A somewhat splintered US Supreme Court ruled today that a cross can remain on a war memorial in a remote part of the Mojave desert. The 5-4 ruling overturned a decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The majority held that the cross is not only a symbol of Christianity but also represents a general symbol of sacrifice while the minority held that the symbol does … [Read more...] about Court Upholds Mojave Cross
Mexicans in the U.S.: A Nation Within a Nation – La Jornada, Mexico
As debate rages in the United States over Arizona's new law permitting police to ask for a person's papers based on 'reasonable suspicion,' pressure is building on the other side of the border to better protect Mexicans in the U.S. from mistreatment. Continuing our Mexican coverage of the issue, this article from La Jornada offers the view from across the border and shows how … [Read more...] about Mexicans in the U.S.: A Nation Within a Nation – La Jornada, Mexico
Could Crist’s Switch to Independent Be a Sign of Things to Come?
First, Joe Lieberman was considered too conservative to be a Democrat in Connecticut. Now, Charlie Crist, amid signs that he could win as an independent in the 2010 Florida Senate race, has evidently been deemed too liberal to be a Republican in Florida. Are plausible independent runs for statewide offices a trend for the future? My guess is that it is. Fewer people these … [Read more...] about Could Crist’s Switch to Independent Be a Sign of Things to Come?
Civil is Hard to Do
A colleague emailed me today. She had heard my radio commentary Monday re: the Coffee Party and thought I might be interested in this related article from the current edition of Newsweek. The article recounts an experience that Annabel Park, the C-Party's founder, had with some of the people her movement attracted to a gathering at a D.C. venue. ... from the moment … [Read more...] about Civil is Hard to Do
Death of a Good Samaritan
The theme of big-city indifference to the Good Samaritan narrative is back with the story of a stabbed man left dying and bleeding by New York City residents for more than an hour before anyone tried to help. Decades after 38 witnesses failed to call police in the now-legendary killing of Kitty Genovese in 1964, the death of a Guatemalan immigrant a week ago while trying to … [Read more...] about Death of a Good Samaritan
Anglozona Tan Block
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Anglozona Tan Block
McCain’s Approval Rating Nosedives In Arizona
Could it be that Arizona voters read The Moderate Voice? It sure seems that way, because the last poll reflects what I've said in various posts here and on my Twitter account: John McCain in his present incarnation is not the same John McCain as in 2000 because he has now morphed into an all-out partisan who can be expected to echo whatever the Republican party's conservative … [Read more...] about McCain’s Approval Rating Nosedives In Arizona
U.S. was Right Not to Return Noriega to Panama: Critica, Panama
The United States has extradited former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega to France instead of back to Panama to face murder charges - and some Panamanians are upset. But this editorial from Panama's 'Critica' newspaper says that it's better for him to be sent to Paris, because Panama's legal system is too corrupt to hold him. The Critica editorial says in part: Manuel … [Read more...] about U.S. was Right Not to Return Noriega to Panama: Critica, Panama
Video: Senator Carl Levin Questions Goldman Sachs on “S****y Deal” Creating Instant Video Classic
Talk about high concept. Listen to some of the morning drive local and national radio shows, and turn on TV and what do you see? Democratic Senator Carl Levin grilling former Goldman Sachs Mortgages Department head Daniel Sparks, Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigation, on an internal company memo that called a deal being sold to customers a "sh***y deal." … [Read more...] about Video: Senator Carl Levin Questions Goldman Sachs on “S****y Deal” Creating Instant Video Classic
A Law George Will Can Easily Live With
In a column this morning, Washington Post columnist George Will attempts to justify--- even praises---Arizona's new immigration law. He plays Constitutional semantics with words and phrases such as "reasonable," "reasonable attempt," and "reasonable suspicion" and even brings in Norwegian grandmothers being "wanded" by airport screeners as a puzzling, perhaps sarcastic … [Read more...] about A Law George Will Can Easily Live With
Human Rights Watch vs. Israel
Cliches are dangerous, especially when they are built around the truth. Are human rights watchdogs biased against Israel? Probably, but that shouldn't be an excuse to dismiss everything they say. Then again, what if the watchdogs are so biased that it may make sense to dismiss their work out of hand? Sadly, that may be the case with regard to Human Rights Watch (HRW). In … [Read more...] about Human Rights Watch vs. Israel
NY Times vs. Politico
The current issue of the NY Times Magazine features a condescending cover story about Mike Allen and his colleagues from Politico. I'm guessing that Allen & Co. will like the story, since it can't stop talking about how influential they are. But the story dismisses their success in the same way that the Times often dismisses the success of the blogosphere -- it caters to … [Read more...] about NY Times vs. Politico
The March of Economic Ignorance
Financial analysts have downgraded Greek bonds to "junk" status, indicating a heightened risk of default. Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are also inching towards the brink at which bond traders simply refuse to buy more sovereign debt because they do not believe it will be paid. This is a crisis of confidence -- a problem based on a widespread, justified belief that high … [Read more...] about The March of Economic Ignorance
OJ’s Deep Dark Secrets; Peak Phosphorus
Boing Boing's David Pescovitz points to Alissa Hamilton, author of Squeezed: What You Don't Know About Orange Juice for some secrets of the Orange Juice Industry: Think about it; how could it be truly fresh year-round, when oranges are a seasonal product? Sure, it may be “not from concentrate,” but raw juice is often heated, stripped of its volatile compounds and flavor-rich … [Read more...] about OJ’s Deep Dark Secrets; Peak Phosphorus
Republicans Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio Troubled By Arizona Immigration Law
Three GOP heavy hitters have expressed reservations about Arizona's new draconian immigration law -- a law that polls show is supported by a big majority of Arizona residents but threatens to undue more than a decade of Republican efforts to attract Hispanic voters. And hand Democrats an issue they use to consolidate their own Latino base. The raised eyebrows and voiced … [Read more...] about Republicans Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio Troubled By Arizona Immigration Law
Faces of the Fallen/Faces of the Dead—Lest We Forget
As the war in Afghanistan is well into its eighth year and Operation Iraqi Freedom is hopefully winding down, and so many “more important things” are competing for our attention back home, there is the temptation for some us to lose sight of the sacrifices that continue to be made by our brave troops in Afghanistan and, still, in Iraq. Did you know that, for example, on … [Read more...] about Faces of the Fallen/Faces of the Dead—Lest We Forget
From The Most Rehabilitated Prisoner In America
In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance, by Wilbert Rideau. Out today. Who is Wilbert Rideau? From his Wikipedia entry: [D]escribed by Life magazine in March 1993 as "the most rehabilitated prisoner in America" ... Rideau was incarcerated in Louisiana State Penitentiary (better known as Angola Prison) from 1961 to 2000, convicted in three successive … [Read more...] about From The Most Rehabilitated Prisoner In America
Spending Cuts Are Easier Said Than Done
And not for the reason you might think. Politicians and media pundits love to talk about how we have to make "tough decisions" and "painful choices" in order to get spending "under control." Of course, the pain is almost always felt by somebody else and the decision not at all tough for the people who actually make it. … [Read more...] about Spending Cuts Are Easier Said Than Done
Are Tea Partiers Racist?
Are Tea Partiers racist? Cathy Young looks at some data and says: "Not so fast." Writing on Real Clear Politics she explains: Ever since the "Tea Parties" gained national attention, the debate has raged on whether they are a grass-roots protest movement in the proud tradition of American dissent, or a hysterical mob driven by fear, intolerance and selfishness. Recently, … [Read more...] about Are Tea Partiers Racist?
From Yesteryear, Tea Party Motto Might Be ‘In You’re Heart, You Know We’re Right’
I didn't realize it at the time I was growing up in Orange County, Calif., in the 1950s that a large percentage of family friends were members of the Tea Party movement before the name became a part of our national discussion some six decades later. They were white, well-educated middle and upper class folks who recognized the country was headed in a direction foreign to … [Read more...] about From Yesteryear, Tea Party Motto Might Be ‘In You’re Heart, You Know We’re Right’