As you may have heard by now, infamous film director Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland more than thirty years after the fact of his crimes and may be extradited to the United States. For those of us who have been outraged by this case for decades, it may come as cold comfort to see justice finally served when the criminal is in his twilight years and has lived a … [Read more...] about Roman Polanski: Scumbag
Ahmadinejad on Holocaust
Michael Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad on Holocaust
Michael Moore’s New “You Tube Moment” Interview With CNN’s Wolf Blitzer
CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Michael Moore are not enmeshed in a mutual admiration society. Two years ago Blitzer criticized some of the info in Moore's hit movie "Sicko" and had what they called a "You Tube" moment. To recap go HERE. And now they've had yet another one on CNN during Moore's latest CNN appearance to promote his new movie (which promises to be a smash hit) … [Read more...] about Michael Moore’s New “You Tube Moment” Interview With CNN’s Wolf Blitzer
How Not To Get Swine Flu (Guest Voice)
How Not to Get the Swine Flu Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Well, look at the time. Aren’t we expecting the Return of the Bride of the Son of the Swine Flu pretty soon? That’s right. It’s Baaaaack and this time, it’s personal. Scientists predict the virus will be worse this swing through the Northern Hemisphere, but come on, no matter how bad it gets, it’s still not going … [Read more...] about How Not To Get Swine Flu (Guest Voice)
Pleading the 17th
In 1913 our nation suffered a collective failure of judgment when we passed the 17th amendment. It was not a mistake to hand the power of electing senators to the voters rather than state legislatures, but we really dropped the ball when we put in an "option" for each state to pick and choose whether their governor could make interim appointments. The fundamental harm this … [Read more...] about Pleading the 17th
Australian Town Bans Water In Plastic Bottles
Australian town of Bundanoon has become the first in the world to ban commercially-bottled water. The ban, which is supported by local shopkeepers, means water in plastic bottles can no longer be bought in the town in the Southern Highlands, two hours from Sydney. Instead, reusable bottles have gone on sale, which can be refilled for free at new drinking fountains (photo … [Read more...] about Australian Town Bans Water In Plastic Bottles
Dan Riehl: Bill Sparkman May Have Been A Child Molester
It seems that haunting right-wing refrain about waiting for all the facts to be in only applies to liberals and Democrats. There's been a fair bit of speculation about who might have killed Bill Sparkman and why, based on the relatively few facts that are known in the case right now, but here Dan Riehl has gone and started speculating on the possibility that Sparkman was a … [Read more...] about Dan Riehl: Bill Sparkman May Have Been A Child Molester
If Texting Ban Comes, Truckers Want an Exception
Really??? The trucking industry says these devices can be used safely, posing less of a distraction than BlackBerrys, iPhones and similar gadgets, and therefore should be exempted from legislation that would ban texting while driving. “We think that’s overkill,” Clayton Boyce, spokesman for the American Trucking Associations, said of a federal bill that would force states … [Read more...] about If Texting Ban Comes, Truckers Want an Exception
Climate Change: World Must Ratchet Up Pressure on Obama (Le Figaro, France)
"Future news from September, 2012: After eight infuriated, highly-armed polar bears seize the U.N. General Assembly, the world suddenly realizes it confronts a new form of terrorism." As the climate Change Summit in Copenhagen draws ever closer, pessimism is growing over whether the biggest gas emitters will take action to stop what most scientists assure us will be a … [Read more...] about Climate Change: World Must Ratchet Up Pressure on Obama (Le Figaro, France)
Don’t Buy Health Care? Pay $25,000. Can’t Afford The Fine? Spend A Year In Jail.
Guest Post By Leonidas Leonidas is a frequent, right of center commenter on The Moderate Voice and has been invited as a Guest Voice. ********** Policio reports: Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying … [Read more...] about Don’t Buy Health Care? Pay $25,000. Can’t Afford The Fine? Spend A Year In Jail.
Andrew J. Bacevich: Turn the Hot War Into a Cold War
Having read two of Andrew J. Bacevich's books now (The New American Militarism and The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism) I know that he is always worth reading, even when you don't agree with his conclusions (although I mostly do). … [Read more...] about Andrew J. Bacevich: Turn the Hot War Into a Cold War
William Safire, 1929-2009
William Safire has died at the age of 79. He had pancreatic cancer. Same thing that killed Dan Fogelberg, although in his case at a much younger age. … [Read more...] about William Safire, 1929-2009
After 35 Years, A Case Of Tuna And Stolen Pension
It must be a bittersweet experience for my mother-in-law and hundreds of cannery workers being honored today for their contributions to a city's industry that was snuffed a generation ago. The San Diego Unified Port District spent a half-million dollars to erect a bronze sculpture and commemorate the site honoring tuna and albacore fishing and cannery workers at the … [Read more...] about After 35 Years, A Case Of Tuna And Stolen Pension
Streisand at the Village Vanguard
My friend Sam, who lives around the corner, wrote earlier in the week, "Saturday night Babs Streisand is giving a one time only night at the Village Vangard where she got her start. Can you imagine?" It was her first time back to the club in 48 years: Max Gordon, late owner of the Village Vanguard, liked to tell the possibly exaggerated story of the “little pisher” who hung … [Read more...] about Streisand at the Village Vanguard
Why Not Let Foreignors and Aliens Buy Into Health Insurance?
Despite all the dysfunctional attributes of the U.S. healthcare and health insurance industries, we do provide some people with the world’s best medical care as a result of cutting-edge technology and procedures provided by the world’s most talented physicians at some of our top institutions. People with real life-threatening diseases come from around the world to many … [Read more...] about Why Not Let Foreignors and Aliens Buy Into Health Insurance?
Iran Test Fires Missiles
Iran's in-your-face stance continues as it test fire short-range missiles, with some cable reports saying long range tests will come in coming months. The New York Times reports: Iran test-fired short-range missiles as its elite Revolutionary Guards began war games on Sunday aimed at boosting the Islamic Republic's deterrent capabilities, official media reported. The … [Read more...] about Iran Test Fires Missiles
America’s Arms Bazaar Comes To New Delhi
As the cartoon above says, War is Big Business. This major issue is discussed, if at all, in passing by the mainstream media. Newspapers in India's capital city had to borrow a news story from The Washington Post that "major US arms suppliers are wooing Indian defence agents and officials." Emily Wax of The Washington Post continues: Almost every weekend, there are cocktails … [Read more...] about America’s Arms Bazaar Comes To New Delhi
Tandoori Chicken Celebrates 80th Birthday
We are told that Tandoori murga (or chicken), India's contribution to the world of cuisine, was born in Peshawar in 1929. After India's bloody Partition, the shop (later known as "Moti Mahal") moved to Daryaganj in New Delhi, very close to the ancestral house of Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf. Tandoori chicken gained in popularity when India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal … [Read more...] about Tandoori Chicken Celebrates 80th Birthday
U.N.
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about U.N.
Further Thoughts on Kentucky Lynching
I am working on a roundup post of media coverage and blogger reaction to the Bill Sparkman lynching story, from all points of the political spectrum. For now, I want to share one particular thought that's been percolating in my head (ugh, terrible visuals on that!). First, however, I have to provide a bit of context for my thought. The controversy over this incident … [Read more...] about Further Thoughts on Kentucky Lynching