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The Moderate Voice

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Progressives: Don’t Scream, Organize (Guest Voice) UPDATED

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WASHINGTON -- For progressives, the question on the health care battle going forward is not whether they have a right to be angry but whether they can direct their fury toward constructive ends. The alternative is to pursue a temporarily satisfying and ultimately self-defeating politics of protest. Of course what has happened on the health care bill is enraging. It's … [Read more...] about Progressives: Don’t Scream, Organize (Guest Voice) UPDATED

Health Care Reform: Calling It A Win At Halftime ?

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While certainly getting the 60th vote in the Senate is a success for the supporters of health care reform it seems to me that the celebratory articles and statements are a bit like calling a victory at halftime as there is still quite a lot of work to be done. Taking the sports analogy further, the passage of the bill through the House was the winning the 1st Quarter and the … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Calling It A Win At Halftime ?

A Memo To Mr. Krugman From The Center

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Paul Krugman, always the tolerant one, has a post up today in which he attacks the center for failing to rally behind the health care bill. Speaking as a moderate who has been open minded to the proposals I am quite offended by his tone and thought I'd give him my own view. I do think we need health care reform and as TMV readers may recall I was favorable towards the Baucus … [Read more...] about A Memo To Mr. Krugman From The Center

The ‘Madness’ of Copenhagen: El Watan, Algeria

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The narrative on the Copenhagen climate summit coming out of the developing world might be summarized this way: on the one hand you have the destiny of the planet as a whole, and on the other, the capitalist financial system. Which is more important to save? The vast majority of comment in the third world finds the sum spent on Western bankers to be obscene when compared to the … [Read more...] about The ‘Madness’ of Copenhagen: El Watan, Algeria

Global Cooperation: Gone Like a ‘Mirage’ – Liberation, France

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French disappointment over the Copenhagen Climate Talks is palpable today, judging by this pair of articles from the country. According to Liberation's Laurent Joffrin, the talks put paid to the idea that real global governance was imminent: "One must make the bitter observation: when it came to rescuing the banking system, cooperation was determined and effective. … [Read more...] about Global Cooperation: Gone Like a ‘Mirage’ – Liberation, France

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams Talks About Family History of Abuse

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Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, in an interview in which he urges his brother to come forward to face charges of sexually abusing his own daughter, reveals a history of sexual and other abuse in his extended family. If you watch the video which accompanies the linked article, you see the heavy-heartedness in Adams. But you can also sense that he truly feels that … [Read more...] about Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams Talks About Family History of Abuse

Prepare To Welcome The New Immigrants

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The British have always been a cruel people. You see it in their relations with our own country. They imposed a stamp tax here in colonial times so simple and hard to avoid, it drove American smugglers like John Adams to start a revolution in 1776. The British then burned Washington during the War of 1812, but bugled the burning so badly the city wasn't totally destroyed, … [Read more...] about Prepare To Welcome The New Immigrants

Take Time to Celebrate the Health Care Bill… Sort of

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As the Senate prepares for yet another post-midnight vote under cover of darkness to pass a bill which underwent a massive revision only hours ago, observers on both sides of the aisle should take a moment to count their blessings on this score, limited though they may be. Back during the summer I took part in a panel discussion with a few people, including Rick Moran and Ed … [Read more...] about Take Time to Celebrate the Health Care Bill… Sort of

“The Christmas Song” — as a Pesky Fly Bugs Singer Frank Fontaine

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Here, from the glorious black and white days of television, is a gem -- on several levels. Comedian Frank Fontaine, slipping into his singer's mode, does two Christmas songs, but when he does the second, "The Christmas Song," Jack Frost may not be nipping at his nose but a pesky fly is. Watch that second song closely and watch Fontaine's face. And note legendary comedian Jackie … [Read more...] about “The Christmas Song” — as a Pesky Fly Bugs Singer Frank Fontaine

Happy Holidays from America’s Banks (Guest Voice)

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Happy Holidays from America's Banks by Michael Winship Never mind Barack Obama's Audacity of Hope. It's the audacity of the banks that takes your breath away. Mean old Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life seems like Father Christmas by comparison. A recent report that Citigroup and Goldman Sachs may have received preferential treatment getting doses of the swine flu … [Read more...] about Happy Holidays from America’s Banks (Guest Voice)

Senate Stuffs Unemployment Extension In Defense Bill

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In my previous post I noted that emergency unemployment was set to expire at the end of the year and was pessimistic that the Senate could follow the house in getting it passed. Apparently the Senate has passed it by cramming it into the defense spending bill, a practice that has always bothered me but in this instance there was really little choice. The extension is through … [Read more...] about Senate Stuffs Unemployment Extension In Defense Bill

Avatar Quick-Takes

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I'll be seeing it later today, enticed by the words of others. All agree the plot is melodramatic and not particularly exceptional. But those special effects... Razib Khan: The special effects were very good. I have seen special effects of similar quality, but never such quality in such quantity. The detail was striking enough that I assume I stopped thinking of it as … [Read more...] about Avatar Quick-Takes

The Fruitcake Chronicles: An Unexpected Gift (Part 2 of 6 installments)

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Mildred Lurvy was known for her fruitcake in the same way the Mob is known for organized crime.  Unlike the Mob, “grandma” Lurvy’s activity was not yet under FBI surveillance.  Consequently, each Christmas Mildred’s neighbors were forced to fend for themselves.  This year Mrs. Lurvy and her fruitcake arrived at Steve Forester’s doorstep a week before Thanksgiving.  This created … [Read more...] about The Fruitcake Chronicles: An Unexpected Gift (Part 2 of 6 installments)