From the Ronald Reagan era, a classic Meeting Of The Mouths: in one corner, California TV talk show host Wally George; in the other, California then-radio talk show host Morton Downey, Jr. Both have since departed. But do you notice two things: 1) This foreshadowed the Jerry Springer Show. 2) This foreshadowed the TV political talk shows where confrontation and yelling is considered a sign of intelligence. So we were warned (but they are great showmen).

Attention Tony: you’re off to a very bad start as press secretary when your own Secretary of State undercuts your explanation.

If you’re a regular reader or blogger/reader you will notice some blogroll changes. Our blogroll is admittedly very big. We USE THIS blogroll (it is NOT for show). We are trying to keep it up-to-date by removing inactive blog links and occasionally adding some new sites that we visit (of all ideologies). We’re also removing blogs on the left, right or center that had us on the blogroll but got mad at something TMV or a coblogger wrote (we have gotten complaints about EVERYONE who blogs...

Our periodic linkfest to introduce readers to a WIDE VARIETY of views from all over the ‘Sphere. We do NOT restrict mentioned links to one viewpoint — and views do not necessary reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice. Is Global Warming A Factor In Hurricanes? Some suggest it isn’t and some want them fired. What’s REALLY Going On With George Bush, The GOP And Gay Marriage? John Cole has some ideas. So does Da Weatha Man Journalist. Meanwhile, Classical Values offers some...

Move over CNN and Fox News because you may soon have a competitor who has a somewhat different point of view: The BBC’s global news channel, BBC World, has launched in the US, aiming to capture audiences hungry for international news. The channel, which already broadcasts to 270 million homes worldwide, can now be seen by cable viewers in New York. The BBC says it hopes to strike deals with cable and satellite providers elsewhere in the US soon. A new breakfast programme aimed at American...

In these days when so-called pundits sneeringly say that reporters in Iraq sit in comfy hotels and don’t bother going out to report stories (and are proven to be wrong and ideologically blinded by the sad headlines we read each day) it’s not a bad idea to — every once in a while — remind everyone that journalists have died in their line of duty…sometimes in mysterious ways. Here in San Diego, as a reporter on the San Diego Union covering the Tijuana/Baja California beat,...

You go out to eat and it’s the perfect meal. You have some appetizers — preferably fried. Lots of them. Then maybe a huge dinner salad, with lots of croutons and a sea of creamy dressing. Then a super-super-super-duper sized entree. A mountain of french fries with that (or a pyramid of mashed potatoes and gravy). Then a BIIIIIIIIG hot fudge sundae for dessert. And then the next day you get on the scale and wonder: why didn’t that Lean Cuisine I had for lunch help me reduce my weight? America...

…in Russia.

In answer to readers’ emails: here’s another tribute to a great comedian. If you’re a younger reader, you may not know much about Jack Benny, a huge vaudeville star, who became a huge radio star who became a huge television star. He was one of the 20th century’s most beloved celebrities– a major influence on generations of comedians because he was a master of that elusive quality called “timing” — captured in this old clip of a comedy musical number...

From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe:

Pollster John Zogby has told the Detroit Free Press that the Iraq War could prove to effectively be a political tsunami that will hammer the GOP in elections across the board in 2006: The war in Iraq has become so unpopular that it could cost Republicans control of Congress, statehouses and governor races around the country, national pollster John Zogby said Friday. He said 70% of voters believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, adding, “I have never seen a number like that since I’ve...

Either the Iraqi leader was genuinely misquoted or White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is coming dangerously close to the point where he will become known as Tony Schmo: The White House on Friday sought to soften criticism by Iraq’s prime minister over allegations that U.S. Marines killed two dozen unarmed civilians in the western town of Haditha last November. White House press secretary Tony Snow said that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had told U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad that he...

Maybe He’s mad because Pat is always sharing all those private conversations.

The stories left behind as pack journalism turned elsewhere.

Amid what seems a growing international scandal over charges that Marines were involved in atrocities, coupled with the news media trying to flesh out the story by finding more allegations, the Marines have been officially cleared in one allegation that was making the rounds: Horrific images of Iraqi adults and children have fueled new allegations that U.S. troops killed civilians in the Iraqi town of Ishaqi. But ABC News has learned that military officials have completed their investigation and...

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has extended a second political olive branch to Iran in the ongoing efforts to resolve the stalemate over Iran’s developing nuclear program via diplomatic means: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in another gesture to Tehran, on Friday held out the possibility that she meet Iranian officials if Tehran halts atomic fuel work and agrees to talks with major powers. Rice, speaking in a series of interviews with U.S. media, added that Iran faced a “moment...

Iran (for now at least) remains increasingly isolated with the news that Russia and China are now backing efforts by the U.S. and European nations to convince Tehran to pull the plug on its nuclear program: Russia and China endorsed a package of incentives and penalties Thursday designed by Western nations to push Iran to suspend its nuclear program. Few details of the agreement were forthcoming, and British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, who announced the deal in muted language, cautioned that...

With a slew of challenges and huge problems on his plate, President George Bush will soon turn to an issue that millions of Americans are talking about at the 7-Eleven, at water-coolers, over their kitchen tables — an issue that makes Americans wake up at night filled with preoccupation…and issue on which they demand immediate action and the allocation of his and Congress’ valuable time. Well, maybe not. But it IS a good wedge-issue to define the Democrats and arouse passions: President...

From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: Note that there is increasingly a lot of talk now about some kind of third party. Whether it’ll come to fruition (and do more than undercut one of the main parties and help the other win) is another matter. But note this article by Peggy Noonan. And, if you missed it, be sure to read this. (Note: We really like Briscoe’s cartoons, so we’ll run select ones from time to time on this site with a link to his site). UPDATE: Bull Moose today takes...

Question: is there a Democratic party mole in the Bush administration? If President George W. Bush’s claim to fame is vowing to keep Americans safer, and his standing at ground zero with a bullhorn and promising to go after terrorists, this latest news — and feud with the city that has come to symbolize 9/11 to the entire world — is going to strip away layers of what remains of Bush’s anti-terrorism preparedness aura: From Times Square and the Empire State Building to the...

President George W. Bush discusses the results of Viagra. (OK, two things to beat you to it: (1) Yes, we know we’ll go to hell for saying that. (2) If you don’t like that caption, write your own). TMV thanks Americablog for the tip.

…but he might not like it.

….at Kiko’s House, a jewel of a new blog written by Shaun Mullen, an award-winning former Knight-Ridder reporter and editor. And it is a glory to read: the writing is truly stylish, witty and the topics aren’t what you find on so many other blogs. It does NOT limit itself to the political horserace. And Mullen hasn’t yet fallen into “blogspeak” (of course we haven’t either. Heh.) We predict Kiko’s House is going to be a big force on the Internet....

TMV will be headed to LA and unable to post until mid-day later today, at the earliest. But check back often since our always independent co-bloggers will likely have some things to say.

For weeks the war clouds seemed to be gathering. The bellicose comments — seemingly matched tit for tat — came from both sides. Tehran? It seemed to be sticking its tongue out at the United States, virtually defying it to act. Washington? Sources (unofficial and otherwise) seemed to issuing dire warnings about military action, even as official statements insisted diplomacy was the first chance. But now Washington has seemingly shifted gears to a policy familiar to Americans during the...