Around The ‘Sphere

Links are NOT limited to one political viewpoint. Linked posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or his Guest Bloggers.



SEAN PENN: Artist Or Idiot? The Superficial gives you its opinion…



CRY FOR ARGENTINA BUT NOT FOR JIMMY CARTER is basically what The Conservative Voice says about the bro-ha-ha over JC (Jimmy Carter, that is) not being officially invited along with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Poppy Bush to attend Pope John Paul II’s funeral. Read the whole post, but here’s part of it 4 U:

In consideration of all of the venom Carter has spewed at President Bush, why in the world did this popinjay even think he would be invited? Jimmy’s been a one-man-show, traveling the world vilifying President Bush to anyone who will listen. Carter’s problem is that, unlike the currently impotent Republican Congress, President Bush doesn’t cower at leftist denigrations. Beside, when it comes to Jimmy Carter, all one has to do is just say “No�.



So, I guess Jimmy will just have to be content watching the ceremonies on television. Too bad Al Gore’s network isn’t up and running, yet! Or, better yet, maybe he might watch with a friend.

Indeed, Carter was a problem for the first President Bush, for Bill Clinton and now for GWB. Why would they want him to join them unless they were falling apart (as the old joke goes)?



IS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION PROTECTING OIL COMPANIES? Seeing the Forest says it is — and gives you the details.





SO HOW IS HOWARD DEAN DOING AS DNC CHAIR? Centerfield’s John Kay has an extensive analysis which notes Dean’s relatively low-profile…and why explains what it means. He’s a small part of his conclusion:

Nonetheless, it still looks to me like he still has has his demagogic addiction. Why else the “I hate Republicans,” and red meat he’s been throwing local crowds? Well, that has consequences. It means that, in a real way, he’s using the crowd. Not only is that wrong in and of itself, but I theorized that in the last campaign, guilt was causing Dean to change stances; it’s crystal clear that, for whatever reason, Dean completely lost message discipline in 2004. Right now, I think Dean is basically doing a good job, albeit with a nasty demagogic twinge. Unfortunately, past performance suggests that we should watch him for signs of losing message discipline and/or losing track of his anti-Rove strategies.

Yes, it’s truly sad the bitterness and ugliness that now characterizes the politicking of both parties. It’s as if people can’t differ on policy anymore without demonizing the other side. Hate seems to be a component in trying to activate the base. We can can blame this on the GOP and Democratic leaders…but also on the fact that people seem to NEED to see the other side as evil in this country before many of them will become active. Can this trend change? Possibly — if we get a leader (of either party) who tries to rise above it.





PRECISELY WHAT SHOULD THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DO? Swamppundit has some detailed, specific ideas.



BORDER ISSUES ARE GRABBING BIG HEADLINES BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT COYOTES WHO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL ALIENS CHANGE TACTICS? They do, to co-opt the Border Patrol, reports VDARE.com.



Notes on Anti-Judicial Demagoguery from Mark Daniels. Read them in full. BRAVO.



IT’S BASEBALL SEASON and The New Editor has some predictions about the Chicago Cubs…



WELCOME NEWS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS: Marjiuana is good for your arteries. Details at Outside The Beltway.



THEY’RE MAD IN FRANCE…because the government is lowering flags at half-mast in honor of the Pope (was it because he didn’t speak French perfectly?)



THIS IS HORRIBLE, THIS IS HIDEOUS. View it IF YOU DARE!



HELP SUPPLY A CAPTION to this photo for The Kentucky Democrat.





THIS RAPPER GOING TO PRISON FOR MURDER IS REALLY MISUNDERSTOOD. I mean, really…





JAMES BOND IS BACK and guess who he’s going to be this time? Slings and Arrows tells you..



SO WHO IS THE SURE WINNER OF AMERICAN IDOL THIS YEAR? San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Bob Laurence (who TMV thinks is the best TV critic in the country) gives you his prediction here.



WHY DON’T PEOPLE (including TMV) LEAVE TOM DELAY ALONE? As the Left Coaster notes, he’s helped so many people.



HAY MUCHAS PROBLEMAS for the Bush’s administration’s nominee for UN Ambassador. Middle Earth Journal looks at it and gives you lots of links.





PC MANIA (or, rather insanity) IN NORWAY: Arthur Chrenkoff explains the lunacy.