Barack Obama started out running as a race-neutral candidate, but Jeremiah Wright and the "white working class demographic" made the issue inescapable, and the presidential campaign will benefit from having it out in the open. At a fund-raiser this weekend, he previewed the underbelly of the Republican attacks to come: “We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run,” … [Read more...] about “Did I Mention He’s Black?”
Zimbabwe Elections Collapse
More problems for the poor people of Zimbabwe as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of the runoff with dictator Robert Mugabe. His decision was based on some very real fears that supporters would be murdered as they went to the polls. Over the last couple of weeks Mugabe supporters have been killing opposition leaders and supporters. While Tsvangirai's … [Read more...] about Zimbabwe Elections Collapse
Tom Brokaw Becomes “Meet The Press” Russert Replacement Through Elections
When CBS News forced the retirement of controversial Evening News anchor Dan Rather, they replaced him temporarily with Bob Schieffer, an old-school CBS journeyman newsman who had the aura of solidity and objectivity of CBS's best news years. NBC has now opted for the same path with news that Tom Brokaw will be the late Tim Russert's replacement host on "Meet the Press" through … [Read more...] about Tom Brokaw Becomes “Meet The Press” Russert Replacement Through Elections
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere June 22, 2008
The race is heating up and this is still the political doldrum month of June. Here are some links to websites of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its writers. Barack Obama Told Supporters At A Fundraiser To Get Ready For The GOP To Play The Race Card and to Ed Morrissey this smells of political McCarthyism. Plumb Bob … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere June 22, 2008
The Personal Tragedy And Challenge Of Alcoholism Progression
How insidious a disease is alcoholism? Everyone knows by now that it can destroy lives and is hard to cure, but some lose sight of the ways in which it snowballs and grows -- often when the person who has it doesn't realize the extent of what's going on. A MUST READ for everyone comes from Dean Esmay (even for those who have clashed with Dean on the Internet over the years). … [Read more...] about The Personal Tragedy And Challenge Of Alcoholism Progression
Obama and High Gas Prices
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Obama and High Gas Prices
More on the CERN Black Hole Issue: We Get Answers
Following my original post on Europe’s CERN particle-physics lab's safety review of the massive, Large Hadron Collider in France and Switzerland, we received quite a bit of feedback by comments and e-mail. Some of the more compelling information provided is to be found at the LHC Facts web site. Rather than copying a lot of information here, I'll leave it to you to click … [Read more...] about More on the CERN Black Hole Issue: We Get Answers
Afghanistan: Of Fatigue & Fresh Insights
It is a commentary on our times that any report from Afghanistan and Iraq in the news blogs/media now provokes at best a cynical remark, or worst a yawn. But there are a few indefatigable columnists/journalists whose assessments of the ongoing tragic drama continues to provide fresh insights. Simon Jenkins, a distinguished journalist, is one of them. In a recent column in … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Of Fatigue & Fresh Insights
Barack Obama and the Muslim misinformation
As Barack Obama Fights the Smears, on this one he's learning he's got to do an even better job of how he fights it. Last night the News and Notes Reporters Round Table discussed the Monday incident where campaign workers barred two Muslim women from sitting behind the podium at a Detroit rally to prevent the women’s headscarves from appearing in media images. The campaign … [Read more...] about Barack Obama and the Muslim misinformation
Solitary not solitary any longer. Now it’s “single-occupancy”
If you missed my co-blogger The Talking Dog's interview with attorney Rebecca Dick of the Washington, D.C. office of Dechert, LLP, who is representing a number of Afghan nationals currently detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, I urge you to go back and read it. Among the passages that struck me... We now know well how the Bush administration sought to redefine torture. Well it … [Read more...] about Solitary not solitary any longer. Now it’s “single-occupancy”
On Google and our brains. Smart questions. And Carr’s disappointing answers.
It's taken me a while to get around to Nicholas Carr's Is Google Making Us Stupid? in the July/August Atlantic, and I have no excuse. For all its assertion that we need to be immersed in narrative and longer stretches of prose, at 4,000 words, it's not even that lengthy an article! In it Carr says: The human brain is almost infinitely malleable. People used to think that our … [Read more...] about On Google and our brains. Smart questions. And Carr’s disappointing answers.
Pennsylvania Politics: Resolved To Continue Bigotry (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 The Moderate Voice or its writers. Pennsylvania Politics: Resolved to Continue Bigotry by Walter Brasch … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Politics: Resolved To Continue Bigotry (Guest Voice)
The World Will Once Again Clamor for America’s Leadership
A superb opinion piece in last Sunday’s (June 15) LA Times belatedly caught my attention (I have been on travel, and my computer crashed). It is by Ted Widmer, a former speechwriter for President Clinton, and Director of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University. Although my comments are almost a week late, Widmer’s words could not be more current, or relevant. In … [Read more...] about The World Will Once Again Clamor for America’s Leadership
FISA Compromise: “It’s Christmas at the White House” (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice post, blogger Kathy Kattenburg looks at the controversial bipartisan FISA compromise and the reaction to it and takes the Democrats to task for going along with it. This Guest Voice is cross posted at Comments from Left Field. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its writers. "It's Christmas at the White … [Read more...] about FISA Compromise: “It’s Christmas at the White House” (Guest Voice)
U.S.-Iraq Security Deal a Bush Scheme to ‘Steal’ the Election for McCain
What is Iran's take on the new long-term security agreement being negotiated between Washington and Baghdad? Teheran's leadership charges that beyond insuring that Iraq becomes a legal launching pad for American attacks on neighboring countries and depriving of its sovereignty, the deal is also part of President Bush's scheme to persuade a war-weary America that Iraqis want … [Read more...] about U.S.-Iraq Security Deal a Bush Scheme to ‘Steal’ the Election for McCain
Blogger Reaction to Obama’s Support of the FISA ‘Compromise’
Certainly he's disappointed many of his supporters. As I said, while I more or less expected it, I felt a distinct thrill of disappointment when I read his statement. While I realize that liberal Dems tend to tack to the right once they know they've got the nod, it seems a bit...previous. We haven't even had the convention yet. Atrios named him Wanker of … [Read more...] about Blogger Reaction to Obama’s Support of the FISA ‘Compromise’
The European Union Gets Tough On Immigration
Many Americans think the hot-button immigration issue is mainly one raging in the United States and that it's only in the United States where passions are aroused. WRONG. Michael van der Galien writes: The European Union has just passed a law that is, quite simply, inhumane and utterly hypocritical. The law allows European governments to lock up illegal immigrants for a … [Read more...] about The European Union Gets Tough On Immigration
Adventures in Modern Miscommunications
It's a beautiful day in New York's scenic 22nd district, with clear skies, a gentle breeze and mild temperatures. In fact, were it not for my having helped to elect a socialist to our Congressional seat, I might have said it was darned near perfect. But... I digress. (Fear not. I'm in therapy twice a week now and my doctor says the prognosis is hopeful.) Returning to my … [Read more...] about Adventures in Modern Miscommunications
Obama’s Rejection Of Public Campaign Financing Video
A special closed-captioned version of the video has been released for any supporters of him who are disillusioned. Will it do the trick? YOU DECIDE. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Rejection Of Public Campaign Financing Video
Obama: Get Ready For GOP To Play The Race Card
In what has to be one of the most blunt preemptive political statements ever, Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama has warned supporters at a fund raiser about a rough campaign to come where he fully GOPers to play the race card: "It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy," Obama … [Read more...] about Obama: Get Ready For GOP To Play The Race Card