Our famous linkfest offering readers interesting links to websites of varying opinions so they can explore the ‘sphere. Links do NOT necessarily represent the viewpoints of The Moderate Voice or its writers.
The Internet Will Save Rural Communities — or will it?
Yesterday’s Most Popular Video Wasn’t Found At Blockbusters But Online: It was THIS VIDEO of Osama bin Laden. NOTE: He has seldom just appeared in a video without it signalling something. There are indeed lots of stories indicating intelligence officials believe something big could be in the offing. On the other hand, if nothing was in the immediate offing, it’d still suit his purposes because internet and media coverage mean some terror has been spread…even without an attack. Experts believe bin Laden is wearing a fake beard (has he joined Beard Club For Terrorists?).
On Monday General Petraeus Testifies and there are already calls for the Democrats to stand up to him. The Huffington Post has three blunt ones.
(1)I. Graham T. Allison (Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and former Dean of the Kennedy School), warns about the problems that will doom the next President.
(2)Arianna Huffington thinks the Demmies are acting spineless and is dismayed by signs that they will fold in literally the face of the General.
(3)Robert Borosage (president of the Institute for America’s Future and co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign for America’s Future), argues that no Democrat can win unless he/she takes a strong leadership stance on the anti-war issue. Here’s one taste:
Leadership in this debate is a central criterion for the nomination, far more important than how a candidate looks in the debates or how much money the campaign raises. Any Democratic nominee will face a pro-war Republican who will charge the Democrats with weakness and with cutting and running. The Democratic flag-bearer will have to make a compelling case to the American people about why this misbegotten occupation must be brought to an end. If a candidate for the nomination doesn’t stand up now, then he or she can’t be expected to stand up then.
That frames the issue in an unusual and compelling way. Clearly, as Americans have seen in the past elections, Democrats are painted as wimpish on foreign policy and national security and, in the Rove/Bush era, essentially being called “cowards” without the word actually being used. Senator John Kerry should have known and been fully prepared for a fierce attack on his war record in 2004. If you’re a political junkie it’s clear that the Democrats often don’t see the handwriting on the wall and sometimes only react after the wall has collapsed on them.
ANOTHER VITAL FACTOR IN IRAQ? It’s the lack of an operational security apparatus, argues political scientist Dr. Steven Taylor in THIS MUST READ POST.
“And Now We Come To The Sanity Clause” is a GREAT ROUNDUP on Petraus by the great news-coupled-with-satire site The Garlic.
Should Osama bin Laden Get A Blog? Andrew Sullivan says yes. Wizbang says Osama wants his own diary at Daily Kos.
If it catches on, would bin Laden encourage other merciless terrorists to blog and then start a company called “Robe Media”? And just think: all blogs (this included) have trolls, but a troll on a terrorist’s blog would REALLY live in a cave. And when a blog would be under attack, oooooooh would it be under attack. Iran’s President already has a blog. (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to bin Laden: “Hey, Osama. Do you wanna exchange links? No??! Your blog must be hosted by Zionists!!”)
A N-E-W SICKENING SEX SCANDAL…this time involving the ex-head of the Virginia chapter of the ACLU arrested for child porn.
Is It Lying In State Or Lying In Repose? The ever-thoughtful Mark Daniels looks at the issue. (Actually, if you follow the news the most common category is Lying In Washington).
Kids And Obseity: Is something being left out of the debate? Read Feministe.
Do You Want To Visit A Country With A GREAT Cellphone Network? Then visit
Bangladesh.
Youth Violence: Is it a matter or too masculine or not masculine enough? A compellling take on this at Dr. Helen.
Culture And Survival: A tale of AIDS and Africa via Baldilocks.
Is It REALLY Over for Arizona Senator John McCain? Times Online’s Daniel Finklestein argues that it isn’t and he could flourish in his current adversity.
Don’t Ever Say “Dumb Dog” Again since it might not be accurate: new research finds dogs are much smart then most thought. (But you can say “dumb politician” without fearing new research will negate that…)
The City of Herndon In West Virginia shut down its labor center rather than let illegal aliens us it — and La Shawn Barber has some thoughts...
Now THIS is FUN ART. No joke. LOVE IT!
So They’re Cracking And Making It Tougher All Along The Border? NOT!!
President Bush Went To Australia and it wasn’t one of his most stellar moments…
If Someone Says Democrats Don’t Have A Policy On Terrorism then they haven’t read this.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.