Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about Flag of Our Veterans
Adios Phoenix. Job Well Done.
A rather sad story of success comes out of NASA this week. After months of literally groundbreaking success in one of the most harsh, bleak locations on the red planet, the Mars Phoenix Lander has fallen silent. WASHINGTON -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months. As anticipated, seasonal decline in sunshine at the … [Read more...] about Adios Phoenix. Job Well Done.
VETERANS DAY 2008
I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called "possession of my soul." There are times since, I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers. But be that as it may, those of us … [Read more...] about
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
On Frontline tonight: In the wake of yet another hard-fought and bitter presidential campaign, FRONTLINE presents a spirited and revealing biography of Lee Atwater, the charming, Machiavellian godfather of modern take-no-prisoners Republican political campaigns. Through eye-opening interviews with Atwater’s closest friends and adversaries, the film explores the life of the … [Read more...] about Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
Remember The Day
I could try to write something eloquent about how we all need to honor the many who have served our country but I would prefer to let the rest of you simply take the time to remember. We all may complain about the trials of election time but it is worth remembering all of those who have sacrificed to give us these freedoms. Remember, they stood between us and bullets, we … [Read more...] about Remember The Day
The Irrelevant South
A raging debate in Democratic circles over the last few years has centered on the party's Southern - or non-Southern - strategy to victory. With the 2000 electoral map looking eerily like the 1860 map, many Democrats concluded that victory could come by simply ignoring the South. Yes, there were many African American voters to be earned in the South, but nowhere near enough to … [Read more...] about The Irrelevant South
Some Observations On Blogs
Now that we are slowly moving past Election 2008, I thought I might offer a few thoughts on my experiences with some of the bigger blogs. While I am sure some of you would disagree I think that my self proclaimed status as a slightly center right moderate is reasonable. As a result I tend to find myself in disagreement with both right and left blogs. Of course as someone who … [Read more...] about Some Observations On Blogs
A Frustrated Centrism That Can Lurch Left or Right
Last week Bill Moyers asked Kevin Phillips -- his latest book is Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism -- where he stood on the "punditocracy" debate over whether we are a center-left or center-right country: Well, I think the demographics of the change that we started out discussing, which is the great rise in non-whites … [Read more...] about A Frustrated Centrism That Can Lurch Left or Right
Breaking News: Obama is Not Divine
Oh dear. It seems that some of the global media have shifted from being overawed to stating the blindingly obvious - which is not to say, of course, that sometimes the blindingly obvious doesn't include some very good points. Papers around the world are picking up on a new "kind" of politics in the election of Obama - something to do with charisma, heightened belief in the … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Obama is Not Divine
‘Why I Envy Americans Their Obama’: Gazeta Wyborcza Poland
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