[See Author's Note added at the end of this post.] In my post the other day titled "Lessons Learned?", I noted the rather stark difference in the way liberals and conservatives have responded to the opportunity for learning and self-reflection that the Andrew Breitbart/NAACP/Shirley Sherrod video fiasco provides. Although both supporters and opponents of the current … [Read more...] about Transforming Hackery Into Heroism
Oliver Stone Apologizes for His Comments About Holocaust and “Jewish-Dominated News Media”
Earlier I wrote this post about director Oliver Stone's controversial comments about the Holocaust and how he said the Jews dominated the news media. Now he has issued this apology via his New York p.r. rep: A Statement from Oliver Stone: "In trying to make a broader historical point about the range of atrocities the Germans committed against many people, I made a … [Read more...] about Oliver Stone Apologizes for His Comments About Holocaust and “Jewish-Dominated News Media”
‘Leaks’ Justify Re-examining Our Afghan Mission
After reading the lowly classified reports on the Afghanistan war leaked by WikiLeaks I am not surprised. It’s not that I am clairvoyant. It is exactly the way I imagined the administrations portraying a counterinsurgency war to justify why we are involved. I also think the New York Times reporting Gen. James Jones, the president’s national security adviser, was spot on … [Read more...] about ‘Leaks’ Justify Re-examining Our Afghan Mission
Glenn Beck Going Blind Color
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Going Blind Color
Wikileaks Touts ‘Biggest Leak in Military History’: : Global Reaction
Yesterday evening, the 'biggest leak in military history' took place. This unprecedented trove of classified U.S. military documents, reveals in part: How a secret 'black' unit of U.S. Special Forces hunts down Taliban leaders for 'kill or capture' without trial; that Americans fighting the war have long harbored strong suspicions that Pakistan's spy service is guiding the … [Read more...] about Wikileaks Touts ‘Biggest Leak in Military History’: : Global Reaction
The Pentagon Papers Redux
With eerie echoes of 1971, when the leak of secret files confirmed what Americans had long suspected about the disastrous war in Vietnam, the unauthorized release of 92,000 classified documents provides a first-hand picture of its 21st century counterpart in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Back then, the Pentagon Papers marked the beginning of the end in Southeast Asia, amid a … [Read more...] about The Pentagon Papers Redux
Illegal Immigration: Does Anyone Care About The Facts?
To listen to the spin, you’d think the United States was awash in people living illegally within our borders. You’d have heard how states need to act, and even how vigilantism is justified, because the federal government “isn’t doing its job.” It’s time for a reality check. Here are some hard facts from the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department and … [Read more...] about Illegal Immigration: Does Anyone Care About The Facts?
Fox News Reports the Real News
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Fox News Reports the Real News
Beyond Contrition: Apologies Are Worthless, Show Me The Action
Forgive me right off the bat -- that's both an apology and a plea -- but the recent glut of articles and columns about apologies have it all wrong!The media's focus has been on the symbolism of saying the words "I'm sorry," as if that single utterance means everything and is the only thing. In today's soundbite world that clamors to satisfy the hunger of news consumers, the … [Read more...] about Beyond Contrition: Apologies Are Worthless, Show Me The Action
Money & Politics: Big Oil and the Revolving Door
Hold on to your seats: three out of four of the 600+ registered oil and gas lobbyists ("more than 430") first worked in the federal government, according to a Washington Post analysis. And yes this is worse than the normal Washington DC revolving door. According to a 2009 analysis by The Center for Responsive Politics, only one-in-three registered lobbyists previously … [Read more...] about Money & Politics: Big Oil and the Revolving Door
No Real Bombshells in Wikileak Afghan Docs
After weeks of speculation where war opponents were licking their chops and the administration was sweating bullets, Wikileaks has released 92,000 documents summarizing in detail the day to day operations on the ground in Afghanistan as well as pungent assessments of our Afghan allies and our supposed friends in Pakistan. In truth, there are only mild surprises gleaned so … [Read more...] about No Real Bombshells in Wikileak Afghan Docs
Selig Cartwright And His Boss Diss Pay Czar Ken Feinberg (Another Goldman Sachs washroom attendant adventure)
Mr. B. You look angry, sir. I am, Selig. Did you hear when Ken Feinberg, the Administration's special master on executive compensation, said the other day about executive pay at America's 17 largest banks? No, sir. We don't have great access to news down here in washroom. It was horrible, Selig. Horrible. He said our record bonuses last year at a time when most Americans … [Read more...] about Selig Cartwright And His Boss Diss Pay Czar Ken Feinberg (Another Goldman Sachs washroom attendant adventure)
Oliver Stone: Hitler is Misunderstood Due to “Jewish-Dominated Media” (UPDATED)
Apologies to readers of The Moderate Voice, my Twitter page, and my new Cagle.com weekly column page: I am deeply sorry I can't generate more content for you but I do it in between my busy job controlling the media. I need to explain to you how tough it is doing these posts, Twitter feeds, and launching a new weekly column amid all the orders I have to give to NBC, CBS, ABC, … [Read more...] about Oliver Stone: Hitler is Misunderstood Due to “Jewish-Dominated Media” (UPDATED)
Should Shirley Sherrod Sue Andrew Breitbart?
Shirley Sherrod has suggested she might be considering suing blogger Andrew Breitbart. What are the prospects for success? A wise idea? Here's a good roundup. … [Read more...] about Should Shirley Sherrod Sue Andrew Breitbart?
The End of the Fox News Era?
WASHINGTON -- The smearing of Shirley Sherrod ought to be a turning point in American politics. This is not, as the now trivialized phrase has it, a "teachable moment." It is a time for action. The mainstream media and the Obama administration alike must stop cowering before a right wing that has persistently forced its own propaganda to be accepted as news by … [Read more...] about The End of the Fox News Era?
Afghan War Logs: WikiLeaks Releases 90,000 Secret US Military Files
The world media is in a spin. The Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel have published a huge cache of secret military files from the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, detailing the war in Afghanistan. Readers can folllow the latest reactions to the Afghanistan war logs here at this Guardian blog. The huge cache of classified papers - posted by Wikileaks as the Afghan … [Read more...] about Afghan War Logs: WikiLeaks Releases 90,000 Secret US Military Files
A Mother’s Love For Son and For Country
A post over on Red State is well worth reading. A letter from the mother of one of our brave soldiers. … [Read more...] about A Mother’s Love For Son and For Country
A Small Pruning In The Killing Fields
Although it is many ways too little and too late a little bit of justice has been rendered for the 1 million plus victims of the infamous Khmer Rouge. One of the leaders has been sentenced to prison, effectively for the rest of his life. Sadly most of the leaders managed to evade punishment (often by dying first). For those who may not be aware, during a 2 year reign of … [Read more...] about A Small Pruning In The Killing Fields
Paul the ‘Octopus Oracle’ Could Do Wonders for Obama: Al Watan, Oman
If the ancients had oracles and soothsayers, why not the president of the United States? That is the question posed by columnist Shawki Hafez of the newspaperAl Watan of Oman, who recommends the impeccable Paul the Oracle Octopus, fresh off a perfect run of World Cup football predictions, as a senior adviser to President Obama. For Al Watan, Shawki Hafez writes in part: A … [Read more...] about Paul the ‘Octopus Oracle’ Could Do Wonders for Obama: Al Watan, Oman
Getting Better Now
The economy is getting better now, right? Right?! … [Read more...] about Getting Better Now