The New York Times has an editorial on Quality Care at Bargain Prices that noticed the wide range of cost for end of life treatment cross the nation. Few will be surprised to discover that doctors in high-expenditure institutions are typically paid on a fee-for-service basis, which means they earn more if they do more. Mayo Clinic doctors, by contrast, are on salary and have … [Read more...] about Health Care: Salary vs Fee for Service
Time Poll: Clinton Leads By 6 In Pennsylvania And Obama Faces Obstacles
A new Time magazine poll shows Senator Hillary Clinton is leading by 6 points in Pennsylvania by holding on to her core constituencies -- while rival Senator Barack Obama faces some short and long term obstacles: Backed by more than half of all white female Democrats, Hillary Clinton holds a six point lead over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, a new statewide poll by TIME … [Read more...] about Time Poll: Clinton Leads By 6 In Pennsylvania And Obama Faces Obstacles
Attack Ads Give Way to Whispers
Holly Robinson alerted several of us to a story in yesterday's Philadelphia Daily News, which was highlighted at Taegan Goddard's Political Wire. The gist of it is that campaign attack ads have all but disappeared leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, but negative campaigning continues via campaign staff on media conference calls and other such indirect forums. Money … [Read more...] about Attack Ads Give Way to Whispers
Spousal Endorsements Hit the Weeklies
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both received glowing endorsements this week, although in a slightly unusual format. Firstly, the endorsements were printed in US Weekly. Secondly, they were from Obama and Clinton’s respective spouses. Spouse Debate 2008! the headline exclaimed. Who Knows The Candidates Best? Soundbite: “Entering into a presidential race is a very … [Read more...] about Spousal Endorsements Hit the Weeklies
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere April 10, 2008
The war in Iraq has begun to take center stage with the big hearings in Congress. The Democrats' tooth and nail battle continues in Pennsylvania. And the blogosphere continues to boil with political posts galore. Here's our linkfest taking you to some of them on weblogs of differing opinions. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its … [Read more...] about Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere April 10, 2008
Big Pharma & A Killer Ruling Expected From George Bush’s Activist Supreme Court
There is an old saying that Americans have to live with the decisions of the Supreme Court for the rest of their lives and then some, but that takes on a perverse new meaning for those who are maimed or their lives cut short by shoddily researched and falsely advertised medications that are inadequately vetted by the Food and Drug Administration and let slide by President … [Read more...] about Big Pharma & A Killer Ruling Expected From George Bush’s Activist Supreme Court
Sir Elton John: Racist
Too provocative of a title? I'll let you be the judge, but it calls attention to the unending rhetorical frenzy engendered by the Democratic primary race. The latest example came at a fundraising concert for Hillary Clinton put on by Sir Elton John. Some of his comments caught the attention of the media quickly. "I never cease to be amazed at the misogynist attitude of some … [Read more...] about Sir Elton John: Racist
Six Teenage Girls Beat Up Girl For MySpace Posting And Video It
When I was a kid I watched The Three Stooges to get my fix of violent comedy. Now a lot of kids and teens watch the real thing and laugh watching Jackass (that's an MTV show, not a candidate running for President). When I was a kid, fights, or gang-type "jumpings," were furtive. Now some teens video their deeds, hoping to get it on YouTube so everyone could see what they … [Read more...] about Six Teenage Girls Beat Up Girl For MySpace Posting And Video It
‘Mental Complexes’ Result in Western Sympathy for Tibet
'NO SMOKING' Will it be possible to persuade Western governments and public opinion that China is the victim of Tibetan 'running dogs'? In this op-ed from Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, published before the voyage of the Olympic torch began, Hong Kong television commentator Dr. Qiu Zhenhai explains how the Beijing government can turn the public relations battle in its favor. Far … [Read more...] about ‘Mental Complexes’ Result in Western Sympathy for Tibet
Obama Has 10 Point Lead Over Clinton In Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
A new Gallup Daily tracking poll shows Senator Barack Obama now has a 10 point lead over Senator Hillary Clinton in their spirited battle for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination -- and that other polling trends aren't good news for the Clinton campaign. Other polls continue to show Obama holding and maintaining a lead. And while this has happened before (remember … [Read more...] about Obama Has 10 Point Lead Over Clinton In Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
The Petraeus-Crocker Autocracy
The nation's elected lawmakers of both parties have just spent two days pleading with two bureaucrats to give them some idea of when our young people will stop being killed and maimed thousands of miles from home. Who empowered David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker to make the judgement that progress in Iraq was “fragile and reversible” and that consideration of any new … [Read more...] about The Petraeus-Crocker Autocracy
The Spirit vs the Agreement on Public Financing of Campaigns
I have to admit that I am torn by the notion that Obama may bypass public financing It backs out of an agreement while also respecting the intention behind the agreement. For me the intention behind the public financing of campaigns is to minimize the disproportionate influence of special interests while reducing the amount of time a candidate needs to spend pandering for … [Read more...] about The Spirit vs the Agreement on Public Financing of Campaigns
The Condi-for-Veep Non-Story Story
There isn't much to it, but it isn't going away. I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago, thinking that that would, for the time being, be that, but, well, that wasn't that. Here's what we know: Condi went to Grover Norquist's weekly morning gathering for right-wing crackpots and wowed the head crackpot himself. Over the weekend, pro-Condi flack-hack Dan Senor told George … [Read more...] about The Condi-for-Veep Non-Story Story
Very Important Tibetan Lama To Visit USA Soon
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is no ordinary Tibetan monk. His upcoming visit to the USA, the first outside his home in exile in India, can be considered as 'historic'. There are speculations that the Karmapa, 22-year-old Buddhist monk, may emerge as the successor to the Dalai Lama in case the latter decides to step down, especially in view of the … [Read more...] about Very Important Tibetan Lama To Visit USA Soon
Progress Report Dog & Pony Show, Day 2: Kicking The Can Down the Road to 2009
To everything/There is a season/And a time for every purpose, under heaven/A time to be born, a time to die/A time to plant, a time to reap/A time to kill, a time to heal/A time to laugh, a time to weep. -- ECCLESIASTES 3: 1-8 The second and final day of Iraq progress report testimony before by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker is as easy to sum up as the … [Read more...] about Progress Report Dog & Pony Show, Day 2: Kicking The Can Down the Road to 2009
Fragile and Reversible: The Truth about the Iraq War and Occupation
Testifying before Congress yesterday, General Petraeus said that progress in Iraq is "fragile and reversible" and, according to the NYT, recommended that "consideration of any new drawdowns of American troops be delayed until the fall, making it likely that little would change before Election Day... [He] refused under persistent questioning from Senate Democrats to say under … [Read more...] about Fragile and Reversible: The Truth about the Iraq War and Occupation
Edit your comments!
Disqus has added a feature that is sure to make many of you who post comments happy: Inline comment editing! Yes ladies and gentlemen, after you post a comment, you will see text that says "Edit" underneath it. If you have a spelling mistake, misspoken idea, etc, you can click "Edit". Then make your corrections and click "Save Changes". Now if they can only invent … [Read more...] about Edit your comments!
Beginning of the End?
From today's WaPo: ... many Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues in decrying the days of open-ended war and an open U.S. checkbook, and in demanding to know what the administration is doing to pressure the Iraqi government and military to take responsibility for its own fate. "We're a generous people," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), "but our patience is not … [Read more...] about Beginning of the End?
The Passage of the Torch: In a Word, a ‘Fiasco’
Soul-searching over the passage of the Olympic Torch through France and through the West in general has reached a fever pitch, and the question on the minds of many is: As justified as the protesting in London, Paris and now San Francisco may be, what good will come of it?; and will it help those who today suffer under the iron fist of Beijing's one-party dictatorship? Yves … [Read more...] about The Passage of the Torch: In a Word, a ‘Fiasco’
Only Carter Could Go to Hamas?
Well, if only Nixon could go to China, who knows? I have to confess, when it comes to matters of Israel and the Palestinians, I'm lucky to be able to spell "Gaza" since it's not in my spell checker. When I get confused, I turn to my own personal authority on All Matters Jewish, The One True Tami. Her Hebrew bona fides are fine by me and include having studied extensively in … [Read more...] about Only Carter Could Go to Hamas?