Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of the Internet’s most thoughtful writers, James Hertsch, who used to have a blog and wrote under a pen name. He writes on his new blog about one of several major shifts in the ascension of Barack Obama to the Presidency: the return to normalcy: With all the hope and change that Obama threw around for the past two years, you’d think there’d be a...

President Barack Obama seeks unity but his first act created a bit of division: some felt he gave a great inaugural speech, others felt it was just good, still others felt you can’t judge an inaugural speech until the President serves awhile. And some, like conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, felt it was a poor speech and not as good as Reagan’s Dad’s. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily...

Today is a day to ponder courage and hope. In this Guest Voice post, journalism professor and author Walter Brasch offers some specifics to ponder. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV and its writers. From the Hudson to the Potomac: Courage and Hope for a Depressed Nation by Walter Brasch The people are good at anointing who they believe are heroes. It gives us a warm...

Iranian freelance journalist Kourosh Ziabari strongly believes his country’s image in the United States is not accurate. In this Guest Voice, he interviews New Zealand Herald columnist Jill Worrall, who also feels Iran is misunderstood. One issue in this interview centers on whether the news media stereotypes. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Jill Worrall, New...

As the Republican party takes stock about what it needs to do to recover in an era of a President Barack Obama, some argue that it needs to return to its true conservative roots. But there is also a school of thought that says it shouldn’t forget one of the most successful Republican Presidents of the 20th century — Dwight D. Eisenhower. In this Guest Voice post, reprinted by permission of the moderate...

In her Secretary of State confirmation hearing, Senator Hillary Clinton said the new administration would use “smart power.” In this Guest Voice, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan asks whether she’s talking about “smart power or just dumb policy.” Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its writers. Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? by Michael...

On January 20th Barack Obama will be sworn in as President and the most scrutinized part of the ceremony will be his inaugural address. Just how important is it? What about some past inaugural speeches in American history? And what can we expect? In this Guest Interview, columnist Bill Steigerwald interview presidential rhetoric specialists Jerry Shuster to get some answers. Inaugural Hits Misses by Bill Steigerwald Barack...

So now what does the Republican party do? In this Guest Voice post that appeared in the moderate Republican Ripon Society Journal and is being run here with their permission, former Republican Congressman Tom Davis has some specific suggestions that some will feel make great sense, and some stalwarts won’t like at all. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. The...

Is the Democratic party Congressional leadership playing power games already with President Elect Barack Obama? And did they show the same backbone to President George Bush? In this Guest Voice Walter and Rosemary Brasch look at this issue. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Unnecessary Concerns: Democratic Leadership Should Have Little Fear of an Obama Administration by...

Has the soon-to-leave Bush adminstration been conducting a fire sale of public lands? In this Guest Voice post, Michael Winship, senior writer for PBS’ Bill Moyers Journal, looks at the issue. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. What Am I Bid for the American Wild? by Michael Winship We’ve all seen those sitcoms or movies in which someone stumbles...

Is it time for Americans to take a truly seriously look at libertarianism? Joel S. Hirschhorn who is not happy with either party, says that if there is a time to consider libertarianism, the time is now. But what are its prospects? He also discusses someone who hasn’t been in the headlines much these days: Ron Paul. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its writers. Libertarianism:...

Is a local newspaper bailout by the state about to happen in Connecticut? And, if it does, what will it mean to the news media? In this Guest Voice post, authors and speakers Floyd and Mary Beth Brown warn that it could be a slippery slope, indeed. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Will the News Media be Neutered? By Floyd and Mary Beth Brown Connecticut is considering...

Even though some on each side of the increasingly bloody conflict in Gaza see clear-cut choices and their side as correct, the reality may be quite different. In this Guest Voice, Professor Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal looks at the issue and explains why there are choices, not...

What is the depth of the good-will generally facing President Elect Barack Obama? One sign is the fact that he will be taking office with some of the strongest polling numbers a President Elect has had since Ronald Reagan. Another: a new book of comprehensive, behind-the-scenes photos of Obama, Power House Book’s “Yes We Can” sold out its first 55,000 copy printing before it even hit the...

President Elect Barack Obama often notes that until he’s sworn in there is only “one President at a time.” But, in this Guest Voice Post, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan wonders whether that’s the reality or an excuse. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Barack in Limbo by Michael Reagan As he stands on the sidelines, seemingly oblivious...

The furor over Illinois Gov. Ron “Senate Seat For Sale” Scandal Blogojevich thumbing his nose at the political establishment and incoming President has led some to suggest that it’s time for a new consittutional amendment. In this Guest Voice post, founder of the Equal Rights Allliance, suggests that a certain other amendment should not be forgo tten. Don’t Forget The OTHER Constitutional...

Iran remains a big topic as the U.S. heads into 2009. TMV has run several Guest Voice posts by Iranian freelance writer and blogger Kourosh Ziabari who has long contended that Iran’s image in the media is misleading. In this Guest Voice interview, he talks to Harvard University’s Professor James Russell for some perspective on Iran. TMV runs Guest Voice posts of various viewpoints. Guest Voice posts...

What’s going on with Israel, Hamas and the Gaza Strip? In this Guest Voice, columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews Aaron David Miller, a top Middle East adviser to six secretaries of state (Shultz to Powell) and Woodrow Wilson International Center scholar, and gets some answers. The Gamble in Gaza — Interview With Aaron David Miller by Bill Steigerwald If anyone can explain the worst flare up of Israeli-Palestinian...

Is the way people are paid in the United States way out of whack? In this Guest Voice post, journalism professor and author Walter Brasch looks at the issue. The $6 Million Social Worker by Walter Brasch The New York Yankees just bought a first baseman for $180 million. For the next eight years, Mark Teixeira will earn about $22.5 million a season. The week before, the Yanks bought seven years...

It’s that time of year again to take out your pen, pencil or laptop and write a bunch of New Year’s resolutions that you probably won’t keep. But in this Guest Voice post, author Martha Randolph Carr suggests some that she thinks we need to keep. Happy New Year Resolutions By Martha Randolph Carr New Year’s resolutions are all about throwing ourselves into the future, which can ruin the present...

So 2008 was a sad, tragic, scary and catastrophic year? Think again: political humorist Will Durst offers this list of some of the funniest developments in the news: The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of 2008 Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Okay. Just so you know: The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of the Year are as different from the Top-Ten Legitimate News Stories of the Year as a tower of giraffes is from a small...

The election of Barack Obama was a watershed moment for the United States in many ways. One way: it was a key moment for independent voters. Some independent are exactly that — totally off by themselves. But there are other independent voters who see the need for an independent voter movement. In this Guest Voice post cross-posted on the independent blog The Hankster, Jacqueline Salit, executive editor...

President Elect Barack Obama released his team’s report indicating there was nothing inappropriate in its actions in the Senate Seat For Sale scandal involving Illinois’ Governor Blagojevich, a politician now as famous for his tape-revealed four-letter word vocabulary as for his hair. To some, it settled the issue. To others, it raised questions. In this Guest Voice post, authors Floyd and Mary Beth...

President George W. Bush’s poster has reportedly become popular in Iran, where it’s being used as the target in a shoe-throwing competition: Organizers of a shoe-throwing competition at Iran’s Tehran University said the Friday event used a picture of U.S. President George W. Bush as a target. The organizers said the event was an “expression of solidarity for the respected Iraqi journalist,”...

Christmas is a time of joy but December 2008 is also a time of stress for many this year and, after the presents are opened, reality will show its face after the presents are opened and the wrappings are discarded. Yet, can this also be time of joy in another sense? Are Americans starting to reaffirm some values that were ignored in recent years? Humor columnist Tom Purcell gives you his thought in this Guest...