LISTEN to The Capitol Steps on-line [or on your local NPR affiliate]: This year's and last year's Fourth of July broadcasts are available for download here in RealAudio format. Fourth of July 2008 Edition: Politics Takes A Holiday! NEW Recorded live at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC. (One half hour: 4.5 MB) RealAudio/RA Fourth of July 2007 Edition: Politics Takes A … [Read more...] about The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes A Holiday!
Helms dead at 86: a harbinger of things to come
Conservative icon dies. Long live the Millennials: Today we celebrate the spirit of America, which always has been one of hope. It's elusive this summer, with a war raging and the economy plunging, but there's always one promising place to look: our kids. And in many ways, youths today embody more promise of a better tomorrow than we've seen in years. They're voting and … [Read more...] about Helms dead at 86: a harbinger of things to come
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 4th
A regular feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) A new poll has affirmed the centrality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the worldview of most Middle Easterners. "According to the study, 88 percent of Egyptians rank it among the top three most important issues [facing the region], while 100 percent of Jordanians do the same. In … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 4th
Montana Gets Ready For 4th Of July As Obama Visits And Obama Campaign Ads Air
ROUNDUP, Montana -- Driving into Montana last night, one thing was clear as my Chevy Venture van passed through various towns and cities: Montana was celebrating the 4th of July bigtime, with roadside stands capped with signs screaming "FIREWORKS", and sporadic bursts of initial fireworks lighting up the state's famous big sky. But this morning, something else was clear: … [Read more...] about Montana Gets Ready For 4th Of July As Obama Visits And Obama Campaign Ads Air
Jesse Helms Has Died
MSNBC: Former Republican Senator Jesse Helms dies at 86 … [Read more...] about Jesse Helms Has Died
Is General Wesley Clark a “Swiftboater”?
Happy Fourth of July. I actually got a head-start on the holiday because I read the July 4 issue of that great military newspaper, the Stars and Stripes, on July 3. You see, because of the time difference, the Middle East edition of the Stars and Stripes is published around 2 PM Central Standard Time, in effect “the day before.“ In the July 4 issue there is an opinion … [Read more...] about Is General Wesley Clark a “Swiftboater”?
The Rocket’s Red Glare May Be Chinese (Guest Voice)
This is a Guest Voice post by journalism professor and author Walter Brasch who is also a syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and president of the Pennsylvania Press Club. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. The Rocket's Red Glare May Be Chinese by Walter Brasch Wearing a pith helmet and brandishing a … [Read more...] about The Rocket’s Red Glare May Be Chinese (Guest Voice)
America’s Founding CEO (Guest Voice Interview)
On the 4th of July besides the (inevitable) barbecues, family time and the (non-political-campaign-related) fireworks, it's a day to ponder America's beginnings and the people who made America what it is -- like America's founding CEO. America's Founding CEO by Bill Steigerwald They don't make American presidents like George Washington anymore, and they never will. As … [Read more...] about America’s Founding CEO (Guest Voice Interview)
Europe and U.S. Equally Cruel to Migrant Workers
It used to be that Latin Americans viewed Europe as far more humane than the United States because of the way undocumented workers there were treated. No more ... According to this editorial from Diario Co Latino of El Salvador: "According to news coming from the Old Continent, a law passed by the European Parliament on the 18th of this month not only permits the … [Read more...] about Europe and U.S. Equally Cruel to Migrant Workers
Pursuit of Barbecue
Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about Pursuit of Barbecue
Australians Wish ‘Happy Birthday to the Land of the Free’
From the people of WORLDMEETS.US to all the readers of and contributors to The Moderate Voice, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. Today we'll be covering the global reaction to the Fourth of July, starting with an editorial of thanks to America from Australia's Gold Coast: "THIS being the birthday of the United States of America, it is worth remembering that the Land Of The Free … [Read more...] about Australians Wish ‘Happy Birthday to the Land of the Free’
Happy Independence Day 2008
WATCHING FIREWORKS (Coney Island, New York, 1962) By Bruce Davidson/Magnum Photos … [Read more...] about Happy Independence Day 2008
Iraq War: Graphic Novelists’ ‘Daring’ View
In India many boys of my generation in school grew up on a staple diet of American/British comic books (to the great annoyance of our parents who felt we were neglecting our textbooks). I was delighted to read The Independent report that comic/graphic books are emerging stronger and gaining popularity in view of the failure of the media to satisfy public thirst for information … [Read more...] about Iraq War: Graphic Novelists’ ‘Daring’ View
Starbucks fumbles
My nephew works at Starbucks. He tells me that Starbucks gossip got it right: Talk about a company that's jerking around customers and employees! It makes the big store closings announcement, then leaves employees in the dark about whether they have jobs or not. On top of that, customers are wondering if their favorite Starbucks will remain open. (And all day, employees have … [Read more...] about Starbucks fumbles
Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq (Updated)
Update: The anticipated overreaction is happening, but it seems to be most flagrant in the MSM. As a result, Barack Obama has given another press conference, and has issued an email confirming that he has, in fact, been very consistent. Some reaction from the blogosphere has been added after original post. A question: Why would the MSM be spinning this up so … [Read more...] about Obama starts to “un-nuance” Iraq (Updated)
How America Chooses its Leaders: What Brazilians Need to Know
As anyone who regularly visits the Moderate Voice or WORLDMEETS.US knows by now, the world's attention is riveted on the U.S. election campaign. And in every nation, different lessons - some of them cautionary - are being drawn. Writing for Brazil's Estadao, Lourdes Sola explains why American election campaigns - particularly this one - create so much emotion in the 'other … [Read more...] about How America Chooses its Leaders: What Brazilians Need to Know
The GOP’s Fred Thompson Returns
As a guest blogger on the lively site Red State.org -- this time giving his take on abortion, Barack Obama. Etc. He could be one of Senator John McCain's most useful surrogates since he has celebrity appeal (Law & Order sets are out on DVDs, bigtime and still run on USA Network). … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Fred Thompson Returns
The Jobs Report
Today we learned that in June, our economy lost roughly 62,000 jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Along with this, we learned that even more jobs were lost in May than initially thought. The unemployment rate is remaining stable at 5.5% -- this has to do with the very narrow BLS definition of "unemployed" (you had a full time job, you lost it, you aren't … [Read more...] about The Jobs Report
Consider becoming a Poll Worker
For those of us gripped by a concern that Democracy is fragile and at risk here in the US here is a path towards restoring faith in government of the people and by the people. We Want You…to be a Poll Worker comes from the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, a prominent voice on Campaign and election reform. In the long term, we need to … [Read more...] about Consider becoming a Poll Worker
McCain’s Trip To Colombia
A concidence or not? You decide. And you can give your take on it one way or another in comments.. … [Read more...] about McCain’s Trip To Colombia