While most of my friends, real and virtual, are bemoaning the end of summer I for one look forward to the shorter days and cooler and cold weather. There are few things more exciting than a fall or winter Pacific Storm, few things more invigorating than the frigid east wind coming out of the Columbia River Gorge or the far to infrequent snowfall that shrouds the area in a … [Read more...] about The End Of Another Summer
The ISIS-Iraq Crisis
Summary of news from in and around Iraq. Source, unless otherwise indicated: The Stars and Stripes The Islamic State militant group is holding hostage a young American woman who was doing humanitarian aid work in Syria, a family representative said. The 26-year-old woman is the third American known to have been kidnapped by the radical group. The Islamic State group … [Read more...] about The ISIS-Iraq Crisis
When mistakes become deadly
WASHINGTON -- To be young, male and black in America means not being allowed to make mistakes. Forgetting this, as we've seen so many times, can be fatal. The case of Michael Brown, who was laid to rest Monday, is anomalous only in that it is so extreme: an unarmed black teenager riddled with bullets by a white police officer in a community plagued by racial … [Read more...] about When mistakes become deadly
Unverified Audio Clip Provides Clues To Mike Brown Shooting
A new audio clip, which allegedly recorded a series of shots fired at Michael Brown, was released Tuesday and reportedly indicates two separate sets of shots with a pause between them. The recording could further muddle the controversy surrounding the death of the 18-year-old black teen who was shot and killed on Aug. 9 in Ferguson,… … [Read more...] about Unverified Audio Clip Provides Clues To Mike Brown Shooting
Cartoon: Conversation About Race
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Conversation About Race
The Resurrection of Rick Perry
The Resurrection of Rick Perry By Jason Stanford Not since Superman has a fella made such a big impression when he took of his eyeglasses. Turns out, the sexy new specs were a disguise all along. This is the Rick Perry we thought we were getting in 2012 before he crashed and burned onstage. But he's back, baby, and if he can keep it up it just might be change Republicans … [Read more...] about The Resurrection of Rick Perry
What line to draw on beheadings?
What line to draw on beheadings? by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- "Don't watch the video. Don't share it. That's not how life should be." So tweeted Kelly Foley, a cousin of beheaded journalist James Foley, as the video of the brutal execution began to go viral -- as the Islamic State intended. Beheaded … [Read more...] about What line to draw on beheadings?
Republican Surge or Wipeout
Will the Republicans retake the Senate? At this point we have really no way to tell and we probably won't until the polls close in November. As Nate Silver points out only about 10% of the population actually respond to polling which means that political polling is all but useless. A majority of the Republican base want to do away with the federal government while a majority … [Read more...] about Republican Surge or Wipeout
Islamic State and the pitfalls of evil
Sadly and ominously, some of the hardline American response to the Islamic State is trending towards a war of religions. It is the path terrorists want but is the worst on which to be. It is a time-tested labyrinth of inconclusive attrition. [icopyright one button toolbar] President Barack Obama took a step into the labyrinth after James Foley’s barbaric beheading. “There … [Read more...] about Islamic State and the pitfalls of evil
Close, But No Cigars
or, If There Are ‘New Clues’ Why Isn’t This Getting Any Attention? Brown paying for cigars at counter (see video) CNN brays that there are "new clues": Holly Yan / CNN New clues in Michael Brown shooting? — (CNN) — Could a newly released audio provide more clues on what led up to Michael Brown's shooting death? — The FBI has questioned a man who says he recorded audio … [Read more...] about Close, But No Cigars
Follow TMV on Facebook
The question has come up twice via emails: YES you CAN follow The Moderate Voice on Facebook. Posts on TMV are automatically put on the page. Here's the address: https://www.facebook.com/TheModerateVoice And, if you like TMV please do spread the word. … [Read more...] about Follow TMV on Facebook
Obamacare, beyond the label
WASHINGTON -- The Affordable Care Act was supposed to be a slam dunk issue for the Republicans in this fall's elections. Karl Rove told us so in April, writing that "Obamacare is and will remain a political problem for Democrats." So how's that Obamacare thing working out for the GOP? The most significant bit of election news over the last week was the decision … [Read more...] about Obamacare, beyond the label
Congressional Elections Are Too Frequent
Sometimes change to a cherished tradition is necessary. When the Constitution was written in 1787, it was a kind of experiment. There was no history of previous similar central governments as were detailed in the Constitution. James Madison and other contributors to the document utilized the ideas of a number of enlightenment philosophers when they crafted the Constitution, … [Read more...] about Congressional Elections Are Too Frequent
Cartoon: ISIS Cuts Off Nose
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: ISIS Cuts Off Nose
A legacy in question (Guest Voice)
A legacy in question by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- I've thought for some time that the Obama administration could look better in the rearview mirror of history than it does in the bumpy ride of the day to day. That may still turn out to be correct. Yet events of the last few months -- specifically, the rise of the Islamic … [Read more...] about A legacy in question (Guest Voice)
McDonald’s losing connection with millennials?
McDonald's Corp. appears to be losing its connection with a key group of Americans: millennials. The Wall Street Journal on Monday used data to show the changing tastes of some younger Americans. Data compiled for that newspaper by Technomic Inc., a restaurant consultancy, showed that the percentage of people in the United States aged 19 to… McDonald's losing connection with … [Read more...] about McDonald’s losing connection with millennials?
Cartoon: Child Cost
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Child Cost
(Update) The VA Scandal — A Postscript
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update: Today, during his remarks at the American Legion’s 96th National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, President Obama is expected to announce 19 new executive actions that the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD) are taking to improve the mental health of service members, veterans and their … [Read more...] about (Update) The VA Scandal — A Postscript
The right note on gender and hiring (Guest Voice)
The right note on gender and hiring by Esther J. Cepeda Washington Post Writers Group Columnist CHICAGO -- In the 1970s and 1980s, symphony orchestras around the world began implementing a system of "blind" auditions -- performances given from behind a screen -- in order to diversify their ranks while ensuring that elite talent and meritocracy ruled. … [Read more...] about The right note on gender and hiring (Guest Voice)
Dear MSM: this was no accident, it was incompetence
"We got a complaint of a vehicle matching your description and your license plate, waving a gun out the window." Here's the problem. The car identified by dispatch: "It's going to be a beige or tan colored Toyota..." The car the Forney TX cops pulled over: red Nissan Maxima. There's more: Dispatch: “Do you have a license plate on the Toyota?” Caller: “We … [Read more...] about Dear MSM: this was no accident, it was incompetence