For the first time, American soldiers have marched on Red Square - but not in anger. According to this article from Russia's Argument y Facty, U.S. and allied troops - including the Poles - were warmly welcomed by Moscow residents, as they participated in the 65th annual Victory Day celebrations. Argument y Facty reporter Olga Bozh'eva writes in part: American soldiers … [Read more...] about American Soldiers ‘Capture’ Red Square!: Argumenty y Facty, Russia
Is the Tooth Fairy Dead?
Thomas Friedman says so. (Thanks to Jill Miller Zimon, TMV contributor, for linking to this over on Facebook.) For an eye-opening discussion of the US national debt and what it may take to dig out from under it, I recommend David M. Walker's book, Comeback America. I watched the BBC coverage of the British elections, first online and then on CSPAN, this past Thursday … [Read more...] about Is the Tooth Fairy Dead?
Disturbing News About Elena Kagan and Abortion
Via Glenn Greenwald, Elena Kagan supported a ban on late-term abortions as White House adviser in the Clinton administration. Glenn's link is to an AP article picked up by the New York Times. Given that there is virtually no paper trail to illuminate Kagan's positions on any of the issues she might be ruling on, it's hard to know what this might mean for abortion rights, but … [Read more...] about Disturbing News About Elena Kagan and Abortion
Peak Water
We have been hearing more about Peak Oil recently after years of denial. But unless you live in an area that is already experiencing shortage you probably haven't heard much about “Peak Water.” Bob Doyle of the Cumberland Times-News attempts to enlighten us. But there is a crisis coming even sooner involving the most precious resource, absolutely vital to life — … [Read more...] about Peak Water
Some Must Read Roundups and Must Watch Videos About Elena Kagan
The fur -- and partisanship and ideological liberal/conservative -- has already start to fly in Barack Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Here are a few roundups, fact-based linkfests to read and videos to watch so you can make up your mind if you're not one of those Americans already swinging a party or ideological axe: .--Slate: Why the inscrutable … [Read more...] about Some Must Read Roundups and Must Watch Videos About Elena Kagan
Sex And The Supremes – Kagan Is Sixth “Maybe Gay” Nominee
With the nomination of Elena Kagan to replace John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court, rumors began to fly that she is lesbian. Some will no doubt oppose her confirmation based on those rumors and others will be heartened to support her nomination by those same rumors. Already, it is being asserted that it is an “open secret” at Harvard that she has a female partner. Others … [Read more...] about Sex And The Supremes – Kagan Is Sixth “Maybe Gay” Nominee
BP: Washington Power Broker, Master Of Disaster in Gulf, Texas And Alaska
For Tony Hayward, the CEO and his top lieutenants at BP, testifying before the first of six Congressional oversight committees this week will be a slam dunk. After all, the skids have been greased by a $16 million lobbying effort of Congress last year and $3.5 million so far this year. A slam dunk, that is, compared to the inability of BP's engineers trying to cap a gusher … [Read more...] about BP: Washington Power Broker, Master Of Disaster in Gulf, Texas And Alaska
Republican Strategist Told RNC to Delay Supreme Court Nomination to Stall Obama’s Agenda
File this in your Here We Go Again file. On April 22 a top Republican strategist urged GOPers to delay a vote on the Obama administration's Supreme Court nomination no matter who he or she would be for pure political reasons. Talking Points Memo got a hold of a tape of the call. Here's a little of what activist Curt Levey, director of the conservative Committee for Justice, … [Read more...] about Republican Strategist Told RNC to Delay Supreme Court Nomination to Stall Obama’s Agenda
When in doubt blow up the whale!
While BP struggles to come up with a solution for their oil spill catastrophe, I'm reminded of other great "let's just make it up as we go along" approaches to environmental problems. When a television show is struggling in the ratings, they do a "jump the shark" show by creating a ridiculously lame episode to garner attention. When a corporation or government doesn't … [Read more...] about When in doubt blow up the whale!
Is a “New” New Europe Emerging?
Is a "new" new Europe now emerging? Michael Moran makes the case it is. Here's the beginning of his piece: As leaders of European Union states erected a wall of euros to defend the common currency from the Greek debt crisis on Sunday, the head of the EU's most important economy decided she would go to Moscow instead. While investors continued to punish Greece for its … [Read more...] about Is a “New” New Europe Emerging?
Will The Real Elena Kagan Stand Up?
Don't believe a word you read that President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is conservative, centralist or progressive. The fact is Kagan, 50, the first woman Solicitor General, essentially offers a blank legal slate. As Dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan filed an amicus brief claiming the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays a "moral injustice of the … [Read more...] about Will The Real Elena Kagan Stand Up?
The Last Jew in Afghanistan
There is only one Jew left in Afghanistan. (The Chinese restaurants must have all closed.) CNN reports: … [Read more...] about The Last Jew in Afghanistan
Wild West Hanging Party
Voter vigilantes are out for blood, and they can't wait for November to get it. That was the message Saturday from Utah as a Tea Party posse took over the state Republican convention and convicted three-term Sen. Bob Bennett of not being conservative enough. It was like a scene from the 1940 movie, "The Westerner," in which Hanging Judge Roy Bean metes out summary justice … [Read more...] about Wild West Hanging Party
First Read On Kagan
President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to replace retiring Associate Justice John Paul Stevens is producing expected and unexpected responses. Together, they add up to a pretty decent nomination from a moderate point of view. Among the expected responses is the hostility from purists among conservatives. Among the initial flash points is Kagan's outspoken opposition … [Read more...] about First Read On Kagan
Our Tea Party Patriots at Work
What do you get when tea party activists team up with Ron Paulbots? A nightmare: The official platform for the Republican Party of Maine is now a mix of right-wing fringe policies, libertarian buzzwords and outright conspiracy theories. The document calls for the elimination of the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve, demands an investigation of "collusion … [Read more...] about Our Tea Party Patriots at Work
Is There Editorializing in Google Web Google News Alerts?
Aha! I figured it wasn't just happening to The Moderate Voice. Over the past few months I've been surprised -- the word is really "shocked" -- to see Google News and Google Blog updates written by someone with a political agenda. Several alerts -- which in the past have NEVER been editorials --referred to this blog as the "misnamed Moderate Voice" or "misleadingly named" … [Read more...] about Is There Editorializing in Google Web Google News Alerts?
Women Aboard Submarines: Some of Those Future Trailblazers
When I attended Texas A&M University in the mid to late sixties, retired Major General James Earl Rudder was serving as the 16th president of that great university. It was during his tenure that Texas A&M welcomed its first African American student, made membership in the Corps of Cadets voluntary and opened admission to undergraduate programs to women. These were … [Read more...] about Women Aboard Submarines: Some of Those Future Trailblazers
Fact-checking Twitter
Both parties know how to pack lots of spin into 140 characters. FactCheck.org exposes some impressive distortions from recent tweets. Here's one example: DNC Mis-tweet: ‘GOP’s Wall St. Fundraiser’ DNC, April 22: While the President spoke today about Wall St reform, GOP senators took checks from Wall St lobbyists: http://j.mp/dn47vTThe Democratic National Committee … [Read more...] about Fact-checking Twitter
Another ally misses Bush
The most important and unmitigated success of George W. Bush's foreign policy was the forging of a new strategic relationship with India. Dan Twining, a former State Department planner and McCain adviser, warns that the Obama White House has made a habit of offending New Delhi because it is so troubled by Beijing. Why is India so important?The character of a country’s … [Read more...] about Another ally misses Bush
Elena Kagan: Five Issues That Could Lift, Become Issues, Become Red Herrings, or Become Boring Ad Nauseum
1. Goldman Sachs; in her wiki bio, it's reported by USA Today she took a 10k honorarium in 2008. However, she was on an advisory panel which met once a year to discuss public policy issues and was not involved in any investment decisions, according to a DOJ spokesperson. 2. Personal life. As usual, some will look for anomaly a/k/a 'enough sticky mud' to outrage one … [Read more...] about Elena Kagan: Five Issues That Could Lift, Become Issues, Become Red Herrings, or Become Boring Ad Nauseum