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The Moderate Voice

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Obama Spanks

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Obama's speech last night. It was a spanking. Not a beating. But a strong hand, admonishing to 'better un-usualize the usual DC song and dance' and pass this stimulus package. I laughed when he said some are complaining the stimulus package is going to cost money. His wry comment, along with vaudeville blink and roll of the eyes at end: "That's what a stimulus package … [Read more...] about Obama Spanks

Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan

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In an earlier post I discussed that while I favored the Obama plan to limit compensation of executives at firms receiving money from the bailout I thought it might be neccessary to adjust the limits somewhat. The reactions I got seemed to focus entirely on this segment of the posting without commenting on any of the others, so I thought I'd expand on the subject. To make it … [Read more...] about Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan

…Either Stay Loudly or Leave Loudly

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Let me start out by saying that probably no one will read this blog post. Why do I say that? Because it's about telling my fellow moderate Republicans to stop whining about the state of the party, acting like little kids holding their breath until the party bosses listen to them is something that people don't want to hear. People would much rather me complain about how … [Read more...] about …Either Stay Loudly or Leave Loudly

Obama Fires It Up in Williamsburg

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At last, the fiery candidate Barack Obama has returned to inspire the troops in support of the stimulus bill. Obama's speech in Williamsburg to House Democrats undoubtedly carries some risk, as David Gergen pointed out tonight. But I think the moment called for it. Frankly, I've found it a bit demoralizing to watch ideological conservatives claim that the stimulus … [Read more...] about Obama Fires It Up in Williamsburg

The Caroline Kennedy Smear

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In the aftermath of the Hillary Clinton replacement soap opera, there is a footnote to the misadventure of JFK's daughter in seeking the seat--the price of getting involved with political pygmies in the desire to continue a family tradition of public service. The New York Times, which played a part in discrediting Caroline Kennedy as not ready for prime time, has gone back … [Read more...] about The Caroline Kennedy Smear

AP Claims Copyright of the Iconic Obama Poster Image

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AP has riled the copyfighters again and the blogs are all over it. This time AP is claiming the copyright and asking for credit and compensation for use of the image artist Shepard Fairey used to build his iconic Obama HOPE poster: "The Associated Press has determined that the photograph used in the poster is an AP photo and that its use required permission," the AP's director … [Read more...] about AP Claims Copyright of the Iconic Obama Poster Image

Mr Card, Clothes Do Not a President Make

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I did not see Mr. Andrew Card's interview where he apparently criticized the Obama White House for their relaxed dress code. I understand that he said something to the effect that “there should be a dress code of respect” in the White House and that he wished Mr. Obama “would wear a suit coat and tie.” Apparently he also said: The Oval Office symbolizes…the … [Read more...] about Mr Card, Clothes Do Not a President Make

Boxer to Head New Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women’s Issues

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From a blog post by Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times: The U.S. Senate is taking a welcome step: empowering a subcommittee specifically charged with global women’s issues. It’s the first time a subcommittee has had that mandate, and it will be led by Barbara Boxer of California, who will surely use her voice and spotlight to do some good on these issues. ... Issues … [Read more...] about Boxer to Head New Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women’s Issues

Independent Commission To Investigate Dutch Government’s Support For U.S. Iraq Invasion

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Just as Americans have had a thousand questions about the Iraq war, there have been many and persistent questions and concerns in the Netherlands as to how the Dutch government came to its decision to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Today, the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reports: Dutch parliament has voted to support the institution of an independent … [Read more...] about Independent Commission To Investigate Dutch Government’s Support For U.S. Iraq Invasion

Larry Flynt is Right: ‘Adult Entertainment’ Comes Before Autos – Jornal de Negocios, Portugal

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When one looks at the issue in purely economic terms, do purveyors of porn like Larry Flynt have a point in their quest for a bailout by the U.S. government? In this article from Portugal's business daily, the Jornal de Negocios, Frederico Bastião, a professor of 'crisis economic theory', makes a very strong case that adult entertainment deserves a bailout far more than … [Read more...] about Larry Flynt is Right: ‘Adult Entertainment’ Comes Before Autos – Jornal de Negocios, Portugal

Shoot A Wall Street Executive For Charity

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I hope to be able to provide video if they put it up on the web site but one of my favorite talk show teams is giving all of us a little stress release. From their Press Release today: Talk 650 KSTE morning show hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty are tired of the financial injustice as the U.S. government awards multibillion-dollar companies with bailouts. This Thursday, … [Read more...] about Shoot A Wall Street Executive For Charity

Stimulating Consumerism, Encouraging Debt

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I realize that part of what the economy needs is more consumer spending on big-ticket items, and so I understand why Republicans pushed successfully for a $15,000 tax credit for homebuyers to go along with a tax incentive for carbuyers, both now part of the Senate's stimulus package, but is encouraging more spending at a time when jobs are being lost and the credit market has … [Read more...] about Stimulating Consumerism, Encouraging Debt

Rough Seas Ahead: Government Intervention Is Failing

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There are various steps of intervention that the government can take when it is trying to react to a crisis. The first step is to merely signal that the climate is undesirable and that it is looking into options. The next step is to change monetary policy to be more accommodating. The next is to make small scale interventions by bringing together private parties and getting … [Read more...] about Rough Seas Ahead: Government Intervention Is Failing

Remember the Moderates: Thomas Curtis

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There has been much news about Michael Steele's ascension to the Chairmanship of the GOP. As the first African American to head the party, there is a hope that the GOP can reach out to African Americans. Over the last few decades, the GOP has not been known for being forward thinking when it comes to civil rights. But there was a time when the GOP was the party that … [Read more...] about Remember the Moderates: Thomas Curtis

Pope Benedict XVI and the Benedict Arnold of the Church: Bishop Williamson

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I am a Catholic for all my life. Not 'a recovering Catholic.' But, 'a discovering Catholic,' with roots deep in old ethnic traditions. Watching and attempting to understand all the Vatican's decisions over all these years, is like reading a Gothic novel with every third page torn out. Little or no sunshine until a matter is a fait accompli, or as in this case, a fait … [Read more...] about Pope Benedict XVI and the Benedict Arnold of the Church: Bishop Williamson

More About That Alleged $10 Laptop

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The one I mentioned the other day. It's not $10. And not a laptop: There's a reason that India's $10 Sakshat computer is just $10. It does almost nothing. What we thought would be a humming notebook equipped with Wi-Fi and 2GB RAM turns out to be little more than a box with sockets -- no keyboard, no monitor. The Sakshat is a 10"x5" plastic box which, despite an official … [Read more...] about More About That Alleged $10 Laptop

Selling the Stimulus: How Republican Spin Is Dominating the Narrative, and What Democrats Need To Do To Fight Back

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Yesterday, my friend Creature noted that public support for the current economic stimulus plan has fallen to 37 percent, attributing this decline to "the failure of Democrats to get their message out." Ryan Avent, linking to Steve Benen, made the same point over at Yglesias's place: "[C]onservatives are winning the public relations battle, and as a result, public support for … [Read more...] about Selling the Stimulus: How Republican Spin Is Dominating the Narrative, and What Democrats Need To Do To Fight Back

Separating the Serious from the Unserious Opposition

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I've written often in comments here at TMV that much of the Republican Party's opposition to the "pork" in the stimulus bill is offered in bad faith. I say this for two reasons: 1) Most of these Congressmen voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act in 2003. This was the largest expansion in entitlements since LBJ. Nobody who approved this legislation can … [Read more...] about Separating the Serious from the Unserious Opposition

Democrats Need To Be Ali, Not Tyson

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Reading Publius' post on Republican priorities got me thinking about how the meta narrative for the Republican party is so much different than for the Democrats, and how the Democrats are failing to appreciate it. The gist of his post was that the stimulus is going to help millions of people, and the Republicans are obstructing it by objecting to pieces that are (largely) good … [Read more...] about Democrats Need To Be Ali, Not Tyson