I am with a group of aggressive and intense 'outsider' blogger-journalists covering the "OUTSIDE" of the Democratic Convention in Denver. We decided to skip the 'funny hats-balloon-drop-rags-to-riches speeches' and see throughout the week what happens behind the curtain. Stay tuned. Here I present 'narrative with few words.' Photos by my blogista colleague Wesley a/k/a … [Read more...] about The Democratic National Convention: A Bit of Oz
America’s ‘Sputnik Moment’ At the Beijing Olympics: From Germany’s Die Welt
Was America dissed at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics? Writing for Die Welt, Jamie F. Metzl writes: "There was no mistaking the power and symbolism of the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympic Games on August 8. That multimedia spectacular did far more than trace China's 5,000-year history; it was a statement that China is a major civilization that demands … [Read more...] about America’s ‘Sputnik Moment’ At the Beijing Olympics: From Germany’s Die Welt
The Wait Is (Finally) Over
Now we know who is the Democratic VP candidate. All in all, I think it's a good choice, but just not the game-changer that I think many were expecting. Biden of course brings experience, which is a nod to the Clinton supporters and adds gravitas to the Dems against McCain who has used his past experience as a strength. He also brings, the needed foreign policy experience … [Read more...] about The Wait Is (Finally) Over
Reaction To Obama’s Biden Vice President Pick: Solid, Masterful Or Uninspired Mistake?
Reaction to Democratic Party likely Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama's decision to pick Sen. Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential running mate continues to pour in. As expected, reaction is predictable along party lines but although partisans on both sides have surprisingly good and bad things to say about the choice. [Reaction even here on The Moderate Voice is varied. … [Read more...] about Reaction To Obama’s Biden Vice President Pick: Solid, Masterful Or Uninspired Mistake?
China plays to win
CBS Sunday Morning, with its long and thoughtful pieces, is the best of the Sunday lineup; one of the best news shows on TV. Last Sunday they looked at A Post American World: With The Rise Of China And Other Economies, The "Golden Age" Of American Influence May Be Coming To An End. RELATED: Podcasts of Paul Kennedy on The Nuts and Bolts of Empire and Measuring American Power … [Read more...] about China plays to win
‘Is Barack Obama Handsome?’: From the China Daily
It may be that much of the world is consumed with the upcoming U.S. conventions and the selection of Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee for Vice President, but in China, it seems, there is another battle raging: Is Barack Obama REALLY Handsome? … [Read more...] about ‘Is Barack Obama Handsome?’: From the China Daily
Biden’s First Speech As Obama’s Vice Presidential Selection
From the sound of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's newly-picked Vice Presidential choice, Sen. Joe Biden, Biden is going to keep the campaign lively and quotable: The Washingon Post's Chris Cillizza notes that the fight is now on -- to define Biden. The RNC has even unveiled a "Biden Gaffe Clock" -- once again showing how, in 21st century American politics, a "high … [Read more...] about Biden’s First Speech As Obama’s Vice Presidential Selection
Obama-Biden Ticket Bodes Well for Asian Subcontinent: The Times of India
The global reaction to Obama's choice of Joe Biden has just begun to emerge. Generally in the hours after a story like this breaks, newspapers around the world publish wire copy and only then, do they begin to opine for themselves. First out of the gate have been the Indians and, as is commonly the case, the British. Chidanand Rajghatta of The Times of India writes that … [Read more...] about Obama-Biden Ticket Bodes Well for Asian Subcontinent: The Times of India
Hewitt, Romney and the Anti-PUMA Particle
Students who swim in the deep end of the physics pool are well aware of the concept of antimatter. For each element of the "normal" universe which we take for granted, there is an equal and opposite dark sister lurking out there somewhere. The electron has its positron and the proton has the anti-proton hiding out in the depths of space and time. Analogies being a cheap … [Read more...] about Hewitt, Romney and the Anti-PUMA Particle
Why I’ll be boycotting (sort of) the conventions
Last week Jack Shafer asked, why doesn't the press boycott the Democratic and Republican conventions? Unless a brokered convention threatens to break out, these political gatherings tend to produce very little real news. Yet the networks, the newspapers, the magazines, and the Web sites continue to insist on sending battalions of reporters to sift for itsy specks of … [Read more...] about Why I’ll be boycotting (sort of) the conventions
The Beau Biden Question
One of the little side-stories to the selection of Senator Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate is that of his son Beau. I often am in disagreement with Senator Biden on issues and I suspect the same would be true of his son. But there is an aspect of his life for which I have the greatest respect, though it also raises some serious questions. Beau Biden is 37 years old … [Read more...] about The Beau Biden Question
Biden w/Obama in the land of Lincoln
Joe Biden just said at his Springfield introduction: It's great to be here on the steps of the old statehouse in the land of Lincoln. President Lincoln once instructed us to be sure to put your feet in the right place then stand firm. Today in Springfield I know my feet are in the right place. It's said that Biden and Obama are not personally close. This week Fresh Air … [Read more...] about Biden w/Obama in the land of Lincoln
McCain’s Damning Silence
TMV Columnist Shaun Mullen in his "John McCain: Playground Bully As Sissy," quotes Brandon Friedman at Vet Voice: ...while McCain has given so much to his country, thousands of veterans–past and present–have given as much or more. In this war alone, thousands of troops have lost limbs, been paralyzed, and been burned beyond recognition. So to see McCain resort to playing the … [Read more...] about McCain’s Damning Silence
John McCain: Playground Bully As Sissy
Brandon Friedman at Vet Voice nails it: "The fact is, John McCain's service during Vietnam was honorable and he sacrificed a great deal. But his service to the country carries no more weight than that of any other POW. Likewise, while McCain has given so much to his country, thousands of veterans--past and present--have given as much or more. In this war alone, thousands … [Read more...] about John McCain: Playground Bully As Sissy
Early (?) Vice-Presidential Picks Predictions
With the Obama-Biden Democratic ticket now set in stone, it is interesting to investigate who predicted such a pairing the earliest. I came across a web site, ObamaBiden08.org, that published an article on January 14, 2008, titled "Congratulations President Obama and VP Biden!" The article originally appeared on InnocentEnglish.com and was dated January 4, 2008. This is, … [Read more...] about Early (?) Vice-Presidential Picks Predictions
Biden: A Great Pick in Spite of the Concerns
My TMV colleague, Tony Campbell, says that Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his running mate is the death knell of the Democrats’ once-vaunted chances of taking the White House. Tony writes: If I were a Democrat, I would be really worried about this choice for two reasons: 1. Biden probably will not give up his bid to be re-elected to the United States Senate. The … [Read more...] about Biden: A Great Pick in Spite of the Concerns
What Drew Obama to Biden?
My wonderful co-bloggers already have several posts giving their takes on how the Biden choice will affect the presidential race (Tony Campbell thinks it's an awful choice; Jazz Shaw thinks the GOP will love it; Dorian de Wind and Robert Stein love it; and Shaun Mullen shouts out for his home-state boy). As for me, on the political side I'm decidedly meh. I've been persuaded … [Read more...] about What Drew Obama to Biden?
Biden’s Most Important Role For Obama
It could be THIS. UPDATE II: The Biden pick, what it means and what's likely to come next. Dick Polman weighs in. UPDATE III: I wasn't going to weigh in on this, since there are so many superb posts today here on The Moderate Voice reflecting different viewpoints about Biden and giving some new first-hand information about him as a person. But I got several emails asking … [Read more...] about Biden’s Most Important Role For Obama
Obama’s Biden Vice Presidential Pick: So How Did He Do?
You can vote and view the results HERE. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Biden Vice Presidential Pick: So How Did He Do?
2008 oPod and oPhone
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about 2008 oPod and oPhone