“We don’t pay taxes,” sniffed Queen of Mean Leona Helmsley two decades ago before she went to jail for tax evasion. “Only the little people pay taxes.” The Romney refusal to release returns has become an issue beyond their actual content, evoking an attitude that did not work out well for a real estate mogul who ran the Palace Hotel, let alone someone trying to take over the … [Read more...] about The Real Issue of Romney’s Returns
Phase 1 – Design Change Complete
Hello TMV readers and commenters! Phase 1 - Design Change has been completed. It is a radically different look than the previous design but will serve you and TMV better by allowing: - More social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) integration - Additional comment features to be added - Better overall compatibility with future Wordpress editions As you can see, posts … [Read more...] about Phase 1 – Design Change Complete
Abortion Law Interferes With Health Services (Guest Voice)
Abortion Law Interferes With Health Services By Reilly Moore, The American Independent A state law requiring women to receive an ultrasound at least a day before having an abortion has already caused a Northern Virginia health clinic to reduce its non-abortion services in the month since it took effect, according to a clinic official. Virginia legislators passed House … [Read more...] about Abortion Law Interferes With Health Services (Guest Voice)
Give Me a Break From
Paul Ryan’s Neoconservatism Isn’t Conservative, Just Ask Grover Norquist
WASHINGTON - In case some of you have been enjoying the last days of summer instead of following the columns I've written on Paul Ryan, I've invoked Ronald Reagan because to understand Romney's new vice presidential running mate, this is where you need to begin. The reason for this coupling hasn't been just because of Ryan's playbook of outlining what conservatism is for, … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan’s Neoconservatism Isn’t Conservative, Just Ask Grover Norquist
No Laughing Matter: Tonight Show Lays Off 20 Staffers and Leno Takes Big Pay Cut To Save Jobs
It's no laughing matter. The big news is NBC's venerable Tonight Show has killed -- 20 jobs, that is, and host Jay Leno has reportedly taken a big pay cut to save jobs. Reports suggest this is not about ratings but about NBC's new owner wanting to trim costs. Deadline Hollywood's Nikki Finke reports: NBC insiders tell me The Tonight Show went through ”downsizing” today … [Read more...] about No Laughing Matter: Tonight Show Lays Off 20 Staffers and Leno Takes Big Pay Cut To Save Jobs
Just What We Need: Spiders With Claws Discovered
Just what we need: spiders with claws. … [Read more...] about Just What We Need: Spiders With Claws Discovered
We DON’T Actually Have ANY of Mitt Romney’s Tax Returns
We have learned this day that Mitt Romney is running a "just trust me" campaign: Romney advisers confirm it: We're running a ‘just trust me’ campaign Greg Sargent / Washington Post: I noted here yesterday that Mitt Romney is running a “just trust me” campaign, in which his lack of specificity and transparency extends far beyond just his tax returns, to his bundlers and … [Read more...] about We DON’T Actually Have ANY of Mitt Romney’s Tax Returns
Guardian’s MS Bellows Jr. New Angle on Mitt Romney Reluctance to Release Tax Returns: Possible Voter Fraud
The British newspapers are coming after Mitt Romney with a vengeance and one has to wonder if this is setting the tone for possible icy relations with 10 Downing Street if Mitt Romney becomes our next president. You know, the man who understands the whole Anglo-Saxon heritage thing and is an Atlanticist. Whatever that means. The Guardian columnist MS Bellows Jr. is analyzing an … [Read more...] about Guardian’s MS Bellows Jr. New Angle on Mitt Romney Reluctance to Release Tax Returns: Possible Voter Fraud
The Big Picture (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 The Big Picture (Cartoon)
Warning: Businesses Blowing Hot Air (Guest Voice)
Warning: Businesses Blowing Hot Air Tyrades! By Danny Tyree I read something in USA Today that really blew me away. There's an explosion of chains of chic hair salons that don't trim hair, color hair or do manicures. They simply wash your hair, blow it dry and charge you around $35 for the privilege. I believe in good ol' entrepreneurship. I believe people should be … [Read more...] about Warning: Businesses Blowing Hot Air (Guest Voice)
Romney Game Change Going Awry
Palin all over again? Paul Ryan hasn’t made a Soccer Mom speech at the Convention yet, but GOP strategists are moving to repair damage by another Game Change candidate. Their worries emerge in a decision to keep Romney and Ryan together until Tampa. The spin suggests a younger partner providing emotional Viagra for a standard bearer beaten down by a year of bashing in … [Read more...] about Romney Game Change Going Awry
Republican SEALs Oppose Obama
A few days ago James Joyner reported that a some Navy Seals were running an ad against Obama under the name of OPSEC. At the time he didn't have a problem with it. Thanks to a bit of investigation by my old blogging partner, Steve Hynd he has changed his mind. The president of OPSEC is identified by Hosenball as “Scott Taylor, is a former Navy SEAL who in 2010 ran … [Read more...] about Republican SEALs Oppose Obama
GOP and Social Contract (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 GOP and Social Contract (Cartoon)
Weekend Site Changes
Hello TMV readers and commenters! The following changes are scheduled to be implemented over the next three days (8/17 - 8/19): 1. Upgrade to the latest and greatest Wordpress 2. New site design 3. Various other tweaks The new site design will be a three column layout with a more stylized look. The Moderate Voice has an aging design that isn't optimized to the … [Read more...] about Weekend Site Changes
Stop the Presses, TMZ Finds First Shirtless Paul Ryan Photo
LOL: If anyone cares, the first shirtless Paul Ryan photo found, signed, sealed and delivered byTMZ. The photo, which was acquired through unnamed sources, shows Paul Ryan wearing a bathing suit and holding hands with his wife, Jenna Little Ryan, on a vacation in Oklahoma. THE TOPLESS PHOTO [TMZ] On a serious note, this comes as ABC News slams Mitt Romney for using his … [Read more...] about Stop the Presses, TMZ Finds First Shirtless Paul Ryan Photo
Could Obama Stop This?
Julian Assange is a weirdo. On the other hand, WikiLeaks is a valuable tool against too much power and too many government secrets. We know from the Pentagon itself that though America was embarrassed by WikiLeaks, it has not been further harmed. The US, not Sweden (which has legitimate charges against Assange), seems to be pulling the strings here and that is troubling. … [Read more...] about Could Obama Stop This?
Islamists vs. Islamists: A Positive for Egypt? (Part 2)
Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar (For Part I, from a few days ago, see here.) The idea that the Muslim Brotherhood's ascent to power spelled the beginning of a dangerous era underestimated the complexities of the Egyptian landcape and overlooked a number of important nuances. It is now clear that the Egyptian military establishment had no intention of letting the … [Read more...] about Islamists vs. Islamists: A Positive for Egypt? (Part 2)
Following Romney Down A Tea Party Rabbit Hole
So there I was, chasing this Romney rabbit, trying to figure out what it was, exactly, and what it really had in mind for my future. When it suddenly ducked down a rabbit hole. And when I approached that hole I fell in. Now I'm looking around here and can't seem to figure the place out. I mean, it's a very, very strange place. Not at all like the world outside. Like with … [Read more...] about Following Romney Down A Tea Party Rabbit Hole
The Military Suicide ‘Epidemic’ and an NRA-backed Law
As discussed here, in trying to find reasons or causes for the alarming upward trend in military suicides, TIME Magazine reporters Mark Thompson and Nancy Gibbs suggest that combat trauma alone can’t account for the trend and offer the following data: Nearly a third of the suicides from 2005 to 2010 were among troops who had never deployed; 43% had deployed only once. … [Read more...] about The Military Suicide ‘Epidemic’ and an NRA-backed Law