As much as anyone, I appreciate the praise that is being heaped on our nation because of our recent electoral behavior. But at times it's enough to make one blush - and wonder if it's the same campaign I recall witnessing. Magdalena Sroda of Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza says in part: "There were no personal files abused, no insinuations from the secret service, no private … [Read more...] about ‘Why I Envy Americans Their Obama’: Gazeta Wyborcza Poland
Banned Bake Sales & Eating as a Political Act
In the NY Times today we learn that Bake Sales are falling victim to healthier eating: The old-fashioned school bake sale, once as American as apple pie, is fast becoming obsolete in California, a result of strict new state nutrition standards for public schools that regulate the types of food that can be sold to students. The guidelines were passed by lawmakers in 2005 and … [Read more...] about Banned Bake Sales & Eating as a Political Act
Conservative Think Tank Official: Republicans “Must Change To Survive”
The Republican party will have to change some of its positions on traditional conservative "hot button" issues -- or it's not going to win national elections for a long time, warns a Republican associated with a conservative think tank. It's yet one more voice in the re-thinking of what the Republican party must do to recover from the drubbing the party and its presidential … [Read more...] about Conservative Think Tank Official: Republicans “Must Change To Survive”
Bush Fading Away
Christo Komarnitski, Bulgaria … [Read more...] about Bush Fading Away
Bill Kristol’s Canine Comments
Bill Kristol's Monday column in the New York Times is the gift that keeps on giving. Normally, I take a few minutes to address his follies. That won't be necessary today. His column, "G.O.P. Dog Days?" today was so, let's say, "evocative" that as of early afternoon it had prompted 653 readers' comments in the Times' on-line "comments" section. Needless to say, the vast … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol’s Canine Comments
Howard Dean Stepping Down at DNC
This just in from Chris Cillizza: Former Vermont governor Howard Dean, who rose to national prominence during a failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, will not seek a second term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, clearing the way for a loyalist of President-elect Barack Obama to be named to the soon to be vacant post. The news of … [Read more...] about Howard Dean Stepping Down at DNC
Reading Gore, Lizza, and O’Rourke
In addition to Frank Rich's fine NYT column, about which I wrote here, there was a lot of good stuff to read yesterday -- and reading was what I was doing to try to to take my mind off the Steelers' loss to the Colts, a game they should have won but let slip away. (I'm looking at you, Big Ben. Thanks for the interceptions, the first two at terrible times in the game. And thanks … [Read more...] about Reading Gore, Lizza, and O’Rourke
Book Review: A Children’s Book, ‘A Few Good Greek Myths’
I don't know how many children's books, if any, have been reviewed on The Moderate Voice. Additionally, I don't know how many children, if any, read The Moderate Voice. But I do know that thousands of intelligent, dedicated, loving parents and grandparents, who deeply care about what their youngsters read, do religiously read these "pages." Now that I have stroked your … [Read more...] about Book Review: A Children’s Book, ‘A Few Good Greek Myths’
Obama Sends Message: Lieberman Should Caucus With Democrats
The Huffington Post reports that President Elect Barack Obama has made it known that he wants to continue to let Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman caucus with the Democrats, despite a clamor from some progressive to have Lieberman stripped of his committee chairmanship and basically shunned due to his active and vocal support of losing presidential candidate … [Read more...] about Obama Sends Message: Lieberman Should Caucus With Democrats
Political Quote Of The Day: How The Republicans Can Get Out Of The Wilderness
Our political Quote of the Day comes from centrist writer and former adviser to then-President Bill Clinton and then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani John Avlon, on how the GOP can get out of the political wilderness: Obama ultimately won 60 percent of moderate voters, and independents favored him by 8 percentage points. Twenty percent of self-described conservative voters … [Read more...] about Political Quote Of The Day: How The Republicans Can Get Out Of The Wilderness
Franken Edges Closer in Minnesota
The Minnesota Senate race, now in its post-election is nothing if not intriguing. I wrote yesterday evening that Coleman's margin over Franken had narrowed to just 239. Well, it was down this morning to 204, according to the Star Tribune (via Chait), and CNN now has it at 206. Which is truly remarkable, given that almost 2.9 million votes were cast (or have been counted … [Read more...] about Franken Edges Closer in Minnesota
Obama Should Be Like Bush
At The New Republic today, Jonathan Cohn argues that has actually accomplished a great deal as president, from overhauling the tax code to reforming education to gutting the regulatory state to rewriting "long-standing doctrine on foreign policy and human rights" to launching "a war that overthrew a dictator, destabilized a region, and committed the U.S. to an occupation whose … [Read more...] about Obama Should Be Like Bush
Poll: Bush Disapproval Rating Breaks 60 Year Record As More Unpopular Than Truman
President George Bush made history today -- by getting the highest disapproval rating of any President in 60 years, according to CNN: As President-elect Obama visits the White House, a new national poll suggests that the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most unpopular president in the six decades since presidential approval ratings were first … [Read more...] about Poll: Bush Disapproval Rating Breaks 60 Year Record As More Unpopular Than Truman
Gallup Poll: Bush And Obama Flip Sides In Popularity
A new Gallup poll provides an interesting context to the meeting between President George Bush and President Elect Barack Obama: the Republican has a job disapproval rating of 66 percent while the Democrat has a favorable rating of 70 percent. These are apples and oranges. And -- most assuredly -- the still toxic political environment of 21st century America with its nonstop … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Bush And Obama Flip Sides In Popularity
Obama Fireside Chat
Oklahoma’s David vs. Goliath—Follow-Up
This summer, while traveling through rural Oklahoma, I had the unique opportunity to observe first-hand the campaign for a national office---the Oklahoma seat in the U.S. Senate---being conducted at the grassroots level in the small town of Claremore, Oklahoma. I wrote about it in "Oklahoma's Rice vs. Inhofe -- David vs. Goliath?" Although the young Democratic Oklahoma … [Read more...] about Oklahoma’s David vs. Goliath—Follow-Up
The War: Hagler vs. Hearns
Professional boxing in the 21st century has fallen into a worn state of disrepair, and this is something that still makes me sad. Persistent instances of corruption, rumors of fixed fights and dishonest promoters getting rich while fighters sometimes work as slaves have taken what was once one of the most closely followed and popular sports in the world and transformed it into … [Read more...] about The War: Hagler vs. Hearns
Obama to Close Guantanamo Bay
President-elect Obama has hit the ground running and is already preparing plans to close Guantanamo Bay, a move championed by legal scholars (aka elitist terrorist-lovers in some circles) from both parties. But what to do with the detainees? Under plans being put together in Obama's camp, some detainees would be released and many others would be prosecuted in U.S. criminal … [Read more...] about Obama to Close Guantanamo Bay
Around The Sphere
NOTE: Now that the election is over our famous Around The Sphere linkfest reverts to its original form -- offering you links from a variety of weblogs, not all of them to political posts. Linked posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. A MUST READ ON OBAMA'S ELECTION: Taylor Owen at Oxblog (one of TMV's favorite sites.) The Controversy Among … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
Moving On
In my evolution from a would-be reformer of the GOP to a supporter of President-elect Obama, I have been asked the inevitable “why” and “how” questions -- and I have answered those questions, indirectly. But I’ve never gone so far as to admit what I will admit now: I am no longer a Republican. I am no longer a conservative. To be clear: I still believe in many of the … [Read more...] about Moving On