This morning, I felt the need to clarify what I like about Rick Warren, something I briefly hinted at here and on my own site. After cataloging what I like about Warren, I presented this summary, now here for your consideration: Those who portray Warren as a demon for his positions on homosexuality or a sellout for praying for the new president in January aren't paying … [Read more...] about How This Pastor Feels About Rick Warren
California’s Rush To Judgment on Same Sex Marriage
Only in California can the bizarre become the norm. In a spate of a few hours Friday afternoon, briefs were filed with the state Supreme Court challenging, supporting and extending a ban on same sex marriages. Backers of Proposition 8, the initiative that bans same sex marriage, petitioned to nullify the 18,000 marriages conducted after the high court voted 4-3 approving … [Read more...] about California’s Rush To Judgment on Same Sex Marriage
Congressional Popularity Still on Track (see: Basement)
Rasmussen Reports continues to take the pulse of the nation's voters and the approaching holiday season sees the approval ratings of Congress once again diving into single digit territory. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters found that only nine percent (9%) give Congress good or excellent ratings, while 54% give the legislature poor … [Read more...] about Congressional Popularity Still on Track (see: Basement)
Detroit Bailout: Conflicted and Confused
After reading the divergent opinions of the professional punditry, after consulting polls of public sentiment, after making a withdrawal from the ideological deposits in our respective brain-banks -- many of us remain undecided on the import of the so-called bailout of America's "Big 3" automobile manufacturers. We understand and appreciate the various arguments and … [Read more...] about Detroit Bailout: Conflicted and Confused
Pakistan & India: Of Jingoism & Objectivity
Objective/fair reporting and debate have been the biggest casualty in the mass media and elsewhere in the past decade. Jingoism and bullying have managed to suppress voices of professionalism and reason. Here is a voice of reason from Pakistan. (Unfortunately, in India and Pakistan the media/political discourse on Kashmir never takes into account the game plan, and … [Read more...] about Pakistan & India: Of Jingoism & Objectivity
President Bush’s Legacy: Americans’ View
As we witness the dying embers of George W. Bush's presidency, the American people's anger at their country's top executive is no less than that of the Iraqi journalist who hurled shoes and abuses at the US president. A recent PEW poll reveals how Americans describe Bush by different names -- some of them a lot worse than "dog." The Washington Post reports: "For his … [Read more...] about President Bush’s Legacy: Americans’ View
Placing the Shoes On the Other Foot
Much has been made about the now infamous "shoe throwing incident" with President Bush in Baghdad last Sunday. Some have said that the size tens were precisely what Bush deserved. Some have labeled the incident a geo-political embarrassment. Still others have questioned how the incident could have taken place with security around the President of the United States as tight as … [Read more...] about Placing the Shoes On the Other Foot
Star Trek Comes Out: Gay Webisode Goes Online Saturday
Paramount permits Star Trek-related fan projects as long as the creators don't profit from them. And so, for the last five and a half years, an independent online project now called Star Trek: Phase II has been churning out episodes at the rate of about one a year. The series is intended as a continuation of the original Star Trek set in the fourth year of the starship … [Read more...] about Star Trek Comes Out: Gay Webisode Goes Online Saturday
What If Osama bin Laden Were Disguised?
What would terrorist bigwig Osama bin Laden look like if he were disguised? According to U.S. News and World Report's Washington Whisper's column, that's a serious question at the National Terrorism Center -- and their annual desk calender includes a computerized vision of what what he'd look like after a bit of a makeover: But that may not cover the world-famous … [Read more...] about What If Osama bin Laden Were Disguised?
Watergate’s ‘Deep Throat’ Passes Away
William Mark Felt, who died at age 95, was an unusual FBI man who made history. He helped reveal one of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century, which ended when Richard Nixon became the first US president to resign in disgrace, reports AFP. "Felt, the number-two official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the time, was the secret informant known as "Deep … [Read more...] about Watergate’s ‘Deep Throat’ Passes Away
Tom Cruise Speaks German: Valkyrie Not Your ‘Typical Hollywood Tale’ – Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
Rod Blagojevich: I’m Not a Crook!
In Blagojevich's public statement today he said, and I quote, I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong. What the Governor means is that as far as he's concerned, and as far as it looks to this point, he hasn't committed any criminal offense. But that's not the same as having done "nothing wrong". Not being a criminal … [Read more...] about Rod Blagojevich: I’m Not a Crook!
California Supreme Court Says Go Ahead And Punish Those Good Deeds
In a controversial 4-3 ruling the California Supreme Court has ruled that private citizens who try to help out in an emergency situation can be sued for damages or injuries resulting from those efforts. The case stemmed from an incident in 2004 when a group of co-workers went out for some Halloween fun. Adult beverages were consumed and one of the two cars crashed into a … [Read more...] about California Supreme Court Says Go Ahead And Punish Those Good Deeds
Links to the Shoe-Throwing Games Proliferating Around the World
Readers of the Moderate Voice are no doubt aware that games involving President Bush and a certain journalist's shoes have been spreading like mushrooms on cow paddies in the morning dew. Here are some WORLDMEETS.US have compiled in the past 48 hours. We will continue to amass them as they come to our attention: From Britain: 'Sock and Awe' From Norway: The 'Hit Bush … [Read more...] about Links to the Shoe-Throwing Games Proliferating Around the World
Can U.S. Afford NASA?
As the Obama transition team is addressing budget deficits in the trillions, it is being stonewalled by the space cadets who operate NASA. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has at least 73 programs that blew their budgets by an average of 50% since 1990, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. Of 74 questions submitted to the agency by Obama's … [Read more...] about Can U.S. Afford NASA?
Pondering Nicaragua’s Broken Democracy
While Americans remain focused on the troubled economy and a political firestorm rages over the man who'll give the invocation at President Elect Barack Obama's inauguration, a battle over democracy rages south of the U.S. border. The AP reports: The U.S. ambassador [to Nicaragua] warned Tuesday that Nicaragua could lose millions of dollars in development aid if it does … [Read more...] about Pondering Nicaragua’s Broken Democracy
Behind the Scenes: The ‘Attack of the Flying Shoes’ – The People’s Daily, China
What's Beijing's take on the 'attack of the flying shoes'? In his analysis of why President Bush traveled to war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan for the strictly state-controlled Peoples' Daily, Huang Beizhao writes in part: "First, in order to show results. Iraq and Afghanistan have been two 'field experiments' that Bush has painstakingly nurtured. Confronting his political … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes: The ‘Attack of the Flying Shoes’ – The People’s Daily, China
The Big Lie
Quin Hillyer argues that limiting big government isn't just a good principle for Republicans, but historically has been good politics for them as well. He proves his point through the brilliant argumentative strategy of (a) defining "big government" only to encompass things that conservatives dislike (no critique of the partial-birth abortion ban here!), (b) excluding all … [Read more...] about The Big Lie
Mr. Bush: Please, No More “So’s”
After his vice-president's callous use of that little word "So?", when asked about Americans' opposition to the Iraq war, and after his own arrogant "So what?", when asked about the fact that al Qaeda was not in Iraq before the invasion of that country, you would think that Bush will be more careful in the future with the words he chooses. I would advise him to stay away … [Read more...] about Mr. Bush: Please, No More “So’s”
Governor Soprano Makes Public Statement
Blago is about to speak to the press.... should be entertaining. Ok, he says he is innocent, won't resign, won't admit any wrongdoing, is going to 'fight fight fight' to prove his innocence. Attacks the prosecutors, says he wants to prove his innocence but he can't do it yet (shades of Nixon's secret plan to end the war). Quotes Kipling, well actually somewhat misquotes … [Read more...] about Governor Soprano Makes Public Statement