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The Moderate Voice

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The Social Contract in a Dignitarian Society

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This is the twelfth part of the serialization of All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (Berrett-Koehler, 2006). The ideas in this book are further developed in my recent novel The Rowan Tree. CHAPTER 7: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN A DIGNITARIAN SOCIETY Poverty is the new slavery. --Reverend Jim Wallis, God's Politics The exclusion of one group of people … [Read more...] about The Social Contract in a Dignitarian Society

Michele Bachmann calls Jewish Voters Sellouts

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Did you really think she was done? Rep. Michele Bachmann, the political gift to Democrats and the media that keeps on giving, has now insulted Jewish voters who she says sold out Israel's interests to vote for Barack Obama for President. In American politics it's not unusual for politicians and political parties to compete for voting blocks. Sometimes they win, sometimes … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann calls Jewish Voters Sellouts

FedEx: The Man, the Company, the Motto

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When all the news is doom and gloom, as it is these days with respect to Ukraine, Venezuela, Syria and so many other places and faces, it does the heart good to read what I call a “good all-American success story.” I just read one and I would like to share it, but first an anecdote. A few weeks ago, while one of our winter storms was pushing through the Northeast, I had … [Read more...] about FedEx: The Man, the Company, the Motto

A Response To Obama’s Critics On Ukraine

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There's nothing like a crisis to show how intellectually bankrupt the right wing has become. I won't waste more time with the nutty right wing, such as those who think the Russian invasion of Ukraine means that Palin had some actual insights into foreign policy she mentioned Ukraine or Russia during the 2008 campaign. The supposedly more sensible portion of the right wing over … [Read more...] about A Response To Obama’s Critics On Ukraine

Foreign Policy Scholar Sarah Palin: Obama Wears ‘Mom Jeans’ and ‘Bloviates’ on Russia

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Foreign policy expert and Alaska's half-term governor, Sarah Palin, continued to insult President Obama with a barrage of nasty comments on Fox News Monday night, saying he wears "mom jeans and equivocates and bloviates." Vladimir Putin, Palin said, is viewed as a man who “wrestles bears and drills for oil,” while Obama’s “potency” is one of “weakness” and said he’s viewed as … [Read more...] about Foreign Policy Scholar Sarah Palin: Obama Wears ‘Mom Jeans’ and ‘Bloviates’ on Russia

Obama is a weak tyrant, feckless control freak, timid dictator, socialist fascist (etc)

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It's clear that the events in the Crimea have revealed Russian President Vladimir Putin as true to his KGB and Cold War era roots. And it's also clear that your head can almost explode if you surf talk radio, read blogs and listen to politicians now when it comes to President Barack Obama and the Russia-Crimea-Ukraine crisis.Welcome to an authentic tower of (partisan) babel. … [Read more...] about Obama is a weak tyrant, feckless control freak, timid dictator, socialist fascist (etc)

Democrats Seek To Regain Votes Of White Males

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The Republicans have built a strange coalition. In terms of priorities,  it is primarily the party of the top one percent, but many other upper income Americans still mistakenly believe the Republicans represent their interests. This still would not give them anywhere near enough votes to win elections so they have gone after primarily two other types of supporters. For years … [Read more...] about Democrats Seek To Regain Votes Of White Males

Larison on Leadership and Resolve

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Daniel Larison comments on the clichéd use of these terms in The American Conservative. I would add that the abuse of “leadership” as a concept is in some ways even more obnoxious and misleading than the reliance on the “isolationist” slur. It’s true that hawks typically assume that real “leadership” requires the use of force or at least the threat to use force, but it can … [Read more...] about Larison on Leadership and Resolve

Sullivan on Russia/Ukraine

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Andrew Sullivan offers a measured take on the Russia/Ukraine crisis on The Daily Dish. How to deal with an authoritarian leader, increasingly paranoid about the West, his greater regional aspirations turned to dust, who is now wielding military power in a manner more reminiscent of the Cold War than of anything since? One obvious response is counter-provocation, of the kind … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Russia/Ukraine

Putin’s clampdown: power play victory or Waterloo? (News and video roundup)

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And so two truths are now self-evident: Russian President Vladimir Putin won't win a peace prize -- and he's giving "half a peace sign" to the world. Another truth: partisanship and ideological preferences are now coming into play. By looking at the name of a political figure, writer, blogger or talk show host you almost know how they will frame the issue. But not always: … [Read more...] about Putin’s clampdown: power play victory or Waterloo? (News and video roundup)

The Toxic Perniciousness Of Intimidating Public Employees To Not Do Their Jobs

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Worker intimidation -- as in My Way or the Highway -- is nothing new in American business, but is now spreading to include government employees with a toxic perniciousness as two ongoing scandals show. They are the massive Duke Energy coal ash spill in North Carolina, where Governor Pat McCrory, a former longtime Duke Energy executive, threatened employees of the state … [Read more...] about The Toxic Perniciousness Of Intimidating Public Employees To Not Do Their Jobs

Passing of a Man with a Big Heart

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He lived for almost 59 years with his first heart, for nine years with the second one and for a full 15 years with his third heart. But with each heart, Richard (“Dick”) A. Harbourt lived life to the fullest and, through his personal and public charitable and community work, he made sure that many others were able to do the same. You see, Dick Harbourt suffered a heart … [Read more...] about Passing of a Man with a Big Heart

Russia gives Ukraine forces ultimatum to surrender in Crimea: ministry

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Russia gives Ukraine forces ultimatum to surrender in Crimea: ministry (via AFP) Russian forces have given Ukrainian soldiers an ultimatum to surrender their positions in Crimea or face an assault, a Ukrainian defence ministry spokesman told AFP. "The ultimatum is to recognise the new Crimean authorities, lay down our weapons and… … [Read more...] about Russia gives Ukraine forces ultimatum to surrender in Crimea: ministry

For endangered wildlife, the Surabaya Zoo can be akin to a death sentence

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For endangered wildlife, the Surabaya Zoo can be akin to a death sentence (via GlobalPost) JAKARTA, Indonesia — Surabaya Zoo is famous across the world. Not for being the oldest and biggest zoo in Indonesia, nor because of its large and diverse collection of rare species. No, the reason Surabaya Zoo has been making international headlines… … [Read more...] about For endangered wildlife, the Surabaya Zoo can be akin to a death sentence

It’s Not The Hate, It’s The Stupidity (Guest Voice)

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It's Not The Hate, It's The Stupidity Raging Moderate by Will Durst Alright. Woo-hoo. We're partying now. With the kind of enthusiasm normally reserved for sorting Phillips head screws from flat head screws, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer publicly vetoed SB 1062, legislation that would provide legal cover to businesses denying services based on the operator's religious … [Read more...] about It’s Not The Hate, It’s The Stupidity (Guest Voice)