The Coffee Party has now exploded into existence. In only a few weeks the membership of the Coffee Party on facebook has reached over 100,000 about the same numbers that are reported to belong to the Tea Party. Formed in response to the Tea Party the Coffee Party (http://coffeepartyusa.com/) has a few basic purposes that may appeal to the readership of the Moderate Voice. … [Read more...] about The “Coffee Party” Is Brewing For America for March 13 “National Coffee Party Day”
The Truth About Waterboarding
Mark Benjamin has written an article at Salon about the details of how waterboarding was actually done (as opposed to how torture supporters like Dick and Liz Cheney and Marc Thiessen and Andy McCarthy have claimed it was done) by C.I.A. interrogators. Benjamin culled these details from the hundreds of pages of documents contained in several reports that the Department of … [Read more...] about The Truth About Waterboarding
Good Debt, Bad Debt (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- There is a pathetic quality to our discussion of deficits and fiscal responsibility because we never face up to how much we need government to do. Our debates are also characterized by a politically convenient amnesia. Just a decade ago, we were running surpluses so big that Alan Greenspan, then chairman of the Federal Reserve, worried about what would … [Read more...] about Good Debt, Bad Debt (Guest Voice)
Delay Of Game
RJ Matson, Roll Call This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Delay Of Game
California’s Prop 14: Power to the People — or to the Party Bosses?
California Dems (including the school employees union) are toying with the ballot language on Proposition 14, the "Top Two" open primary referendum that will be on the ballot for a vote in June. Prop 14 has broad support among California voters, especially independents ("decline to state") who are allowed to vote in primaries at the whim of the party clubhouses. At issue is … [Read more...] about California’s Prop 14: Power to the People — or to the Party Bosses?
Bart Stupak Factually Wrong on HCR Bill and Abortion
This is not news in and of itself. Stupak claims the Senate bill directly subsidizes abortions. It does not. What is worth noting now is that MSNBC's First Read blog has done a thorough fact-check and debunked Stupak's claims: … [Read more...] about Bart Stupak Factually Wrong on HCR Bill and Abortion
What I Learned at the Tea Parties
Both the media and many high profile politicos still seem to be flailing around trying to find some way to label, quantify and pigeonhole the myriad tea party groups which are springing up all around the country. Even Karl Rove, during a stop to promote his new book, expressed concerns over whether or not they might spur some sort of third party movement which could hurt the … [Read more...] about What I Learned at the Tea Parties
Entitlement Derangement
"Ask not," JFK urged at his inaugural, "what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." Half a century later, making sacrifices, large or small, has vanished from most Americans' vocabularies, replaced by a raging sense of disappointed entitlement that leads them to blame everyone but themselves for what's wrong with their country. In bipartisan … [Read more...] about Entitlement Derangement
Mitt Romney, Cultural Imperialist
In honor of Mitt Romney's new book debuting at the top of the New York Times bestseller list, here's a tribute to a man who's not afraid to argue the world is not flat, culturally speaking. … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney, Cultural Imperialist
Getting Rid of Health Insurance Would Improve Healthcare Quality
While The five largest health Insurance companies’ profits rose by $12.2 billion last year, which represents an increase of 56% over 2008, Americans are paying more money for less coverage. Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius says that the cost of premiums is skyrocketing and profits are soaring. This doesn’t look good to the average American. In fact, it almost … [Read more...] about Getting Rid of Health Insurance Would Improve Healthcare Quality
At Least in the U.S., the ‘Truth Eventually Emerges’: El Periodico, Guatemala
As is public knowledge, the CIA has been involved with a good number of coups since it came into being after World War II. One of those coups took place in Guatemala in 1954. This article from Guatemala's El Periodico is both highly critical of the U.S. due to the consequences of that coup, and extremely complimentary, praising the importance of the United States as an … [Read more...] about At Least in the U.S., the ‘Truth Eventually Emerges’: El Periodico, Guatemala
Burma Mocks Democracy
So the good dictators in Burma have promised to hold 'elections'. But they aren't actually going to let popular candidates run. … [Read more...] about Burma Mocks Democracy
We Are Troubled, Too, Justice Roberts
Yesterday, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts told a group of students at the University of Alabama Law School that he found it "very troubling" that Pres. Obama chose the State of the Union address, with the nine justices sitting in front of him, to express his displeasure with the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United. … [Read more...] about We Are Troubled, Too, Justice Roberts
Sandra Bullock? Best actress? Really?
Sonny predicted she would win, calling it a "kind of lifetime achievement award". Yet looking over Bullock's filmography, I find it somewhat hard to identify the achievements. That said, Bullock was actually quite good as Leigh Ann Tuohy (TOO-ee) in The Blind Side, the role for which she won the Oscar. But it was an easy, feel-good role. Tuohy is a sassy steel magnolia … [Read more...] about Sandra Bullock? Best actress? Really?
Another day in paradise
I mean that literally, unlike Phil Collins' song about the plight of the homeless. I spent the past few days in Anse Marcel (photo above) on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. The title of Collins' song is a reminder of how hard it is to enjoy good fortune without reflecting on those who don't have it. I admit, I didn't spend all that much time in St. Martin thinking … [Read more...] about Another day in paradise
(Videos) Must See (Dismaying) TV: the Glenn Beck Eric Massa Interviews
They're out now and sweeping the Internet. And they're so entertaining that the only questions that remain are: will some filmmaker make them into a flick one day like Frost-Nixon? Will they be turned into a Broadway musical? Videos of Fox's powerhouse talk show host Glenn Beck's (in)famous interview with former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa is whipping around cyberspace faster … [Read more...] about (Videos) Must See (Dismaying) TV: the Glenn Beck Eric Massa Interviews
Liz Cheney’s Skewered View
Those of us fortunate not to be lawyers at least have some perception that it is their duty to provide legal counsel to people we consider scumbags. With that thought in mind, I wonder what Liz Cheney and Bill Kristol were thinking when they produced an ad criticizing Attorney General Eric Holder for hiring at least nine attorneys who defended accused terrorists at … [Read more...] about Liz Cheney’s Skewered View
Beijing’s Obsession: American Influence Over Tibetan Exiles: Novosti, Russia
Are Beijing's concerns about the Dalai Lama's visits to Washington merely about preserving face, as they say in Asia? Is it reasonable to suspect that the United States today is, or has plans to use the Tibetan Diaspora to destabilize Tibet and/or China? For Russia's Novosti, columnist Dmitry Kosyrev writes that there is more than wounded pride at the heart of Beijing's … [Read more...] about Beijing’s Obsession: American Influence Over Tibetan Exiles: Novosti, Russia
Did Harry Reid Put Up Tea Man In His Nevada Re-Election Race
Did Nevada Sen. Harry Reid put up a straw tea man to run as a Tea Party candidate in his Nevada re-election race -- to siphon votes away from the GOP? It sounds possible. Details HERE. … [Read more...] about Did Harry Reid Put Up Tea Man In His Nevada Re-Election Race
This Year’s Failed Clinton Presidency
Another Clinton looked destined for the White House in 2008. The Republican administration of George Bush and the Republican congress had clearly played out their welcomes with voters. A big Democratic win seemed assured. And Hillary Clinton, the darling of most party professionals, seemed a shoe-in to be the party's standard bearer Barack Obama won the election instead. Or … [Read more...] about This Year’s Failed Clinton Presidency