Update II: The State Department has released a statement expressing "deep disappointment" by the sentences handed down Monday in Moscow in the cases of eight individuals arrested after the Bolotnaya Square protests in Moscow in May 2012. It points out that the individuals -- which include students, an artist, a physicist, a former soldier and an athlete -- endured more than … [Read more...] about (Updates) After Sochi: Business as Usual?
The Muppets: Ode to Miss B
My soon to be wife and I were speaking about my secondary school (that’s high-school to American readers) drama teacher, Miss B, and it was telling that she described her as “nuts”. Although I totally agree that Miss B was bat-shit crazy, those like my fiancé who were not part of her class can not appreciate the genius of the woman. For me, I credit her for changing my life for … [Read more...] about The Muppets: Ode to Miss B
El Chapo’s Capture: Mexicans Debate If It Makes Any Difference (Milenio, La Jornada)
Now that one of the world's most wanted and influential men, Archivaldo Joaquin Guzman, aka/El Chapo, is, with U.S. help, in the custody of Mexican authorities for the third time, the question arises: how much of a difference will it make? Will the mass slaughter of the last decade during which upwards of 50,000 civilians have been killed, now draw to a close? Here we have two … [Read more...] about El Chapo’s Capture: Mexicans Debate If It Makes Any Difference (Milenio, La Jornada)
Venezuela: Finally Some ‘Interest’
After two weeks of violent anti-government protests in Venezuela and brutal crackdowns by that government, and after at least 13 people died in those protests (Opposition activists put the number of dead at 15), the U.S. government and U.S. media are finally paying attention to the crisis. Answering a question on Venezuela at Monday’s daily White House briefing, Jay Carney … [Read more...] about Venezuela: Finally Some ‘Interest’
Follow the bouncing Christie (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction without licensing is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Follow the bouncing Christie (Cartoon)
Mainstreaming Radicalism in Texas (Guest Voice)
Mainstreaming Radicalism in Texas By Jason Stanford Hide your wallets and shield the children, because they're voting down in Texas. Texas Republicans will be testing the strength of the Tea Party as they pick their first post-Rick Perry slate of statewide candidates since the 1980s. But Texas Democrats might end up missing Perry, as there is a decent shot that Republicans … [Read more...] about Mainstreaming Radicalism in Texas (Guest Voice)
Our Indebted Nation
For the last several years, the media and political parties have been focused on our budget deficits and the national debt and how they will negatively affect our nation years down the road. The vast majority of this debt has been accruing because of the entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. However, the decision to lower taxes during the Bush … [Read more...] about Our Indebted Nation
GOP crocodile tears over jobs
WASHINGTON -- At the risk of repeating myself, the federal minimum wage is far too low and needs to be raised. Republicans who claim to be worried about lost jobs can dry their crocodile tears, because a few simple measures would get all those jobs back -- and lots more. It has been amusing to watch GOP grandees try to paint themselves as champions of the working stiff. … [Read more...] about GOP crocodile tears over jobs
Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (Guest Voice)
Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (via GlobalPost) Enlarge Self-defense activists stand guard in front of parliament during a session on Monday as EU leaders arrived in Kyiv. Ukraine has appealed for urgent international aid, saying it needs $35 billion over the next two years. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/… … [Read more...] about Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (Guest Voice)
Benefits Of The Stimulus
I have already had a recent post on the success of the stimulus but as The New York Times brought the topic up again, and there has been so much misinformation spread, it is worth reviewing again what was achieved by the stimulus: The stimulus could have done more good had it been bigger and more carefully constructed. But put simply, it prevented a second recession that … [Read more...] about Benefits Of The Stimulus
UN denounces Uganda anti-homosexuality law
The United Nations has denounced the draconian anti-homosexuality law signed into force in Uganda today because it will encourage violence against lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people by formalizing discrimination against them. Navi Pillay, the UN Human Rights chief said the law “will institutionalize discrimination and is likely to encourage harassment and … [Read more...] about UN denounces Uganda anti-homosexuality law
Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies
Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies (via AFP) Ghostbuster Harold Ramis, an influential comedian who wrote and directed classic films like "Caddy Shack" and "Groundhog Day," died Monday at the age of 69. Ramis, a longtime resident of Chicago, was surrounded by his family when he died of a rare disease… … [Read more...] about Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies
Wehner Gets It
The GOP would do well to heed Peter Wehner's advice in the conservative journal Commentary on the Ted Nugent controversy. But the fact that Republicans seem to be struggling with how to handle a repulsive figure like Mr. Nugent frankly does not speak well of them. What they don’t understand is that these kinds of moments have resonance with voters. They are symbolic; but … [Read more...] about Wehner Gets It
Ukraine could trigger perilous consequences in Asia
Changes in Ukraine are the most momentous events in Europe since the former Soviet Union’s collapse, which resulted in about 14 of its territories and allies being swallowed by the European Union or NATO, the US-led military alliance. Both the EU and NATO offered lucrative entry deals to those newly independent countries to bolster growth of democracy and human rights. That … [Read more...] about Ukraine could trigger perilous consequences in Asia
Selective Reading of Bible To Support Discrimination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX3gMDJCZ-4 It can be a difficult question when deciding whether an individual business owner should be legally compelled perform acts which violate their religious beliefs. A bill passed in Arizona allows discrimination as long as it is claimed to be done based upon religion. As Jed Bartlett pointed out in the video above from The West Wing, … [Read more...] about Selective Reading of Bible To Support Discrimination
Obama’s unfulfilled challenge
WASHINGTON -- Republicans are unhappy that President Obama is invoking his executive powers to govern in the face of a do-nothing-in-2014 House of Representatives. To hear them talk, you would think our chief executive is modeling himself on the late Hugo Chavez and wants to seize dictatorial control. This, of course, is nonsense. In fact, Obama has in many ways been … [Read more...] about Obama’s unfulfilled challenge
Venezuela Calls U.S. and Canada More Repressive (Pagina 12, Argentina)
Should the governments of the United States and Canada be lecturing Venezuela about arresting students, when crackdowns on students and demonstrators in both North American nations have resulted in significant numbers of wounded and arrested? Argentina's Pagina 12 reports that Venezuelan officials are firing back at accusations by President Obama of Venezuelan government … [Read more...] about Venezuela Calls U.S. and Canada More Repressive (Pagina 12, Argentina)
Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? (Guest Voice)
Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? Tyrades! By Danny Tyree According to the Los Angeles Times, California state Senator Bill Monning on February 13 introduced a controversial bill that could make California the first state in the nation to require prominent health warnings (about obesity, diabetes and tooth decay) on sugary drinks. Monning sees his proposal as a … [Read more...] about Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? (Guest Voice)
Who would Jesus hate? (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice. Reproduction of this cartoon without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Who would Jesus hate? (Cartoon)
Subject of Oscar nominated “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life” oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies at 100
Oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies aged 110: family (via AFP) The world's oldest known Holocaust survivor, the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary, has died in London aged 110, her family announced. Alice Herz-Sommer, originally from Prague, spent two years of World War II in Czechoslovakia's Terezin concentration… … [Read more...] about Subject of Oscar nominated “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life” oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies at 100