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The Moderate Voice

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Recess Appointment’s – Mikulski’s Other Foot

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U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) made this statement on CNN regarding Senate rules concerning presidential appointees and the Obama recess appointments made this weekend: "This is why we we ought to reform the institution," Mikulski said, noting the Senate's system of placing holds, sometimes anonymously or indefinitely, has started to "hold up function of … [Read more...] about Recess Appointment’s – Mikulski’s Other Foot

The Fight Against Obamacare Continues (Guest Voice)

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The Fight Against ObamaCare Continues by Floyd and Mary Beth Brown With benefits as notorious as Viagra for pedophiles and rapists, we watched in horror as the American way of life was fundamentally changed by Democratic members of the House of Representatives and Senate. Obama and Pelosi twisted arms and bribed members of Congress into supporting their massive new … [Read more...] about The Fight Against Obamacare Continues (Guest Voice)

The Unbearable Lightness of Reform (Guest Voice)

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The Unbearable Lightness of Reform by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship That wickedly satirical Ambrose Bierce described politics as "the conduct of public affairs for private advantage." Bierce vanished to Mexico nearly a hundred years ago - to the relief of the American political class of his day, one assumes - but in an eerie way he was forecasting America's political … [Read more...] about The Unbearable Lightness of Reform (Guest Voice)

Performing Arts: Rehearsal Versus Performance (Judy Garland)

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As a performer, I experience what performers throughout time have experienced: the rehearsals can be tedious, or focus on rote, or focus on getting down specific words, movements or music. But that magic -- that "organic" quality that makes it seem as if it has not been carefully rehearsed (often over and over and over) -- is what usually emerges in live performance so … [Read more...] about Performing Arts: Rehearsal Versus Performance (Judy Garland)

Military Spouse Tuition Is Too Popular, Gets Shut Down

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The Department of Defense has finally found a way to reduce its ungainly budget. No, not by cutting out waste and fraud, but on the backs of the spouses of the troops. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program, MyCAA, began in 2009. It was designed to provide up to $6000 a year in tuition assistance for the spouses of active military personnel. At the start … [Read more...] about Military Spouse Tuition Is Too Popular, Gets Shut Down

Good Times in Appalachia

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This evening the NCAA basketball world featured a rematch of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, pitting West Virginia's finest against those of Kentucky. Mountaineer native Bob Huggins led his team to a surprise upset of the Kentucky Wildcats and the team's first trip to the Final Four since 1959. Just a bit south here in East Tennessee folks are jumping for joy as our own Tennessee … [Read more...] about Good Times in Appalachia

Quote of the Day: Proof of the Double Standard On Recess Appointments

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Here is the Quote of the Day, Month, Year, Decade -- the quintessential reason of why independent voters stay independent voters when they see evidence of the double standards partisans use to justify whipped up outrage that was missing when their side indulged in the same political behavior that they once deemed acceptable. You'd think that Arizona Senator John McCain -- … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Proof of the Double Standard On Recess Appointments

Obama Makes 15 Recess Appointments: Another Sign of a Political Style “Shift”?

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A lot of pundits (old and new) will soon be writing about whether there is a "new" Barack Obama who is starting to show a willingness to use the power of his office -- a willinessness many of his supporters had started to feel he was lacking. The latest big development: the White House announced that he's making 15 recess appointments after hitting a brickwall in many cases due … [Read more...] about Obama Makes 15 Recess Appointments: Another Sign of a Political Style “Shift”?

Eat Food Grown Locally — If You Can Find Any

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As the son of a farmer, I am all too familiar with the laws of supply and demand involving perishable food products. Even the most urbane of city dwellers know the freshest foods are purchased at their neighborhood farmers market or food co-op or, with luck, one of the remaining mom and pop butcher shops. In a half century of growing vegetables, my dad was lucky enough to … [Read more...] about Eat Food Grown Locally — If You Can Find Any

Political Law Suits: States vs. U.S.

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I don't doubt the political sincerity of 14 states suing the feds challenging the constitutionality of the insurance mandate provision in the new health reform law. It is the legal premise I find wanting and deliciously ironic. Let me describe it in this framework. These state attorneys general are betting on a 100-1 horse gambling that years of precedent will be overlooked … [Read more...] about Political Law Suits: States vs. U.S.

Spare Me The Competance, Amuse Me Instead

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Let's be honest. The problems governments face in this country, at both the national and local levels, are beyond solution. Nationally, we'll not only never pay off Washington's debt, as soon as rates rise we'll have to barter our few remaining real assets for new higher speed printing presses just to service the interest payments. We may get out of Iraq or Afghanistan one of … [Read more...] about Spare Me The Competance, Amuse Me Instead

Quote of the Day: Why Is Obama Treating Netanyano So Rudely

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Amid a spate of news reports saying President Barack Obama treated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rudely during the Israeli P.M.'s recent trip there has been a spate of speculation as to why. But the most intriguing theory comes from Glenn Reynolds, aka InstaPundit: But it’s also possible — I’d say likely — that there’s something else going on. I think Obama expects … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Why Is Obama Treating Netanyano So Rudely

Watching Sausages (Guest Voice)

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Watching Sausages by Will Durst Otto von Bismarck said, “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.” Sausages? We would have loved to have seen some sausages. We would have killed for sausages. As any Wisconsin boy can tell you, sausages cooked indirectly over mesquite coals until crispy blistered, then slathered with Stadium Sauce and nestled in … [Read more...] about Watching Sausages (Guest Voice)

Marijuana Legalization in California: Doobie or Not Doobie?

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Doobie or Not Doobie? by David Goodloe It may be an issue whose time has come. And, if that is the case, there may be no more appropriate place for it than California. Voters in that state will decide in November whether to legalize and regulate marijuana use, an issue that has come before voters in other states in other election years but has always failed. In 2010, … [Read more...] about Marijuana Legalization in California: Doobie or Not Doobie?