As Congress inches toward allowing gay men and women to die openly for their country, the history of American bigotry comes back to an octogenarian who has lived through so much of it: *A father-in-law who went to medical school in Scotland because American universities had filled their Hebrew quotas. *My own experience in the 1950s as the first Jew to be hired by George … [Read more...] about Changing Not Hearts or Minds But Habits
America’s Economic Exceptionalism
Many countries have a sense of being exceptional. The idea here is that their special relationship with God, or their indigenous holy sites, or some ruins of a great civilization past, or a battle that saved civilization, or some political innovation that has become the guiding light of the world, makes their own land a heck of a lot better and more important than all the … [Read more...] about America’s Economic Exceptionalism
Enough, Already
This is very difficult for me to write but as you can see, to hell with it. It's not that I do not agree that Congress finally overturned the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gays from the military. I do. Should have been done years ago and a pox on President Clinton who instigated the subterfuge in 1991. It is not that I am not gay and is none of my damn business. … [Read more...] about Enough, Already
So Long To Ya, 2010: The JibJab 2010 Year in Review!
The geniuses at Jib Jab have done it again. Here's their latest musical animated video: So Long To Ya, 2010 -- a song and dance from Barack Obama and Joe Biden: … [Read more...] about So Long To Ya, 2010: The JibJab 2010 Year in Review!
Around the Sphere Blog Roundup
Here’s our popular linkfest takling you to blogs and websites of varying opinions. Liinks do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its many writers. GRADING THE LAMEDUCK CONGRESS: Liberals are sounding pleased about how the lame duck Congress has generally worked and so are some conservatives. Labeling No Labels: This one is predictable. A group … [Read more...] about Around the Sphere Blog Roundup
John McCain’s Very Sad Day
As follow-up to the comments of Joe and Dorian on John McCain's DADT performance yesterday, I point to James Fallows writing on the mystery of John McCain: I can remember when McCain seemed to be a potentially Eisenhower-ish, as opposed to an increasingly Bunning-like, figure in American public life. Broad-minded, tolerant, eager to bridge rather than open divides -- this was … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Very Sad Day
Delivering the Debt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Delivering the Debt
Disney and Handel
A wonderful combination If you ever have a chance to be at one of the parks for the Candlelight processional it is well worth watching, regardless of your faith. … [Read more...] about Disney and Handel
DADT Repeal—Not “a Sad Day”
While generals, admirals, sailors and privates — and the American people — have honestly and openly expressed their opinions on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) and their reasoning behind them, it became painfully and embarrassingly obvious that one powerful Republican, for whatever reason, would only listen to one unchangeable, immoveable and prejudicial opinion: … [Read more...] about DADT Repeal—Not “a Sad Day”
Quote of the Day: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Makes You Imagine a McCain Administration
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan who suggests that today's repeat of Don't Ask Don't Tell by the Senate says a lot about Barack Obama's style and John McCain: Like 2009's removal of the HIV ban, which was as painstakingly slow but thereby much more entrenched, this process took time. Without the Pentagon study, it wouldn't have passed. Without … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Makes You Imagine a McCain Administration
The Shameful Treatment of Bradley Manning
David Coombs, the attorney representing Army PFC Bradley Manning, has a detailed description on his blog of what a typical day is like for Bradley Manning (emphasis is added; the italicized text is my commentary): … [Read more...] about The Shameful Treatment of Bradley Manning
Justice, Citizenship and Patriotism: The Long View
On this day, December 18, 145 years ago, Secretary of State William Seward proclaimed the Thirteenth Amendment banning "slavery and involuntary servitude" from American life a part of the Constitution. The Amendment both ratified a fait accompli from the recent Civil War, and delivered its emancipating reality to the final holdout states of Delaware and Kentucky, which had yet … [Read more...] about Justice, Citizenship and Patriotism: The Long View
DADT Senate Vote
The Senate voted 65-31 to repeal the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy today, a Clinton-era response to the Reagan Administration discharge of 17,000 troops for being gay. Here's the vote, 63 to 33, to proceed with debate on the bill. Once there is a report of the final vote (the two Republicans who, it seems, changed their vote), I will update this. Final … [Read more...] about DADT Senate Vote
DADT Repealed !
Offering a Christmas present to the brave men and women who have been forced to lie in order serve our country the Senate has voted by a margin of 65-31 to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. This is of course not the end of the process, the bill still has to be signed by the President and it will then take some time for the military to change their own rules to … [Read more...] about DADT Repealed !
House Republicans Scuttle Bill to Help Prevent Child Marriage Globally
The bill does not have anything to do with abortion and does not appropriate any new funding, but House Republicans used both of those boogeymen to ensure its failure to pass in the House (h/t Echidne): … [Read more...] about House Republicans Scuttle Bill to Help Prevent Child Marriage Globally
Greatest Generation Icon Gone
With the death of Bob Feller at 92, another reminder of America's glory days fades away. Not only was he one of the best pitchers in baseball history, Feller might just as well have been from another species compared to today's multi-million-dollar, steroid-taking superstars who bounce from one team to another in search of ever more money and fame. Feller spent his entire … [Read more...] about Greatest Generation Icon Gone
Cloture Vote on DADT Repeal Passes 63-33
HRC sings its praises. The 63-33 vote invokes cloture and moves the bill forward to debate and a final vote. TPM: Just so we're clear. This is not the passage of the actual DADT repeal bill. This is the vote that allows a straight majority vote, which will likely come tomorrow. And since there are many more than 51 votes for repeal, that means that the actual bill will pass … [Read more...] about Cloture Vote on DADT Repeal Passes 63-33
Is There A Future For Moderation in the Democratic Party?
Charles Blow wonders, is the Democratic Party experiencing the beginnings of a purging of moderates akin to that seen on the right? His starting point is a Gallup Poll out Thursday: [T]he percentage of Democrats who identify as liberal rose by nearly a third from 2000 to 2007, for the first time matching the percentage who describe themselves as moderate. Over the same period, … [Read more...] about Is There A Future For Moderation in the Democratic Party?
DADT: U.S. Senate Votes 65-31 to Repeal DADT, Beginning Process To Lift 17 Year Ban on Gays Serving Honorably/ Openly
Hello there: Dr. E here. Dorian De Wind has consistently covered DADT for several years here at TMV, going to front line on the issues with all manner of commentators including some who claimed they were in military and hated women and gays. Dorian stood his ground with incredible grace under fire, continually putting forth his informed point of view instead of stooping to … [Read more...] about DADT: U.S. Senate Votes 65-31 to Repeal DADT, Beginning Process To Lift 17 Year Ban on Gays Serving Honorably/ Openly
Bob Corker’s Definition of “Activist Groups in the Democratic Party”
Sen. Bob Corker threatened to kill START if Senate Democrats went forward with the DADT repeal legislation (emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about Bob Corker’s Definition of “Activist Groups in the Democratic Party”