Voting has begun in the 2004 Weblog Awards. I have not polled my colleagues and cannot, therefore, issue official endorsements in these hotly contested races. Given our common predispositions as historians, however, I do feel comfortable making some recommendations in the following contests:

Best Essayist: Easily Distracted.*
Best Liberal Blog: Informed Comment.
Best Election Coverage: Talking Points Memo.
Best Canadian Blog: A Journey Through Time.

*I note that Victor Davis Hanson, a legitimate choice as a fellow historian, is just beating the socks off of my colleague, Tim Burke, in current polling. Is that evidence that a dis-spirited Left has abandoned the process?

I ignore the fact that Cliopatria was not even nominated for Best Group Blog. [Ed.: The Pope don't compete for honors.] There, at least, you have some decent choices among her friends, Crooked Timber, Oxblog, and The Volokh Conspiracy. In some precincts, however, there are reports of"dirty tricks" and the nominations process is clearly flawed. Where are the nominations for Chapati Mystery, Early Modern Notes, Hugo Schwyzer, Little Professor, Rhine River ... ? I could go on. Don't get me started.

In comments, my colleague, Sharon Howard, rightly calls my attention to the EduBlog Awards, a slightly more discerning competition. There, Early Modern Notes, Early Modern Print Culture, Easily Distracted, Kristiface, Little Professor, and Siris compete for Best Individual Blog; while Crooked Timber and Terra Nova compete with others for Best Overall Group Blog.