Not all the global commentary about the Olympic torch relay is serious. Le Monde's Robert Sole writes in this tongue-in-cheek op-ed, "Yes, clouds are threatening the Olympics in Beijing. But Chinese authorities have just given us some reassuring news: an arsenal is being prepared to make sure that it doesn't rain during the opening ceremonies on August 8. Twenty-one teams are … [Read more...] about ‘Reassuring News’ from the 2008 Beijing Games …
Hillary Clinton’s Booze Adviser
While I have enjoyed writing columns here at The Moderate Voice in the short time since Joe Gandelman invited me, I feel it only fair to give warning to both the Editor and our readers that I may be moving on to a new position which could stop me from doing this. You see, I am going to be announcing my availability to accept a position with the Hillary Clinton campaign as her … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Booze Adviser
Girl Jailed For YouTube Teen Beating Bailed Out By Dr. Phil Show Staff
How far will the staff of some shows go to get big ratings? This far: The TV talk show Dr. Phil McGraw confirmed on Saturday the fact that its staff bailed out of Florida jail one of the girls involved in the violent video posted on YouTube. The video depicted several teen girls beating one of their classmates while filming her. Mercades Nichols is one of the eight teen … [Read more...] about Girl Jailed For YouTube Teen Beating Bailed Out By Dr. Phil Show Staff
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Can’t Find A Job
Once he was the nation's Attorney General, appointed -- and constantly protected and defended by -- President George Bush. But he is considered by some to have been one of the worst Attorney Generals in recent history -- and now Alberto Gonzales is having a hard time finding a job at a law firm. Will he soon be applying for work at the temp agency Manpower? Maybe not yet … [Read more...] about Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Can’t Find A Job
The Long Walk
I was on a radio show earlier this year with Ed Morrissey of Hot Air during the period when it had begun to look obvious that Barack Obama would be the Democratic nominee. We were pondering the question of who in the Democratic party had the "guns" to go hang the bell on the cat of the Hillary Clinton Campaign. "But who," Ed asked, "is going to make that long walk down the hall … [Read more...] about The Long Walk
Quote Of The Day: Will Hillary Clinton Overreach On The Obama Small-Town Flap?
Andrew Sullivan on the quick and pointed response of Senator Hillary Clinton to the controversy over her rival for the Democratic nomination Senator Barack Obama's comments that people in small towns are bitter: The "bitter" spat is gold for Morris-Rove politics, which is why Clinton is exploiting it so baldly. It is exactly the kind of debate that has constructed American … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Will Hillary Clinton Overreach On The Obama Small-Town Flap?
Olympic Torch
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Olympic Torch
Quote Of The Day: On The Media And The Obama Bitter Small-Town Controversy
The quote of the day is by Ezra Klein, noting how campaigns are covered and the current furor over Democratic Senator Barack Obama's comment that people from small-towns are bitter: And this is why I don't like writing about the campaign. It's full of hollow scandals and ignored travesties. But you have to cover the hollow scandals, because they're are blown up until … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On The Media And The Obama Bitter Small-Town Controversy
Angry Clinton-Obama Democratic Presidential Nomination Race Is Field Day For Cartoonists
The tooth-and-nail race for the Democratic party 2008 Presidential nomination is a good thing -- for cartoonists. And the latest controversy promises to provide them with even more material. This weekend the new political angerfest is raging between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama over whether Obama's comments about small town people being bitter means the … [Read more...] about Angry Clinton-Obama Democratic Presidential Nomination Race Is Field Day For Cartoonists
Stranger in A Strange Land
There has been much weeping and gnashing of teeth among so-called conservatives because the selection of John McCain as the GOP nominee. Many have said that he isn't a true conservative (never mind that his American Conservative Union score says otherwise). Jonathan Rauch writes in the Atlantic that the problem isn't that the Arizona Senator isn't conservative enough, … [Read more...] about Stranger in A Strange Land
Odd Couple: Ahmadinejad and Cheney
This week the President of Iran was strutting around his nation's main uranium enrichment facility, claiming installation of 6,000 new centrifuges in addition to the existing 3,000 there--an ill-advised nose-thumbing gesture in the direction of the US and Israel. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a chronic sufferer from the need for attention on the world stage, who has been in … [Read more...] about Odd Couple: Ahmadinejad and Cheney
In Memoriam. Kenya Dog: 1992 – 2008 A Remarkable Life
My apologies for this being non-political. Today we took a trip which we knew had been coming for some time, but was made none the easier from knowing it. Our oldest dog, Kenya, (shown here in happier times with a number of her toys and gifts at Christmas) was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder last fall. She was put on an aggressive treatment schedule of Peroxicam and some … [Read more...] about In Memoriam. Kenya Dog: 1992 – 2008 A Remarkable Life
Nepal: Democracy Blooms Around India
After Pakistan and Bhutan, it is now the turn of Nepal (sandwiched between India and China) to savour the sweet flavour of democracy. It is a powerful rebuff to a certain section of the politicians and "experts" in the world who believe that the "war on terror", etc., can be fought by merely propping up (and bribing) dictators. Sudeshna Sarkar of IANS reports: "A deep … [Read more...] about Nepal: Democracy Blooms Around India
Obama’s Response to ‘Bitter’ Uproar
See Joe's earlier post for the background on this ridiculousness. Then see below for the video of Obama's response, delivered at a rally in Indiana. (The video is much more compelling than the transcripted response.) Clearly, as Andrew Sullivan notes, Obama is not backing down. And while Andrew (and I, and others) are distinctly biased, pro-Obama voices, I'll say … [Read more...] about Obama’s Response to ‘Bitter’ Uproar
Democratic And Republican Critics Blast Obama’s “Small-Town” Comments Calling It Presidential Disqualifier
If someone wanted to see how early 21st century American politics operates, they need look no further than the current (growing) flap over politically flat-footed comments Senator Barack Obama made giving his theory on why small town Pennsylvanians are bitter. It follows a pattern of American politics -- one Americans will see often in the coming months until Election Day. … [Read more...] about Democratic And Republican Critics Blast Obama’s “Small-Town” Comments Calling It Presidential Disqualifier
Presidential candidates ignore unmarried women & risk successful campaign
Overlooked So Far, The Nation's Unmarried Women in 2008 was released two days ago. You can read the summary here and the full report here. From the summary: So far unmarried women are mostly overlooked, but they are a key to this year’s campaign. A fast-growing demographic that is increasingly focused on politics, these single, divorced, and widowed women compose 26 percent … [Read more...] about Presidential candidates ignore unmarried women & risk successful campaign
Another Justice (Sic) Department Outrage
While the Bush administration's stewardship of the economy and that pesky war, among other areas of vital concern to the national interest, have been seriously lacking, its ability to make significant policy changes without bothering to tell anyone -- let alone come clean about their implications – has been nothing short of masterful. In one of the more insidious examples of … [Read more...] about Another Justice (Sic) Department Outrage
Beijing Olympics: Ban-Ki-Moon To Stay Away
China seems to be coming under heavy pressure with the world leaders threatening to keep away from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this summer. The latest on the list is Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations. The Independent newspaper describes this "as capping an extraordinary week of public relations disasters for the Chinese government as it … [Read more...] about Beijing Olympics: Ban-Ki-Moon To Stay Away
The Danger of a Good Story
[UPDATE, CLARIFICATION: If the comments of GS below, are any indication, my meaning in this piece may be less than clear. So, a little disclaimer, as it appears in my response below: "We have a health insurance crisis in our country. It must be dealt with. it is a scandal that in a land of plenty, with the best health care professionals and technology in the world, anyone … [Read more...] about The Danger of a Good Story
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE DEMOCRATIC END GAME
Rhodes Cook asks "Who has the right credentials?" One of the basic themes of the long-running Democratic nominating campaign between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speaks to the need for a new era in American politics. But increasingly it seems as though their race could be decided by a method quite old--a decision by the convention credentials committee that is voted up … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE DEMOCRATIC END GAME