I try to pace out my comments about Campaign Finance Reform to avoid burning out the few of you folks who care. But when the Wall Street Journal, the newspaper to the people who run the world, writes an editorial on the subject I can't let that just go by without a comment from a Moderate Voice. In The Reformers Who Ruined Politics the Journal vents that regulation is … [Read more...] about The WSJ on Campaign Finance Reform
Sarkozy’s First Year in Power: Has He Improved Franco-American Relations?
When Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president one year ago today, the US media was full of praise for him and expected a big improvement in transatlantic relations. Sarkozy's pro-American rhetoric was very much appreciated, because it was a big contrast to Gerhard Schroeder's US critical election campaigns. With Schroeder replaced by Angela Merkel and Chirac now replaced by … [Read more...] about Sarkozy’s First Year in Power: Has He Improved Franco-American Relations?
Burma: An Update
With an estimated 40,000 lives lost in the cyclone three days ago, the Burmese dictatorship has said they will today allow humanitarian aid to come into Burma, along with aid workers. There may be tremendous good come from this horrible disaster -- that the Burmese receive sypathetic and kind touches from others for once. -- that stories come out of Burma via the aid … [Read more...] about Burma: An Update
Hillary, the Gas Tax, and the “Elitism” of the Bush Presidency
In case you missed it, here's what Hillary had to say about her idiotic gas-tax holiday proposal on ABC's This Week: STEPHANOPOULOS: Economists say that's not going to happen. They say this is going to go straight into the profits of the oil companies. They're not going to actually lower their prices. And the two top leaders in the House are against it. Nearly every … [Read more...] about Hillary, the Gas Tax, and the “Elitism” of the Bush Presidency
Indianapolis Star Blogs Today’s Primary
Indianapolis Star ELECTION2008: A Couple of Snippets... If you haven't voted yet, Marion County Clerk Beth White offered this advice just before noon: Go now. "I'd recommend they get there right now, bring their ID and prepare to be patient," White said during a news conference in the clerk's office. Polls close at 6 p.m., and White said turnout already is looking less … [Read more...] about Indianapolis Star Blogs Today’s Primary
Michelle Obama Under Siege
All the flak over the Jeremiah Wright controversy notwithstanding, Obama seems to have pretty Teflon skin. Conservatives are banking that the same is not true of his wife. Also, I have Obama's new campaign anthem. Tell me I'm wrong. … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama Under Siege
Heavy Turnout in NC and Indiana
Political Wire: Charlotte Observer: "Long lines were reported this morning at some polling places across North Carolina in the state's first significant presidential primary election in two decades... Longtime N.C. political observers say that 1.5 million voters may participate in the historic Democratic primary." Indianapolis Star: "More voters have turned out in the … [Read more...] about Heavy Turnout in NC and Indiana
Two Presidents for the Price of One: Co-Presidents Michelle, Bill and Cindy
What do you have when you have two intelligent people who are married to one another and are suddenly in the White House and it's 2008 not 1778? I think you have some amalgamation of at least a president and a half, if not a dual presidency. Can one reasonably expect in this day and age for high profile spouses to suddenly become just gravy for the biscuits? Rather than … [Read more...] about Two Presidents for the Price of One: Co-Presidents Michelle, Bill and Cindy
Some Republicans Vote Democratic In Indiana As Limbaugh Urges Indiana GOP Listeners To Vote For Clinton
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has urged his Republican listeners to vote for Senator Hillary Clinton in today's Indiana primary, pointing to what he said is a double standard when it comes to cross-over voters, the Boston Globe reports -- and another newspaper reports signs of "hardcore" Republicans voting Democratic. Indiana's primary is open to Republicans … [Read more...] about Some Republicans Vote Democratic In Indiana As Limbaugh Urges Indiana GOP Listeners To Vote For Clinton
Is North Korea ready for China-style economic reform?
Yes, argues blogger Matt Dupuis; it's high time that Pyongyang was pressured to adopt the Beijing model. … [Read more...] about Is North Korea ready for China-style economic reform?
The Last First Lady: Transition from Society Balls, to Just Balls
We've seen our last First Lady of a certain kind. Genteel, always attempting to be background instead of foreground or middle ground. Laura Bush will likely be the last of a long line of smart women who stayed behind the scenes for the most part, or else led lives 'out there', like Eleanor Roosevelt who most of the time seemed as though she wasn’t married to the President, but … [Read more...] about The Last First Lady: Transition from Society Balls, to Just Balls
Clinton Camp Expectations Game In North Carolina Democratic Primary? Suspected Leak To Drudge About 15 Point Loss
There's a new SCREAMING HEADLINE!!!! on the Drudge Report -- which many suspect to be the opening salvo in a day when the camps of Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama will try all day to "set expectations" on how the race will turn out...in other words, give out disinformation so when the votes are counted they can then declare it a huge victory even if it is … [Read more...] about Clinton Camp Expectations Game In North Carolina Democratic Primary? Suspected Leak To Drudge About 15 Point Loss
“She’s Running a Right-Wing Campaign”
Everything published in and by The Weekly Standard about the Democratic presidential race seems to contain an ulterior motive or two -- and that goes for Krazy Kristol and his NYT columns, too -- but sometimes, those times being rare, it manages to hit on the truth whether it intended to or not. Case in point: Noemie Emery's "An Exceedingly Strange New Respect -- Hillary … [Read more...] about “She’s Running a Right-Wing Campaign”
Gingrich on fixing the GOP
Newt Gingrich has credibility on how to fix the GOP since he has done it before. He just sent out My Plea to Republicans: It's Time for Real Change to Avoid Real Disaster He observes the dropping confidence of the public in the GOP and suggests policy initiatives that might connect with enough voters to head off some election loses. Part of his alarm may be that once the … [Read more...] about Gingrich on fixing the GOP
Final Zogby Tracking Poll: Obama Widens Lead In North Carolina And Statistically Tied With Clinton In Indiana
The final Zogby daily tracking poll gives Democratic Senator Barack Obama a wider lead in his battle with Senator Hillary Clinton in the North Carolina Democratic Presidential primary -- but the primary in Indiana remains too close to call: On the strength of good polling numbers on the final day before the primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina, Barack Obama of … [Read more...] about Final Zogby Tracking Poll: Obama Widens Lead In North Carolina And Statistically Tied With Clinton In Indiana
Indiana Primary
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News … [Read more...] about Indiana Primary
Brooks on Clinton, Obama
In two words -- combat and composure -- the NYT's David Brooks says a lot about the fundamental difference between Clinton and Obama. Excerpts: Clinton signaled that she wasn’t going to concede even an inch to the vast elitist conspiracy. She wasn’t going to feel guilty about ignoring the evidence. She was going to stomp on it, flay it and leave it a twisted mass of … [Read more...] about Brooks on Clinton, Obama
New voters storm into the system
Happy as the Republicans may be with their recent voter ID victories, they might want to rethink their strategy in light of yesterdays news that more than 3.5 million new voters registered in the first three months of the year. Many of us believe those Voter ID laws are clearly intended to block the vote -- if not, why not advocate, instead, Rick Hasen's suggestion that we … [Read more...] about New voters storm into the system
For McCain, There Goes the Roofers’ Vote
For all the talk regarding the necessity of winning the "blue collar" vote, our presidential candidates continue to show a puzzling lack of understanding when it comes to working class America. During a stop yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina, John McCain took a question from the audience which was purportedly on immigration. Several audience members questioned McCain … [Read more...] about For McCain, There Goes the Roofers’ Vote
John McCain’s ‘Frightening’ Strategy
While at WORLDMEETS.US, we have seen a good deal of support for John McCain in the Portuguese-speaking countries ofBrazil and Portugal, chiefly due to McCain's promise to include Brazil in the G8 and his relatively liberal trade policies, this op-ed from Portugal's Jornal de Negicios is decidedly concerned about what might happen under a McCain presidency. After examining … [Read more...] about John McCain’s ‘Frightening’ Strategy