The Boston Globe Editorial Romney squandered a quality brand simply points out that Gov. Romney had the chops to run, and perhaps even win, as a Centrist, if only he had trusted his experience. The Mitt Romney Massachusetts voters elected governor in 2002 was not the same person who started running for president barely halfway through his term. The Romney we once knew could … [Read more...] about Requiem for a Centrist
Obama agrees to debate Clinton in Ohio before March 4
According to this audio and blog post by the Plain Dealer's Mark Naymik: Barack Obama [has] said he will debate Hillary Clinton in Ohio before the March 4 primary. "I think we said we will do two more debates, and at least one of them will be in Ohio," he told Plain Dealer editors and reporters Thursday afternoon during a phone interview. "I'm not sure exactly what … [Read more...] about Obama agrees to debate Clinton in Ohio before March 4
Guest Voice: Show Us The Shining City On The Hill
This is a Guest Voice column by Michael Reagan, Ronald Reagan's oldest son, who is also a popular radio talk show host. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its writers. Show Us The Shining City On The Hill by Michael Reagan Thanks to Mitt Romney, John McCain has all but wrapped up his party’s presidential … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Show Us The Shining City On The Hill
McCain at CPAC
Senator McCain just made his pitch to the Conservative Political Action Conference. It was Pro Life, Pro Gun, Pro War, Pro Tax cuts. To a moderate Independent like me it was frightening. I understand that this is the right wing of his base but his rhetoric was extreme and only Black vs White. Why does he not bother to try to demonstrate that he is willing and able to lead them … [Read more...] about McCain at CPAC
Reason and Common Sense Make Comeback in America
Are the 2008 elections destined to be bereft of the kind of divisive politics characterized by the Karl Rove electoral machine? Bernd Pickert of the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung writes, 'The conservative wing of the Republicans, the party's driving force under Bush, is torn by the battle between Huckabee and Romney and this time around will not have a major role. Finally, … [Read more...] about Reason and Common Sense Make Comeback in America
So What Else is Going on Around the World?
Here are a few interesting stories from around the world: 1) Chad: "At least 100 civilians were killed in last weekend's fighting between rebels and government forces in Chad, according to aid agencies." [The rebels seem to have agreed to a cease-fire, but there could now be a major refugee crisis.] 2) Tajikistan: "Tajikistan is in the grip of emergency food shortages, … [Read more...] about So What Else is Going on Around the World?
Back to Smoke-Filled Rooms
June Kronholz writes in the Wall Street Journal Democrats' Nightmare: Back to Smoke-Filled Rooms If Primaries Are a Draw, Elite Superdelegates Could Pick Candidate Here's a nightmare for the Democrats: The party's bigwigs, rather than its voters, may end up choosing the presidential nominee. If neither Illinois Sen. Barack Obama nor New York Sen. Hillary Clinton manages … [Read more...] about Back to Smoke-Filled Rooms
Why Mitt Didn’t Hit
Mitt Romney is out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Romney looked like a president. He had seemingly demonstrated his electability by becoming a Republican governor in the most reliably liberal Democratic state, Massachusetts. So, what went wrong? Romney and his brain trust made a series of strategic errors that destroyed his viability as a … [Read more...] about Why Mitt Didn’t Hit
Disgusted Democrats
I am (and many other Democrats are) disgusted with the way the Democratic Party has treated (and continues to treat) Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and other liberal hawks. Howard Dean, are you listening? Do you really want to lose votes, volunteers and donations? … [Read more...] about Disgusted Democrats
White Men Can’t Jump?
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are bringing to the fore the neglected demographic in more than half a century of empowerment of minorities. In trying to explain why the surge for Obama failed to become a tidal wave on Super Tuesday, pundits are honing in on the behavior of the largest silent segment of society--white men. In parsing the results, Adam Nagourney of the … [Read more...] about White Men Can’t Jump?
(Updated) One More Down and Counting
Bowing to the inevitable, Mitt Romney reportedly has suspended his quixotic run for the presidential nomination after winning only a small handful of states in the first month of primaries while squandering his sons' inheritance in spending an outrageous $1.6 million per delegate won only to eat John McCain's dust. In a swan-song address this afternoon to the Conservative … [Read more...] about (Updated) One More Down and Counting
Romney’s Brain Trust Reportedly Advises Quitting the Race
Political Wire: Mitt Romney is expected to end his presidential bid during a speech this afternoon. Apparently he agrees with Charlie Black's math. AND The Caucus Blog of The New York Times: Mitt Romney is quitting his campaign for president, having made the final decision last night, according to a campaign source who asked to remain anonymous. He made the … [Read more...] about Romney’s Brain Trust Reportedly Advises Quitting the Race
On Obama’s Super Tuesday Win (and other reflections on the presidential race)
I spent much of yesterday thinking about Super Tuesday and voraciously reading whatever I could get my hands on (rather, whatever I could click on). I stand by my initial view, expressed in the early-morning hours after California was called, that Obama won. By that, I don't just mean he won more states (which he did) and delegates (which he also did) but that he won by … [Read more...] about On Obama’s Super Tuesday Win (and other reflections on the presidential race)
Republican Front Runner
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Republican Front Runner
How will your state fare under Bush budget?
Every state's congressional delegation should develop a list like the one here, posted on the blog portion of Congressman (D, OH-17) Tim Ryan's website. Although, to be fair, Ryan's chart could probably be improved by reflecting input from the other 17 congressional delegates from Ohio, since I imagine they have different opinions about whether decreases (or increases) are … [Read more...] about How will your state fare under Bush budget?
Guest Book Review: Snow by Orhan Pamuk
This is another Guest Book Review by fiction writer Jessica Schneider who also writes for the highly-visited site Cosmoetica, is Book Editor for Monsters and Critics and is the only contributor to her own blog. Book Review: Snow by Orhan Pamuk by Jessica Schneider This is my first time reading a novel by Orhan Pamuk and given his large reputation, my expectations … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: Snow by Orhan Pamuk
A Litmus Test For Hard-Core Conservatives
The three-day annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee is underway in Washington, D.C. CPAC has become the keystone of the conservative movement and beyond the usual meeting and greeting, the major purpose of the conference is to promote conservative principles. Speakers include the four remaining Republican presidential candidates -- John McCain, Mitt … [Read more...] about A Litmus Test For Hard-Core Conservatives
TSA Blog’s Comments Get Policy Altered
Maybe Hillary Clinton's idea about blanketing the government with blogs isn't so bad after all. According to Wired Threat Level: On Monday, fliers asked the TSA's [Transportation Security Administration] new blog Evolution of Security why some airports were requiring passengers to remove all electronics - MP3 players, cell phones and even power cords - from their carry-on … [Read more...] about TSA Blog’s Comments Get Policy Altered
Sweeping Up After Super Tuesday
Some odds and ends, in no particular order, as we motor away from Super Tuesday into The Great Unknown: Silliest Concern Going into Super Tuesday: That Hillary Clinton would win California because the people who attended a primary eve Grateful Dead fundraiser for Barack Obama would be so wacked out the next day that they wouldn't make it to the polls. Silliest Concern … [Read more...] about Sweeping Up After Super Tuesday
GLOBAL PRESS REACTION to Super Tuesday
The indefatigable Watching America.com has an extraordinary multi-feature that collects world reaction to Super Tuesday, and other articles related thereto. Watching America.com wasn't around during the primaries four years ago so it's hard to know if the world is more excited this year than back then - but there is no doubt that the world is excited, and producing some … [Read more...] about GLOBAL PRESS REACTION to Super Tuesday