Ok, the headline is nothing but snark, but for those of us living in the Empire State it might not seem like such a bad idea at this point. I mean, why mess around with yet another governor who might build up our hopes only to dash them on the rocks of scandal? Let's just put in somebody who is already on the docket for some federal crimes. If you're wondering exactly what it … [Read more...] about New York to name William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson as Interim Governor
Quote of the Day: the Tea Party Movement’s Future
Our political Quote of the Day comes from independent commentaror John Avon's take on the Tea Party convention in Nashville, which he attended. He begins it this way: As the National Tea Party Convention concluded this weekend, it's clear that the Tea Partiers are propelled by two competing claims -- a principled commitment to fiscal conservatism and a serious case of … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the Tea Party Movement’s Future
Evaluating Sarah Palin
Much comment about Sarah Palin's performance at the Tea Party convention (including from yours truly on a CNN panel) noted that her speech did contain some substance and that she is a political force who GOPers hoping to run for President (and Democrats) may have to contend with. But did she also show that she has limited talents and a seeming unwillingness to grow? … [Read more...] about Evaluating Sarah Palin
Finish the Kitchen (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- If President Obama gets to sign a health reform bill, as I believe he will, one reason may be Rep. Jay Inslee's difficult experience renovating his kitchen. He told his kitchen story at a House Democratic caucus held after Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts sent Inslee's colleagues into paroxysms of dismay, chaos and fear. Brown's triumph … [Read more...] about Finish the Kitchen (Guest Voice)
Darts: A Uniquely Democratic Tradition
Now that the hub-hub over the Superbowl is finally fading away, we have time to turn our attention to the more important, but often sadly overlooked sports which make up the American way of life. These include activities such as eight-ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes and Foosball. What is it that makes sports such as these so superior? They are some of the only competitive … [Read more...] about Darts: A Uniquely Democratic Tradition
Remembering Ronald Reagan’s 99th Birthday
A conservative's perspective. … [Read more...] about Remembering Ronald Reagan’s 99th Birthday
Some Republicans Press Privatizing Social Security Again
And House Democrats push back. … [Read more...] about Some Republicans Press Privatizing Social Security Again
Rocky Times ahead for the U.S. and China?
Are rocky times ahead for the United States and China? Ted Galen Carpenter, vice-president for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, thinks so and explains why in a must-read post on RealClearPolitcs. Here is the beginning of it: A nasty spat has erupted between Washington and Beijing over the Obama administration's arms sales to Taiwan. As soon as … [Read more...] about Rocky Times ahead for the U.S. and China?
Job Creation
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Job Creation
Obama’s Language Doesn’t Match His True Convictions: Le Figaro, France
How has it all seemingly gone wrong for President Barack Obama? Providing a unique, and uniquely French prospective on the question, is historian Alexandre Adler, who suggests that at root of the president's problem is ironically, a failure to truthfully communicate in a way "more in keeping with some of his deepest intuitions." In one meaty section of his analysis, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Language Doesn’t Match His True Convictions: Le Figaro, France
Tebow Ad Much Ado About Nothing
So for all the hype and panic the ad turns out to be nothing. All it was is Mom talking about how she had a rough time with Tim and almost lost him a number of times. Then some humor with her and Tim and a link to the web site. That's it. No mention of abortion, no agenda, nada. Which likely explains why CBS approved it. … [Read more...] about Tebow Ad Much Ado About Nothing
Will New York’s Gov. Paterson Soon Resign?
There are rumblings now that New York's Gov. David Paterson will resign once a New York Times expose about a purported sex scandal involving him is published. … [Read more...] about Will New York’s Gov. Paterson Soon Resign?
Palin’s Tea Party
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Palin’s Tea Party
A Win-Win Super Bowl
On my way to tennis this morning, I was listening to NPR and caught the end of an interesting conversation on an alleged correlation between the Super Bowl winner and the stock market. However, I didn’t catch the name of the professor who had done such a study. Curious as to how my stocks will be doing after tonight’s Super Bowl, I "Googled" the subject and hit the … [Read more...] about A Win-Win Super Bowl
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: No Golden Silence Here
New York Times columnist Frank Rich must not read The Moderate Voice. In a column today in the Times, discussing the reaction to Adm. Mullen’s testimony on “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Rich says: A funny thing happened after Adm. Mike Mullen called for gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military: A curious silence befell much of the right. If this were a Sherlock … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: No Golden Silence Here
Senator Shelby and the Blanket Holds
TPMDC reports, Report: Shelby Blocks All Obama Nominations In The Senate Over AL Earmarks: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has put an extraordinary "blanket hold" on at least 70 nominations President Obama has sent to the Senate, according to multiple reports this evening. The hold means no nominations can move forward unless Senate Democrats can secure a … [Read more...] about Senator Shelby and the Blanket Holds
UPDATED: Google To Air Super Bowl Ad
UPDATED: Battelle got it exactly right. The ad ran, the one in the original post below. Schmidt's Google Blog post from after the game invites us to view the rest of the ads in the series. Jeff Jarvis doesn't get it, tweeting: Disappointed Google didn't make a new commercial appropriate to the Super Bowl. France? Football? Google? ++++++++++++ A standard line I used to use … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Google To Air Super Bowl Ad
Saturday Night Livid
Political satire started in prime time as Sarah Palin preempted SNL with a parody of herself at the Tea Party convention. "How's that hopey-changey stuff working out for you?" she twinkled during a $100,000 standup (to be donated to "the cause," destination unclear) for hundreds who paid $349 to hear her pummel Obama with one-liners about everything from bailouts to the … [Read more...] about Saturday Night Livid
Europe On The Brink Of Financial Catastrophe
Simon Johnson, who has made a career of studying and intervening in countries that have sovereign debt crises, has a very blunt post today, "Europe Risks Another Global Depression." Notice the full stop; there is no passive aggressive question mark at the end to give him any wiggle room should it all blow over. Considering his expertise about identifying when countries have … [Read more...] about Europe On The Brink Of Financial Catastrophe
Did Sarah Palin Have Tea Party Speech Crib Notes On Her Hand?
And so the 24/7 media jumps into the fray. Some images of Sarah Palin at the Tea Party Convention have now emerged that she probably wishes didn't and some others that won't spark debate but, rather, provide more context for the environment in which she made her speech. THE FIRST GROUP qualifies a bit of an eyebrow raiser. Did Palin have crib notes on her hand? It looks that … [Read more...] about Did Sarah Palin Have Tea Party Speech Crib Notes On Her Hand?