The question: how long can Arizona Senator John McCain continue his political tightrope act? In 2000 when he ran against George Bush, McCain seemingly had a lot going for him: great media coverage, a bestselling book, enthusiastic young crowds, charisma that came across on the tube, campaign workers who truly loved him and would walk on broken glass for him. However, he lacked one teeny-weenie thing: the backing of the Republican establishment. The campaign quickly became the GOP establishment against...

If so look at these truly cool pictures.

(Note: The link below has been fixed. Edward updates his post every day, counting down to the end of the poll. If for some reason it doesn’t work again, go to his main page here.) Edward Copeland is running a fun poll at his film blog: What are the ten worst Best Picture winners of all time? Go through the list of winners and pick your 10 least favourite. Or, to put it another way, the 10 you dislike the most — in order, with 1 the worst and 10 the 10th worst. E-mail your list to Edward...

(Note: This post has also been published at the One America Committee Blog. An earlier version was published at The Reaction.) From the L.A. Times: “A crowd estimated by police at more than 500,000 boisterously marched in Los Angeles on Saturday to protest federal legislation that would crack down on undocumented immigrants, penalize those who help them and build a security wall along the U.S.’s southern border.” It should go without saying, but it is often forgotten: America is...

See if you can spot the gross ignorance/indifference. This is from Scott McClellan’s Tuesday press briefing: Q: Can you talk a little bit more about Cancun and the other side of the talks, with Canada — border, immigration? Are those high priorities? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this will be — you’re talking about Canada? I mean, the President had a — first of all, had a good discussion with Prime Minister Martin [sic] yesterday. That was a call that Prime Minister Martin...

I don’t. I think moderate politics are brave and world changing. More here.

Looks like the case before the SCOTUS is not favoring the government. Read more here.

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony Tuesday from five former judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) court; the judges urged Congress to impose oversight on the president’s secret and controversial warrantless wiretap program. The New York Times has the only report I’ve found so far on this (it is a big news day, after all), but it’s a decent one. Four of the judges were on Capitol Hill testifying in support of Senator Specter’s plan to grant the...

The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could have far reaching consequences — no matter how it rules — on prisoners who are military detaines. And it’s a case in which the government, in effect, is arguing that the court doesn’t have any right to really take up the case: As the justices of the Supreme Court took their seats Tuesday morning to hear Osama bin Laden’s former driver challenge the Bush administration’s plan to try him before a military commission,...

A forgotten tradition? Of course. AmbivaBlog has more. Much more.

Think again. Abdul Rahman isn’t the first…and unless Islamic law changes…he certainly won’t be the last. From Daveed Gartenstein-Ross: Middle Easterners who leave the Islamic faith have faced serious persecution for decades. Many have been killed, either by the state or by their former co-religionists. But the Abdul Rahman case marked the first time in recent memory that this practice has attracted significant attention. The issue extends far beyond Afghanistan and poses a...

NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs special Guest Voice columns written by writers or readers who do not normally contribute to this site. Guest Voice columns reflect the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of The Moderate Voice. The following is by Robin Koerner (one of our favorite, frequent contributors), publisher of the superb website Watching America: Bordering on the Absurd By Robin Koerner I am a grateful guest in a great country. That is why I have never complained...

Our linkfest taking you to some interesting posts from all over the blogo-you-know-what. Links refect various viewpoints that may not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice. Immigration Is A Hot Issue And All Angles Are Being Discussed — but what about black perspectives on illegal immigration? On The Other Hand some people can’t get worked up about it. Addiction Is A Terrible Thing, especially if you find you can’t help yourself — you’re addicted to...

Who can spot what might be wrong with this passage? Senate Bill 1138 would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for sex offenders who are convicted twice of raping a child younger than 11. South Carolina would join Louisiana as the only states that allow the death penalty for crimes other than murder. Currently in South Carolina, murder is the only crime eligible for the death penalty. If South Carolina would become one of two states that allow the death penalty for crimes other than murder,...

Here’s why.

TMV will be on the road today in a long drive which means his posts will be limited. But this site will have lots of food-for-thought from our co-bloggers — and a special Guest Voice column. People have asked in emails and comments about TMV’s travels. He has a hectic schedule due to updating this weblog, special writing projects and traveling due to his work in his other incarnation.

Given that his numbers are low, low, low…this move makes sense. But will the press respond to his “chewing the fat” sessions? My thoughts are here.

Yep…they did it recently…twice. Thankfully “they” were US agents testing our security. Needless to say, we failed. More here.

Alan Stewart Carl nails it on the Abdul Rahman case: There are many cultural rifts between the West and the Muslim world. Some can be closed or at least bridged. But in cases like Abdul Rahman, we in the West cannot find common ground. Killing a man for converting to a new religion is wholly unacceptable. There is no compromise. They are wrong. We are right. Not only are we right, but they need to change as soon as possible. This throws a massive monkey wrench into the “Islam is a religion...

After weeks of calls from some Republicans for changes in the White House staff, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card has resigned — although White House officials insist it is his decision, not the president’s: White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. announced his resignation this morning after nearly 5-1/2 years as President Bush’s top aide. Bush said Card will be replaced by Joshua B. Bolten, the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Bush made the announcement...

If you’re not a Soprano’s fan the barebones fact is: Tony Soprano came out of his coma last Sunday night in a remarkable episode, one that is one reason why when this show goes off people will be buying DVDs of it for decades to come. Read this, this and this. And also this.

It has been a longtime building, but it has seemingly happened: The decades long debate over immigration reform has now reached critical mass. From massive demonstrations in major U.S. cities staged by hoards of immigrants furious over a tough new law passed by the House, to President George Bush who advocates stricter border controls coupled with a guest worker program somewhat reminiscent of former President Ronald Reagan’s controversial amnesty program, to parts of his political base who...

Anyone who read The Case of the Speluncean Explorers in Law School (or, as in my case, as an undergrad) will appreciate Legal Fiction’s re-enactment using the Afghani Christian Convert case.

You can read his diary on Daily Kos.

Bloggers link and/or attribute to mainstream news organizations all time time. But should the mainstream media credit blogs?