WASHINGTON -- Paul Ryan is counting on this: Because he says he wants to preserve a safety net, speaks with concern about poor people and put out a 73-page report, many will elide over the details of the proposals he made last week in his major anti-poverty speech. The Wisconsin Republican congressman is certainly aware that one of the biggest political difficulties he … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan’s new clothes
No Signs Of A Wave Election So Far
Nate Cohn looked at the small amount of generic Congressional polling there is available and concluded, consistent with other indicators, that there is no sign of a wave election this year. The polls he looked at showed an average 1.9 percent advantage for the Democrats over Republicans. Cohn wrote:[icopyright one button toolbar] These findings bear no resemblance to the … [Read more...] about No Signs Of A Wave Election So Far
Gaza and Israel: new disasters but no end in sight
Today’s destruction of Gaza’s electricity power station raises the specter of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza because it will severely curtail supply of safe water for drinking and use in hospitals and make safe disposal of sewage almost impossible. That could lead within weeks to epidemic diseases including cholera and dysentery, which has the worst impacts on children, … [Read more...] about Gaza and Israel: new disasters but no end in sight
Iron Dome, Dirt Tunnels
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/iron-dome-dirt-tunnels/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved.Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Iron Dome, Dirt Tunnels
Analyzing Fantasy Does Not Produce Facts
or, Sober Analysis from Drunken Lunatics: Today, Byron York writes a superficially rational analysis of the current state of Republican Confederate politics and the internal fractures within the GOP. [emphasis added] GOP internal debate: Is party repeating mistakes of 1998? Byron York / Washington Examiner BARACK OBAMA BILL CLINTON JOHN BOEHNER 2014 ELECTIONS — For … [Read more...] about Analyzing Fantasy Does Not Produce Facts
ISIL: The Latest Disastrous Tool of Western Statecraft (Carta Maior, Brazil)
This column deals with an issue that no U.S. official, or member of the mainstream media for that matter, will ever address or admit to: the deliberate fostering and creation of terrorist groups for the furtherance of American foreign policy. For Brazil's Carta Maior, columnist Francisco Carlos Teixeira takes on the history of Western involvement in the Middle East, showing … [Read more...] about ISIL: The Latest Disastrous Tool of Western Statecraft (Carta Maior, Brazil)
Appeasement Again
With a move towards enhanced sanctions against Russia, major European states believe they have taken a step to punish the Russians for their actions in Ukraine. But they have still not made the tough moves that would truly penalize the Russians. What they have taken are baby steps. The Europeans have not learned from history. And as George Santayana said- “Those who do not … [Read more...] about Appeasement Again
Israel’s Ground Offensive in Gaza – Final Update
[icopyright one button toolbar] Note to readers: The news -- the daily carnage -- coming out of this godforsaken part of the world has become too depressing, too wretched. I will no longer be "updating" such a tragedy. Readers can pick up any newspaper, open up any web page, tune in to any broadcast or cable station to get the abominable facts for themselves. No middle … [Read more...] about Israel’s Ground Offensive in Gaza – Final Update
Impeachment threat fundraising bonanza for b-o-t-h parties
Get ready for the False Equivalency Police to be sent out in force as we discuss a f-a-c-t: the threat of the impeachment is proving to be a fundraising bonanza for BOTH two major political parties, and both are grabbing the I-ball and running with it. Forget the fact that (at this stage of the game) polls don't show a national clamor for impeachment. For every reaction … [Read more...] about Impeachment threat fundraising bonanza for b-o-t-h parties
A Dangerous Game
Josh Marshall thinks that Netanyahu and Israel are playing a very dangerous game. US officials are "fuming" in the AP's words at the barrage of Israeli criticism of Secretary of States John Kerry. But as Chemi Shalev notes in Haaretz, there's a deeper backstory. Nothing gets the Obama administration's ire up like the perception (very often grounded in reality) that Netanyahu … [Read more...] about A Dangerous Game
Obama’s crackdown on leakers damages constitutional protections, activists say
graphic (which is not part of the original article) via shutterstock.com … [Read more...] about Obama’s crackdown on leakers damages constitutional protections, activists say
We are what we eat
We are what we eat By Esther J. Cepeda Washington Post Writers Group Columnist CHICAGO -- Remember last year's hysteria over school lunches? Administrators, cafeteria workers, students and parents across the country freaked out when -- gasp! -- school lunches were made healthier. News reports throughout the 2012-13 school year -- when lunch standards … [Read more...] about We are what we eat
Life Changing Events III
You don't have to leave the country to have a life changing event. When I was growing up we never went camping and the same applied to my X wife who was from New York City. In spite of this we took up camping shortly after we were married. It was a bit clumsy at first but we eventually got pretty good at it. There is nothing like a week in the mountains living in a tent … [Read more...] about Life Changing Events III
The New Urbs
Although I am a left of center progressive I read The American Conservative and most of the time find myself agreeing with the articles there. They have a refreshing new blog there, New Urbs. They discuss how to turn urban America back to the people friendly communities of the past and manages to really criticize the suburbs at the same time. Welcome Welcome to New Urbs. … [Read more...] about The New Urbs
Cartoon: Dawn of the Dead Republicans
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice by Cagle Cartoons. Reproduction without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Dawn of the Dead Republicans
Sullivan on Israel’s War on Gaza
Andrew Sullivan drills down into the justification for Israel's war on Gaza on The Daily Dish. Katie Zavadski, fresh from a Dishternship, nails down a critical fact in the latest Israel-Hamas death-match. As the Dish has noted before, the Israeli government knew from the get-go that the murderers of three Israeli teens – the incident that set off this bloody chain of events – … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Israel’s War on Gaza
Sarah Palin Launches Web TV Network That’s Pricier Than Netflix
Half-term Alaska governor and failed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is taking her sideshow to the web with a focus on American politics via her own network, The Sarah Palin Channel. Um, this is too funny. The Sarah Palin Channel is a Glenn Beck knock-off. Palin took to Twitter to peddle for prospective viewers. Only one problem....Netflix is cheaper. You know, I … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Launches Web TV Network That’s Pricier Than Netflix
Congress sides with consumers on cellphone unlocking bill
Almost eight years ago, the U.S. Copyright Office gave cellphone owners the right to unlock their cellphones. It had been illegal since the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which banned the "circumvention" of any copy protection mechanisms (Section 1201). This did not, however, mean that carriers honored the ruling. AT&T, for example, has been a notable … [Read more...] about Congress sides with consumers on cellphone unlocking bill
Losing the high moral ground
WASHINGTON -- The civilian death toll in Gaza from Israel's latest incursion is appalling. The right to self-defense is inalienable, but it is not free from moral constraints. As of this writing, nearly 750 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli assault began, including dozens of children. On Thursday, a compound housing a United Nations school -- crowded with … [Read more...] about Losing the high moral ground
SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Constantine; SHIELD; Hannibal; Big Bang Theory; Community; Orphan Black; True Blood; Fargo; Sleepy Hollow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4_BBDPTKv4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfgthhsuUb8 There's a lot of news coming out of San Diego Comic-Con. The Arrow panel is above, followed by the season three trailer. Ra's al Ghul will be the main villain next season. Flashbacks next season will include characters who died earlier on the show, and will deal with characters beyond … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Constantine; SHIELD; Hannibal; Big Bang Theory; Community; Orphan Black; True Blood; Fargo; Sleepy Hollow