The problem with health care reform is not public option versus no public option -- it's change versus no change. The difficulty with passing health care reform is not the size of the bill, or the price tag, or the specific provisions in it -- well, it is to a point, but it's not the heart of the problem. The real difficulty is Congress -- Congress as an institution: the way it … [Read more...] about The Choice
An iTunes Music Stream?
Apple's buying the streaming music service, Lala. CNet's Greg Sandoval broke the story. Brad Stone at The NYTimes nailed it down and filled in some details. Techmeme pumped up the discussion. Of all that, Technologizer's Harry McCracken sums up the service nicely: The company has an oddball history that includes a period as a CD-swapping service and a foray into radio, but for … [Read more...] about An iTunes Music Stream?
Slim Fast Recall: Possible Problems in Its Can and Your Can
Slim Fast is being recalled due to the risk of possible problems in its can and your can: there are fears that a possible bacteria infection could turn some cans of Slim Fast into Diarrhea-Abdominal Cramps-and-Vomiting Fast. The LA Times: The maker of Slim-Fast has recalled all of its ready-to-drink canned beverages. All of them. Turns out, the stuff might be … [Read more...] about Slim Fast Recall: Possible Problems in Its Can and Your Can
Banks Must Shrink or it’s Disaster Again: Financial Times Deutschland
Did we in fact dodge the 'Depression bullet,' or have the events of the past few months proven that in fact, the human race at the present time is incapable of reordering the global economic system? According to the Financial Times Deutschland 's chief economist Thomas Frick, most of the transactions that banks were and continue to conduct are not only unproductive - they … [Read more...] about Banks Must Shrink or it’s Disaster Again: Financial Times Deutschland
Person Most Likely To Stand In Front of Tank With Flowers Says It’s OK To Not Withdraw from Afghanistan Post-Haste
If there was a high school yearbook category Person Most Likely to Stand in Front of a Tank To Stop It, I'd be the winner hands down. And yet, there's no way I would support a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan post-haste. This blog entry, A Commitment Strategy to Afghanistan, by Lorelei Kelly offers a great explanation but here's the crux for me (I recommend reading the … [Read more...] about Person Most Likely To Stand In Front of Tank With Flowers Says It’s OK To Not Withdraw from Afghanistan Post-Haste
Tiger’s Scars show we are not all equal
You learn something new every day don’t you? Like this week I realised that domestic violence is accepted in modern society. I was shocked because not too long ago, the collective world was shocked, dismayed and angry at one Christopher Brown for his transgressions towards Robyn Fenty – and rightly so, no one should have to beaten to a pulp for any reason, though no one … [Read more...] about Tiger’s Scars show we are not all equal
Rowing Upstream With One Oar In The Water
Whenever I gaze weary eyed into the problems facing our economic recovery, I often wonder if I am as dumb as those proverbial "economic analysts." Take today's announcement by the Labor Department that the national unemployment rate dropped to 10% from October's 10.2%. The New York Times blithely reported we lost only 11,000 jobs while economists had been expecting roughly … [Read more...] about Rowing Upstream With One Oar In The Water
Obama’s Hesitation on Afghanistan May Cost Him Dearly: Liberation, France
http://worldmeets.us/images/obama.hope.afghanistan_hojemacau.gif Now that the decision has been made to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, few seem either pleased or optimistic. That would include columnist Francois Sergent of France's Liberation, who writes in part: "He can no longer attribute everything to the disastrous heritage of his predecessor. From … [Read more...] about Obama’s Hesitation on Afghanistan May Cost Him Dearly: Liberation, France
Bull Elephant
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Bull Elephant
Privacy, Then and Now
Tiger Woods, who named his yacht Privacy, was born half a century too late. As he laments the exposure of "matters that are intimate and within one's family," Woods' pain recalls a time when two of the world's most famous actors lived together on and off for decades with the full knowledge of and complicity by the media to keep their private lives private. As a magazine … [Read more...] about Privacy, Then and Now
Is Palin A Birther Who Thinks Obama Birth Certificate Is An Issue? Or a Serial Gaffer?
With former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who was ahead in polls of GOP hopefuls now either seriously injured politically or facing bigger obstacles now due to his having given clemency to a prisoner who later became a cop killer, all eyes are now turning to former Alaska governor and best selling author Sarah Palin. Will she continue to consolidate her talk radio political … [Read more...] about Is Palin A Birther Who Thinks Obama Birth Certificate Is An Issue? Or a Serial Gaffer?
What He Said
David Brooks on Obama's governing style: The election revolved around passionate rallies. The Obama White House revolves around a culture of debate. He leads long, analytic discussions, which bring competing arguments to the fore. He sometimes seems to preside over the arguments like a judge settling a lawsuit. His policies are often a balance as he tries to accommodate … [Read more...] about What He Said
Did Obama’s Afghanistan Speech Play Well with NATO?
It looks like it might have. Even as popular opinion has begun to sour on the war both at home and abroad, NATO is going to answer the President's call for escalation and pony up some more troops. Responding to American entreaties for more soldiers in Afghanistan, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary general, announced Friday that the alliance had agreed to contribute a … [Read more...] about Did Obama’s Afghanistan Speech Play Well with NATO?
Those Socialist Canadians
Ask fire-breathing right-wingers which countries are more "socialist" than America, and they might list Canada, among others. Interesting: In Canada on Friday, the government reported that the country’s economy added more jobs than expected in November, erasing the losses in October. Statistics Canada reported a net employment gain of 79,000 in November, topping … [Read more...] about Those Socialist Canadians
Tone Deaf American Royalty
As long time readers will recall, I was no fan of the Bush administration for a number of reasons, among which was the insulting lack of transparency and accountability to the public on many matters which had little or nothing to do with national security and should have been exposed to the sunshine of public scrutiny. I wanted to know which members of the energy industry were … [Read more...] about Tone Deaf American Royalty
The “Horror Story” That Wasn’t
By C. L. Smith aka "Leonidas". C.L. Smith is a frequent right-of-center commenter here at The Moderate Voice and is a regular guest voice. *************** Not long ago an account of a sawmill worker named John was reported suggesting that he was doomed to death due to no healthcare based on a NYT op-ed by Nicholas Kristof entitled "Are we going to let John Die?" Well … [Read more...] about The “Horror Story” That Wasn’t
In the Still of the Night
An anthem, a hymn, and a couple of golden oldies. … [Read more...] about In the Still of the Night
Christmas on the Cheap
Not able to stimulate the economy as much as you'd like this year? Try these tips! … [Read more...] about Christmas on the Cheap
Now Even He Is Disppointed in Tiger Woods
Who is he? The answer (WARNING:this contains some very adult and unPC content which is why we'll give you the link but not post it on TMV) RIGHT HERE. FOOTNOTE: The linked video is just one of MANY using the same movie clip. Details here. … [Read more...] about Now Even He Is Disppointed in Tiger Woods
Fiscal Conservatives and the Afghanistan Troop Surge
I meant to link to this post by Darren Hutchinson about the GOP's fiscal priorities earlier, but it was just before Thanksgiving, and I wasn't feeling that well, and... well... you know.... … [Read more...] about Fiscal Conservatives and the Afghanistan Troop Surge