John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Beck and Massa
Looking Toward the West, Ukraine ‘Lies’ to the East: Novosti, Russia
It would appear that some disillusion has set in at the Kremlin over Ukraine's new president, Viktor Yanukovych. While Russia initially applauded what it saw as a defeat for pro-Western politicians brought to power as a result of the Orange Revolution, Yanukovych has been making some decidedly pro-Western noises, even suggesting that NATO ships might be allowed to dock in … [Read more...] about Looking Toward the West, Ukraine ‘Lies’ to the East: Novosti, Russia
The Massa Massacre
My friend Maurice asked me today whether I would write a column on Eric J.J. Massa, the Democratic congressman from New York who resigned for ... for...for gosh knows how many reasons. "Dunno," I said. "Why kick a guy when he's down." Maurice and I both saw Massa corkscrew himself deeper and deeper in his final television tour with Glenn Beck and Larry King. It may have … [Read more...] about The Massa Massacre
Democrats Give Up On Abortion Changes
According to reports Democrats have given up on trying to alter the abortion language in the pending health care reform bill. This means they will have to try and get the votes from pro life House members who either opposed the bill earlier or who supported it based on the Stupak amendment. Just as a refresher, the House bill contained restrictive language on abortion … [Read more...] about Democrats Give Up On Abortion Changes
Toyota: Not Safe “Enough” for My Loved Ones
When debating an issue, one can always impress the opponent---and oftentimes win the argument---by citing lots of numbers and statistics. I was thus extremely “impressed” when Rush Limbaugh, in defense of the Iraq war, brought up the following statistics in an August 2006 radio talk show: Now, the number of highway deaths in this country, 43,443 in 2005, is 40 to 50 … [Read more...] about Toyota: Not Safe “Enough” for My Loved Ones
Society As Ignorance, Fear And Courage
Edward Harrison at Naked Capitalism explains why Europe is destined for another recession in the near future. They are replicating the mistakes that led to the Great Depression being "Great:" everyone is going to cut government spending and try to increase exports in the context of a fixed currency regime. The analog between the EU now and the world in general during the … [Read more...] about Society As Ignorance, Fear And Courage
Huzza, Huzza, Harry Reid!
Reid to McConnell: Do I make myself perfectly clear? … [Read more...] about Huzza, Huzza, Harry Reid!
The “Coffee Party” Is Brewing For America for March 13 “National Coffee Party Day”
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