[icopyright one button toolbar] ~.~ A month ago, the oldest living female World War II veteran visited the White House and got a warm welcome from President Obama and Vice President Biden. (Below) Vice President Joe Biden greets Lucy Coffey in his West Wing Office, July 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Lucy Coffey, now 108, served in … [Read more...] about Bea Cohen, 104-Year-Old World War II Veteran, Finally Gets Her Wish
The Real Me
My dear friend Dr E tells me that the "real" me is is found in my photographs not my words. So in the future perhaps fewer words and more pictures … [Read more...] about The Real Me
Decline in War Reporting
Tom A. Peter bemoans the effect of political polarization on war reporting in The New Republic.[icopyright one button toolbar] Covering wars for a polarized nation has destroyed the civic mission I once found in journalism. Why risk it all to get the facts for people who increasingly seem only to seek out the information they want and brand the stories and facts that don’t … [Read more...] about Decline in War Reporting
Law enforcement officers in Washington state using cell tower simulator to sweep up data
For the past six years, the Tacoma, WA Police Department has used "controversial surveillance equipment that can sweep up records of every cellphone call, text message and data transfer up to a half a mile away," according to the Tacoma News Tribune.[icopyright one button toolbar] One of the more chilling aspects of this story: Tacoma has a nondisclosure agreement with the … [Read more...] about Law enforcement officers in Washington state using cell tower simulator to sweep up data
Study Shows Reduction In Opioid Overdoses By 25% In States Which Have Legalized Medical Marijuana
A major problem with narcotic pain medications is the risk of overdose. This problem has led to the DEA announcing last week that hydrocodone combination pain medications such as Norco and Vicodin are being reclassified as Schedule II narcotics, with additional restrictions being placed upon prescribing them. Any measures to help control chronic pain while reducing the … [Read more...] about Study Shows Reduction In Opioid Overdoses By 25% In States Which Have Legalized Medical Marijuana
The End Of Another Summer
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)