Democrats, some independents and some of the news media aren't the only ones who have some questions about whether in the long term GOP Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin will help the McCain-Palin ticket. One person voicing doubts is Republican strategist Mark Murphy, who gives the quote of the day: "I think she'll ultimately be a polarizer. After last night's … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Is Palin A Mistake Or Masterstroke?
Knowing Trolls By The Company They Keep
Any blog with an audience as diverse as The Moderate Voice is sure to have a few right-of-center trolls lurking under the bridge who rush out and kneecap any commentator with whom they disagree before rushing back to hide in the shadows and nibble on their stash of Gramm crackers. In a spare moment, I reviewed the comments from this crowd -- they know who they are, eh AR? -- … [Read more...] about Knowing Trolls By The Company They Keep
Cartoonists View The Republican Election
McCain Running Mate: Paul Zanetti, Australia … [Read more...] about Cartoonists View The Republican Election
The Sarah Palin Cone of Silence
Rumors are slowly crystallizing into confirmed reports when it comes to the dating phase of America’s relationship with Sarah Palin. Following our brief introductions, this particular shiddach will apparently be overseen by Team McCain adhering to ancient traditions – there will be no future dates without strict chaperones in attendance and the conversations will be passed … [Read more...] about The Sarah Palin Cone of Silence
Onward To November! Thirteen Thoughts On The Sorry State Of The Grand Old Party
(13.) The U.S. has moved so far to the right during the past eight years that people who would have been considered moderates in 2000 are viewed today as liberals and liberals are viewed as leftists. (12.) That's okay, because thanks to Bush-Cheney we live in a time of prosperity with stable energy prices and diminished dependence on imported oil, there is peace abroad and … [Read more...] about Onward To November! Thirteen Thoughts On The Sorry State Of The Grand Old Party
Microsoft ad: Seinfeld & Gates shoe shop flop
The new Microsoft ads started last night. Here's the first in the $300 million ad campaign featuring Jerry Seinfeld: … [Read more...] about Microsoft ad: Seinfeld & Gates shoe shop flop
The Elephant’s Elephant in the Room
An open letter to the Republican Party, I’ve for a long time believed that, in politics, the person is at least as important than the policies. That’s why the largely biographical Republican convention works pretty well for me. You can’t argue with a biography, and by any standard, McCain has one hell of a biography - and bearing in mind his accommodation in Vietnam, … [Read more...] about The Elephant’s Elephant in the Room
Sarah Palin enters her cocoon
I didn't watch McCain's speech tonight so I cannot offer any commentary on it. I'm still intrigued by McCain's first and only major decision as a candidate: the selection of Sarah Palin as VP. What do we know about what she brings to the ticket at this point? 1. She gives a great speech. She's media savvy and appears confident in public. 2. She's an outsider, from a … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin enters her cocoon
McCain Reaches Out To Center In Acceptance Speech
For more than a year Republican Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain walked a political tightrope, hoping to keep some of his 2000 moderate-independent voter support and attract GOP conservative base support. He jumped off the tightrope to successfully reunify his party. Tonight, in his party nominee acceptance speech, McCain jumped back on it-- at least for a while -- and … [Read more...] about McCain Reaches Out To Center In Acceptance Speech
Maverick McCain Makes His Case
When I wrote about Senator Obama's address last week I questioned whether a well-done convention speech really matters that much. I still have serious doubts on that topic. At one point, these speeches were important as a way to introduce the candidate to the voters. In a era without television or mass media campaigns the conventions were a way for voters to learn about the … [Read more...] about Maverick McCain Makes His Case
‘Americans Appear Shut Out of Iraqi Oil Field In Favor of China’: From Iraq’s Azzaman
Iraq's Governorate of Wasit What some people call 'victory in Iraq' often looks alot more like a slap in the face. According to this news item from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper, the Iraqi government has decided - at Iran's urging - to give the rights to one of Iraq's largest oil fields to China's state-owned oil firm, according to the article, making it 'harder for … [Read more...] about ‘Americans Appear Shut Out of Iraqi Oil Field In Favor of China’: From Iraq’s Azzaman
John McCain Liveblog
I went from "I'm not watching" to "I'm liveblogging" in the space of a minute. Let's see what ol' Straight Talk has for us. Catch it over at The Debate Link. UPDATE: My verdict? It was good. Very good. Far superior to Palin's nasty attack speech, a great motion to the center, surprisingly policy oriented, and very evocative of what drew many moderates to McCain in the first … [Read more...] about John McCain Liveblog
LiveBlogging the McCain Speech
9:11pm- They are showing the promo film on McCain. 9:12pm- McCain enters the stage and heads down the catwalk. Will try not to starting singing, "I'm too Sexy." 9:14pm- The crowd is still clapping. McCain has said about 100 thank yous. Will he beat Obama's thank yous? 9:17pm- McCain thanks President Bush. Expect the Obama campaign to use that in some ad sometime … [Read more...] about LiveBlogging the McCain Speech
Memo to David Gergen
David: Let me preface what I'm about to say by telling you that I am a fan. Your knowledge of public issues is encyclopedic and your insights into the major challenges facing the United States today are fascinating. Although partisan Republicans and Democrats may look askance at you for having served President Clinton after having served Presidents Reagan and Bush 1, … [Read more...] about Memo to David Gergen
Palin Accuses Obama-Biden Democrats Of Going After Her Family
But when ABC News asks for specifics, the allegation doesn't hold up. … [Read more...] about Palin Accuses Obama-Biden Democrats Of Going After Her Family
‘A Way Out of the Georgia Crisis for Russia and the West’: Le Figaro
As we Americans obsess about the presidential campaign, the Georgia crisis goes on -and is getting worse 'hour by hour,' according to French historian Alexandre Adler, aka/France's foremost neo-con and fan of President George W. Bush. But according to Adler there is a way out. He writes in part: "The general state of relations between Russia and the West is deteriorating … [Read more...] about ‘A Way Out of the Georgia Crisis for Russia and the West’: Le Figaro
Will McCain Be Hurt By Viewer Fatigue ?
Over the last couple of days I have begun to wonder if Senator McCain might be hurt by viewer fatigue. I don't mean to ask this question in a partisan sense but rather in a more general sense. If you think about it we have had over a month worth of 'events' for the average viewer to deal with. First a couple weeks of the Olympics, then the Democratic convention and now the … [Read more...] about Will McCain Be Hurt By Viewer Fatigue ?
Lessons in Hypocrisy
Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly and Dick Morris demonstrate the art of holding political allies and opponents to two completely different standards as only a Fox News political hack can. … [Read more...] about Lessons in Hypocrisy
On The Obama Palin Experience Debate: Does Experience Really Matter?
The debate is now on about who has more -- or less -- experience. But does experience really matter or not? One of TMV's favorite writers, James Hertsch, who used to write under a pen name on weblogs, has yet another MUST READ on this issue. … [Read more...] about On The Obama Palin Experience Debate: Does Experience Really Matter?
‘U.S. Republicans: The Reawakening of Moral Intolerance’ – Le Figaro, France
From what we can gather so far from central Europe, there is little love for Sarah Palin or the McCain campaign's apparent embrace of the Karl Rove election strategy. Author, historian and political scientist Nicole Bacharan finds irony in the tactics used by the Republican Party, and fears that the more tolerant America that appeared to be emerging may once again be … [Read more...] about ‘U.S. Republicans: The Reawakening of Moral Intolerance’ – Le Figaro, France