Do you have a favorite newspaper writer? I read columnists (via the web) of several big city newspapers, as well as several syndicated writers. Some, I find, write brilliantly, some not so much (to the extent that I wonder how they ever came to such success).

Among my favorite things I've read this week is this story "Obesity epidemic is killing us," by George Will.

I just think it's well written. I also always enjoy Roger Ebert's columns for the Sun-Times.

Turn me on to the one's you find worthy of getting your fingers all covered with newsprint.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Answers

one's

Urrrrgh! "ones."

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

James Lileks is, of course, a newspaper columnist, but usually I read the Backfence after I've enjoyed the Bleats.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

It's not very original, but I like Maureen Dowd. Some people hate her to death, but I think she's funny. So, yeah.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Ditto on James Lileks. Of course I followed one of WG's links to get there!

Worst: There's a guy in the San Jose Mercury News who writes for the local section. His last article made little sense. He may have been the victim of haphazard editing, but still. How they could publish something like that is beyond me.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

This Lileks made me laugh and laugh.

Now, say what you want to about Andrew Sullivan - lord knows there's plenty - but the man keeps a pretty comprehensive weblog that I keep track of. He links to a lot of great international columns and a ton of domestic ones that I might otherwise miss.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

If we start getting into the bloggers we'll drown Al. Andrew Sullivan (whom I used to love, but that whole barebacking-personal-ad ruckus last year left a bad taste in my mouth) links to most of them.

Roger Ebert is an underrated film writer, I think.

I have to say I'm not a big Maureen Dowd fan; when she got the Pulitzer my first thought was, "Dude, I could write three columns about the snobs at Barney's." But I haven't really read her work in a while.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Yeah, the barebacking-personal-ad thing is a little... I can't think if the right word.

I really liked Ebert's review of Iris, because it was so much more than a movie review. I used to really rely on Ebert for his advice, but then he gave Riding in Cars With Boys something like three stars, and that was one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. My entire life, y'all. I hate even thinking about that horrorfest. But Ebert seemed to like it, so go figure.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Since my attention span is too short for whole newspaper columns, I read the editorial cartoons. Ed Stein does two for the local tabloid, Denver Square which can be pretty towny, and his regular opinion page offering.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Who is that lady in Fort Worth that everyone is obsessed with? Molly Ivans? I think she's pretty good, but I swear, people in Texas act like she's Mark Twain or somebody. I have one of her books, and it doesn't do all that much for me, I have to admit. Maybe I haven't given her enough of a chance.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

This counts, right?

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I miss Gail Collins something fierce.

I've just started reading and enjoying Mic hael Lewis.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I miss Maxine Mesinger. How can you not love a woman whose nickname was "Miss Moonlight" and coined the term "swankienda?"

Maybe it's a Houston thing. Or maybe I just haven't accepted that I love me some gossip. I like Liz Smith too, but she's just not as dishy as Maxine was.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

And, Al, yes that would be Molly Ivins. She is a little overrated. I think her writing has become a caricature of the political satire it once was. Still enjoyable though if you like liberals.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I HATE Art Carey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He does a fitness column. He uses phrases like "little lady" and feels the need to put his readers down for not...you know...hiking 50 miles while pumping free weights. That kind of idiot. Nothing made me happier than the column where he admitted to having high cholesterol and heart disease. Serves him right, the proselytizing jerk.

No one I love. Just needed to spread the Art Carey hate.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002