New Hampshire has always been important during the primary season but in recent years it has evolved into a swing state, voting for Bush in 2000 and Kerry in 2004. Overall however the trend is towards the Democrats. President: Senator McCain has always been popular in New England and he is probably one of the few GOP contenders who would have a chance in New Hampshire. But … [Read more...] about Election 2008: New Hampshire
Election 2008: Nevada
At the risk of making a bad joke it is fair to say that both parties will be gambling on a win in the Silver State this November. President: Both McCain and Obama are expected to spend a lot of time in Nevada, a state that has been moving from the GOP to a swing state. It voted twice for Clinton and twice for Bush but has generally voted Republican for President. Recent … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Nevada
Election 2008: Nebraska
Although Nebraska is a basically Republican state there have been some Democrats who have managed to become quite successful here, including former Senator Bob Kerry. But for the moment the GOP remains largely in the drivers seat. President: Only the most optimistic Obama supporter would expect him to carry Nebraska. The polls all show McCain with a wide lead. Safe … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Nebraska
Election 2008: Montana
Montana is one of the few states to have a race for Governor in 2008 but there will be little excitement attached to most of the contests in November. President: Montana is part of the Republican oriented Rocky Mountain region but it has shown a willingness to vote for Democrats, supporting Bill Clinton in 1992. Obama will make this a target state and recent polls have shown … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Montana
Mass Shooting at My Unitarian Church in Knoxville Today
Terrible news this morning. Some man entered our church with a shotgun and started shooting I was not there this morning as we had friends visiting from out of town. But we seriously considered attending with our friends. This is such a shock to the community here. Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church is such a welcoming community. Though it's decidedly more … [Read more...] about Mass Shooting at My Unitarian Church in Knoxville Today
Brandon McInerney: No 14-year-old deserves the threat of life in prison
Last week a California judge ruled that trying a 14-year-old boy accused of murder in an adult court does not violate the constitution: "I cannot say that this is unconstitutional," said Ventura County Superior Court Judge Douglas Daily. Teenage defendant Brandon McInerney of Oxnard is charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in connection with the Feb. 12 killing … [Read more...] about Brandon McInerney: No 14-year-old deserves the threat of life in prison
McCain Cashing in on Big Oil Bucks? Well, yes, but…
The Washington Post attempts to make some hay over oil company contributions to the McCain campaign following his call for increased domestic oil production. Here's the lede, just to set the tone of the piece. Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile … [Read more...] about McCain Cashing in on Big Oil Bucks? Well, yes, but…
McCain Campaign Ad: Obama Chose Going To Gym Over Visiting Troops
Republican Senator John McCain's presidential campaign opened both political barrels on rival Democratic Senator Barack Obama with a short but blistering TV campaign ad that charges that Obama chose to go to the gym rather than visit wounded troops because the Pentagon wouldn't allow cameras to go with him. It's an ad (watch ad yourself at the bottom of this post) that is … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign Ad: Obama Chose Going To Gym Over Visiting Troops
From Iraq’s Azzaman Newspaper: Whoever in Iraq Can Obama ‘Really’ Trust?
One might call it the $2 trillion question: Of all of the people, parties and sources of information in Iraq, who should Obama turn to for 'accurate information' about what's really going on there? It's a question that Fateh Abdulsalam of Iraq's Azzaman newspaper endeavors to answer in this op-ed article written just before Obama's arrival there last week. Abdulsalam … [Read more...] about From Iraq’s Azzaman Newspaper: Whoever in Iraq Can Obama ‘Really’ Trust?
Obama Overseas Trip Poll Bounce? Widens Lead Over McCain To 7 Points
The latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll indicates Democratic party presumptive Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama may be enjoying a "bump" from his highly-touted -- and heavily covered -- overseas trip. He now has his highest numbers since Senator Hillary Clinton quit the Democratic presidential race: Barack Obama has stretched his lead over John McCain among national … [Read more...] about Obama Overseas Trip Poll Bounce? Widens Lead Over McCain To 7 Points
Berlin Rally
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Berlin Rally
Le Figaro Editorial: Obama ‘Superstar’ – ‘Mission Accomplished’
Whether or not it helps him get elected, there can be no doubt that with his world tour, Barack Obama has succeeded in dramatically improving America's image abroad - particularly in Europe. In his editorial for Le Figaro, Pierre Rousselin offers us a French perspective on the trip. In regard to whether Obama has the experience to lead, Rousselin writes: "Reputed to … [Read more...] about Le Figaro Editorial: Obama ‘Superstar’ – ‘Mission Accomplished’
Imagining a more effective, and humane, prison system
Talk Left's TChris points to Julia Sudbury's utopian imaginings of a world without prisons before acknowledging our prisons will remain a necessary evil. That said, he launches into a riff on what our criminal justice system absolutely should be: Rather than devoting a larger share of our shrinking resources to incarceration, society's dollars would be better spent on crime … [Read more...] about Imagining a more effective, and humane, prison system
How Wall Street Got Drunk
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about How Wall Street Got Drunk
Truly Bold Veep Choices
Newsweek asked, I answer: For Republican Senator John McCain, why not Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin? Ever hear of McCain-Feingold in reference to campaign finance reform? If a liberal, divorced Jewish Democrat won't fly with the GOP, why not someone McCain actually likes such as Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge? For Democratic Senator Barack Obama, the boldest … [Read more...] about Truly Bold Veep Choices
News Of The Week
In case you missed news developments this part week, here's a reprise: Obama greeted by cheering crowd of half million in Bulgaria. Mutters platitudes. Beautifully. McCain meets with Bulgarian-Americans in Duluth diner and eats cup of yogurt, promising nuclear arms for Sofia if elected. Democrats in Congress move to finish the job of bankrupting the country with … [Read more...] about News Of The Week
Krauthammer Admits, “Obama was likely to be president anyway.”
I am no fan of Charles Krauthammer. In fact, I find his commentary arrogant, extremely partisan, faulty, and, did I mention arrogant? However, his most recent column in the Washington Post, “Maliki Votes for Obama,” was a rare exception. In fact, Krauthammer was nearly one hundred percent accurate and truthful. First, he admits what many right-wingers have been loath … [Read more...] about Krauthammer Admits, “Obama was likely to be president anyway.”
The Company We Keep (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice post, Michael Winship, senior writer of the weekly public affairs program Bill Moyers Journal looks at torture and the truth. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its writers. The Company We Keep by Michael Winship At one point during the five and a half years John McCain spent as a prisoner of war in … [Read more...] about The Company We Keep (Guest Voice)
Alan Grayson: A Congressional Candidate Who Fights Against War Profiteering & Waste, For Accountability
As someone who is concerned about government accountability, I admire exceedingly Alan Grayson, now running for our 8th District here in Florida (see here and here). He's an attorney (see the Vanity Fair article about him here) who has aggressively and relentlessly pursued corrupt defense contractors/war profiteers in Iraq. Matt Stoller, who met and interviewed him, … [Read more...] about Alan Grayson: A Congressional Candidate Who Fights Against War Profiteering & Waste, For Accountability
Bloomberg Wants Independents To Organize To Increase Power
, It's like the old cliche popular in Spain in the 1970s after the death of dictator Francisco Franco when Spain successfully transitioned to democracy: if anarchists are really anarchists, how could they organize or even think about running for elections? And now, in a new twist on that thought, there's an idea from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who sparked an … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Wants Independents To Organize To Increase Power