The NATO mission in Afghanistan has been a big topic this week. While the German media was full of concern about providing 250 Bundeswehr soldiers for a Quick Reaction Force (No, I did not forget another zero.), US and Canadian politicians and think tanks sounded alarm over developments in Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has urged his German counterpart in a … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: NATO in Crisis
Obama Hits Below the Belt in New Ad
While I've been critical of Barack Obama, especially there being so little substance behind his hope-and-change message, I've been far more critical of Hillary Clinton. But the Obama campaign's new direct-mail ads (and I’ve gotten three earlier ads compared to none from Clinton or any other candidates) hit below the belt: They intentionally misrepresent Clinton's health-care … [Read more...] about Obama Hits Below the Belt in New Ad
Exxon Mobil earns a record $40.6 billion
Exxon Mobil Profit Sets Record Again Gee Whiz, how does the GOP defend giving tax breaks to an industry making eye popping profits on the backs of the US working class? How do US working class citizens reconcile voting for the GOP? How does the GOP defend obstructing and undermining efforts to move the US to renewable energy as quickly as possible? I'm baffled. … [Read more...] about Exxon Mobil earns a record $40.6 billion
Coulter to campaign for Clinton if McCain wins nomination
I'm not speculating - Ann said it herself. Would love to see a real-time reaction meter on that clip. Comment on what you think she's really thinking here. … [Read more...] about Coulter to campaign for Clinton if McCain wins nomination
Democracy’s Fourth Wave: Still MIA
This year has not been a good one for the spread of democracy. From Pakistan to Kenya to Russia, democratic norms have been on a backwards slide. A recent Economist article suggests that the tremendous democratic gains experienced at the end of the Cold War are now slowing down to a crawl. It's a dramatic reversal from a few years ago. Exciting developments in Lebanon, … [Read more...] about Democracy’s Fourth Wave: Still MIA
Guest Voice: John McCain Hates Me
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. John McCain Hates Me by Michael Reagan Until [Tuesday] night, when I watched the Republican debate, I had no idea how much John McCain dislikes me and … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: John McCain Hates Me
Kucinich recommends Obama & Clinton
Ohio held a straw poll last night. You can read about it in great detail at this post on Daily Kos by Anastasia Pantsios, an excellent, long-time Cleveland-area journalist. Here she notes how now-departed Democratic primary challenger and Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich - who is fighting for his seat in the 10th district - feels about the two remaining Democratic … [Read more...] about Kucinich recommends Obama & Clinton
An Iraq War Roundup: The Surge ‘Window’ Begins to Close & Other Forever War News
BAGHDAD BLASTS TODAY KILLED OVER 50, SCATTERING BODY PARTS You don't have to be a bloody genius to know that sooner or later the window of opportunity for Iraqi national reconciliation and a lasting reduction in sectarian violence as a result of the successes of the Surge would begin to close unless there was progress on the part of the Baghdad government. Well, boys and … [Read more...] about An Iraq War Roundup: The Surge ‘Window’ Begins to Close & Other Forever War News
Ohio debates next for candidates
I knew I heard Wolf Blitzer say something about Ohio debates on February 27 and 28. From Political Ticker: CNN announced Thursday that it will partner with the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party for back-to-back presidential debates at the end of February. With the race for each party nomination likely to extend beyond the February 5 Super Tuesday … [Read more...] about Ohio debates next for candidates
For The Night Riders: Bloggers Across The World Who Write at Night
If you would, indulge me for a moment? I hope the lateness of the hour allows me to make not just daytime sense, but some 'night sense' too. Things are Different at night. Capital D. Double, triple 10 to the 18th power D in fact. It's 3:44 a.m. by my radio-signal clock that has no electrical cord... and neither do the tall hind legged/ shorter fore-legged coyotes who are … [Read more...] about For The Night Riders: Bloggers Across The World Who Write at Night
Looking Both Ways: To China and the U.S.
As China rises, nations throughout Asia face a new balancing act - between China and the U.S. This article from the JoongAng Daily tackles what this huge geostrategic shift means for South Korea. H/T Watching America.com … [Read more...] about Looking Both Ways: To China and the U.S.
Barack Obama May Win, But He’s No African-American …
How do Africans view Barack Obama's African roots and his credentials as an African American? In this in-depth look at Obama's significance as an African-American politician and his potential loyalty to the African-American cause, Lindsay Barrett of the Nigerian newspaper The Daily Sun writes, 'Strictly speaking Barack Obama is not an African-American - but an African who is … [Read more...] about Barack Obama May Win, But He’s No African-American …
Clinton & Obama Play It Safe In Democratic Pre-Super Tuesday Debate
You couldn't exactly call the debate between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama a "love-in," but this much was clear: it seemed as if both of the last man/woman standing candidates for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination decided that the bitter attacks wouldn't help them on Super Tuesday so they seriously talked issues. For the most part, they produced … [Read more...] about Clinton & Obama Play It Safe In Democratic Pre-Super Tuesday Debate
The Bickersons Turn Into a Ticket
From the moment Barack Obama held out Hillary Clinton's chair as they sat down to debate to the near-hug as he patted her shoulder when they stood up, the Democratic candidates put their party back on the road to the White House tonight. Gone was last week's Palmetto rancor to be replaced by enough Hollywood feel-good to make Wolf Blitzer's final question about their forming … [Read more...] about The Bickersons Turn Into a Ticket
Florida, ‘Beauty Contests,’ and America’s Presidential Race …
France and the United States could be characterized as two nations separated by their definition of the word 'liberal.' This, among other things, can be gleaned by reading this op-ed article from France's Le Monde newspaper on the this week's Florida primary. By Dominique Dhombres Translated By Kate Davis January 30, 2008 France - Le Monde - … [Read more...] about Florida, ‘Beauty Contests,’ and America’s Presidential Race …
Dem Debate: Making love to the real-time reaction meter
Senator Hillary Clinton's responses caressed the CNN real-time reaction meter with consistently higher ratings than Senator Barack Obama all night long. A few other observations, as a result of liveblogging the debate at two blogs at once: -Hillary was "Senator Clinton" while Barack was "Barack" much of the evening - some of the co-bloggers I blogged with didn't like that … [Read more...] about Dem Debate: Making love to the real-time reaction meter
Tonight’s Clinton-Obama Debate
Watch the Democratic Clinton-Obama Debate LIVE on CNN or CNN.com. It is sponsored by CNN, the Los Angeles Times and Politico.com. PRE-DEBATE COVERAGE TNR Democratic Debate Preview CNN: Clinton, Obama start debate off cordially LIVE-BLOGGING THE DEBATE Blog of the Moderate Left AMERICAblog Pam's House Blend Chris Cillizza's The Fix (Washington … [Read more...] about Tonight’s Clinton-Obama Debate
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SUPER TUESDAY
Rhodes Cook, Senior Columnist at Sabato's Crystal Ball, presents SUPER TUESDAY: A vast and varied test Ready or not, here it comes... Super-Duper Tuesday, Tsunami Tuesday, Monster Tuesday, or whatever name one chooses to call it. The huge, historic nationwide vote Feb. 5 is at last at hand. Two dozen states from Massachusetts to California will vote next Tuesday, … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SUPER TUESDAY
Maria Shriver, CA’s First Lady, to withhold endorsements
First, from the San Francisco Chronicle, a little inside view of just how unusual the split within the Kennedy clan is: ...Arnold Schwarzenegger] said that the high profile and competing endorsements the Kennedy family - not including his wife Maria Shriver - in the Democratic presidential contest represents a dramatic departure from past years. "What's interesting is … [Read more...] about Maria Shriver, CA’s First Lady, to withhold endorsements
Schwarzenegger to McCain: “My mission is to protect you.”
Uh-oh. More trouble for the Hugh Hewitts of the world, the purificationist ideologues of the conservative movement. They hate McCain and are pitching Romney as the saviour of "the Reagan Coalition," but McCain is now the frontrunner, Huckabee is still in the race, draining much-needed social conservative support from Romney, who has his own impurity problems, and Giuliani and … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger to McCain: “My mission is to protect you.”