituents I represent in the 16th District," Pitts said in a statement. "I hope you'll stop by often and I'll be sure to keep it updated."

Pitts, first elected to Congress in 1996, is one of the more media-savvy members of Congress. He regularly posts videos on YouTube and writes a regular column distributed to local newspapers, including The Pottstown Mercury.

"I'll use the blog to let you all know what I think about the important issues before Congress," Pitts said on his first post today. "I'll post statements about legislation, videos of floor speeches, and pictures of my activities in Pennsylvania as well as Washington, D.C."

This doesn't happen very often, so pay attention. I have something nice to say about a Democrat.

I came across a very good blog called Right Democrat after the proprietor left a comment on one of my blog posts. Right Democrat has been around since June 2005 and it appears to be based in Ohio.

Postings are a little light (137 in 2008 compared to 2,896 on my blog last year, but when Right Democrat does post, it's always interesting stuff.)

This is how the anonymous proprietor bills his/her site:

Right Democrat is the voice of Democrats who believe in economic populism and social traditionalism. This site is dedicated to revitalizing the mainstream populist wing of our party. For too long, both parties have ignored the concerns of working and middle class Americans. The Democratic Party must embrace mainstream values. We need to appeal to people of faith. It is imperative that Democrats win back the values and national security voters. Democrats can then build a governing majority around on issues like health care, education, protecting Social Security, fair trade and defending the rights of workers and consumers.

Who can argue with such a common-sense viewpoint?

Check the blog out at http://rightdemocrat.blogspot.com/

It's not often you find a worthwhile blog that isn't published by a conservative.

Some good posts from conservative Pennsylvania bloggers on the morning after Democratic sweeps in national and state offices.

POWERBLOG! says it's time for Republicans to ponder the future of their party.

Page13News says this was the "It's All About Me" election.

That's Rich says there's no crying in politics.

WRITEMARSH! says Obama's victory is all about selling hope and packaging.

The Clarke Report says nothing much changed in Schuylkill County politics.

Ohligarchy says abandon hope.

Penn Patriot Online says Obama's win is the official end of the Reagan Revolution.

and don't forget TONY PHYRILLAS on Tom Corbett surviving the Democratic tide and positioning himself for a run at governor in 2010.

What is Pennsylvania's leading conservative blogger doing in The New York Times, the flagship paper of the Obama Media?

Somebody has to talk some sense into the far left.

The New York Times interviewed me Monday for an article on how bloggers are covering the political race in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

They also gave me an opportunity to write a guest column on the role of a conservative blogger in influencing the outcome of the race.

The story has a couple of factual errors in it, but I have to give The Times credit: They did not edit my guest column.

You can read The New York Times article, "Road to November: Keystone State Bloggers,"
by Rebecca Cathcart, and my column at this link:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/road-to-november-keystone-state-bloggers/

The truth is out there. You just have to get past the liberal media to find it.

Here's some of the most interesting posts on Pennsylvania blogs:

WRITEMARSH! and GUNSERVATIVELY! both have startling information about Gwen Ifill, the moderator of Thursday's vice presidential debate. Turns out Ifill has written a pro-Obama book that will be released next year. Makes you wonder which ticket Ms. Ifill will be rooting for, doesn't it?

And speaking of Obama, POLICY BLOG has an interesting post about the failure of government-run health care in Massachusetts. Obama wants to offer a similar plan nationally. The Massachusetts plan is $4.2 billion in the hole. Imagine the debt (and higher taxes) under Obama-care.

TONY PHYRILLAS say the 2008-09 state budget is already $281 million in the red (and there's still nine more months to go in the fiscal year.)

SAVE THE GOP says we need to "Trust Capitalism" and not the Washington politicians.

POWERBLOG! tackles liberal media bias against Sarah Palin.

IS THIS LIFE? spotlights a new Chuck Norris column on conservatives in Hollywood.

The same column was also recommended by TONY PHYRILLAS yesterday. There's also a link to a new documentary about liberal media bias, "Do As I Do," and the trailer for the new movie bashing the far left, "An American Carol"

PENN PATRIOT'S BLOG has a guest column, "Why I Am Voting For John McCain."

LINCOLN BLOG has some thoughts on the Wall Street bailout before Congress.

Stateline.org, a Web site that features articles about state government issues, has an interesting post today about a growing trend among politicians who use blogs to help promote themselves and their policy concerns.

From the article by Stateline.org staff writer Pauline Vu:

Like many bloggers, state lawmakers give their opinions on the topics of the day and share their personal life with readers. But unlike other bloggers, they also sometimes give the public a unique view into the workings of the statehouse.

"It's the perfect way to talk directly to constituents without a media filter," said Arkansas House Majority Leader Steve Harrelson (D), the state's first legislator-blogger who created Under the Dome in January 2007 to replace the e-newsletter he had sent constituents.

Stateline.org found about 50 politicians who routinely blog, including three in Pennsylvania: Rep. Mark Cohen (D); Sen. John Eichelberger (R); Rep. Jesse White (D)

Vu also examines the pitfalls of lawmakers in cyberspace, citing the cast of state Rep. Daylin Leach:

But legislator-bloggers have to walk a fine line between welcoming readers into their personal lives and revealing too much — including questionable taste. Pennsylvania state Rep. Daylin Leach (D) crossed the line in 2005 with www.leachvent.com, in which Leach — a self-described comedian — joked about sex, pornography, and a Palestinian bachelor party in which the groom celebrates his upcoming nuptials by blowing up a bus. About a piece of legislation he was supporting, he wrote, "The age of consent would officially be lowered to 'When Poppa ain't around.'"

Leach took down most of his posts shortly after The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about the Web site. But in September 2006, when he was running for re-election, a woman launched the now-defunct Web site, TruthAboutDaylin.com, to remind voters of Leach's previous postings. Leach won anyway and is now running for the state Senate.

For a list of politician/bloggers by state or to read the full Stateline.org article, click here.