The reigning King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who was baptized as Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, has turned 70. What was he doing on the eve of his birthday? "There was no pipe and slippers for this grandfather over Christmas," reports the BBC. "Instead, just days shy of his 70th birthday, King Juan Carlos paid a surprise New Year's Eve visit … [Read more...] about Where Was The King of Spain On His 70th Birthday Eve?
Clanging and Banging About Change
Watching the debates on ABC. Now the Democrats are discussing domestic issues and the need for change and there has been slashing between Obama, Clinton and Edwards. Richardson gets a chance to speak and says something like "I've been in hostage negotiation situations that were more civil than this." … [Read more...] about Clanging and Banging About Change
The Pastor of Compassionate Conservatism
When Churchill used the phrase, "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma", he was talking about a political entity with an unclear political intent - the Soviet Union. He wasn't being complementary. I'd hate to compare Pastor Huckabee to the Soviet Union, but the quotation did just spring to mind as I posted a translation on Watching America about him. As indicated … [Read more...] about The Pastor of Compassionate Conservatism
Picking Up The Pieces
Anatol Lieven, over at TNI, writes about Bhutto and the future of her party: She was a populist aristocrat, with all that means in terms of grace under pressure, presence of style and absence of substance; and her party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has long been a dynastic party, not a modern mass party with a common and credible program. For that reason it is unlikely … [Read more...] about Picking Up The Pieces
Comments moving to Disqus
NOTE: This post has been moved to the top as we work through the new Disqus comment system on The Moderate Voice. Feel free to test (within reason) and leave any questions, comments, and/or concerns. TMV Readers, In an effort increase the site's overall speed and to add more commenting features, TMV's comments will be moving to the Disqus commenting system. This will … [Read more...] about Comments moving to Disqus
Obama Must Now Prove His Substance
In Barack Obama more than a flash-in-the-pan? According to this op-ed article from Germany's Die Welt newspaper, 'it's still far from proven that his 'Wind of Change' carries more than pathos and, above all: that behind him hides something of real substance.' By Thomas Schmid Translated By James Jacobson, January 4, 2008 Germany - Die Welt - Original Article … [Read more...] about Obama Must Now Prove His Substance
CORRECTION Zogby Poll: Clinton And McCain Narrowly Ahead In New Hampshire
EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline of our post on the Zogby poll and the lead paragraph were wrong due to part of another post not being properly erased, although the rest of the post was correct. The poll shows Senator John McCain and NOT former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holding on to their narrow leads. The Moderate Voice apologizes for and regrets the error. Here's the … [Read more...] about CORRECTION Zogby Poll: Clinton And McCain Narrowly Ahead In New Hampshire
Is Bill Clinton About To Sandbag Hillary Clinton’s Campaign?
It is often been said that former President Bill Clinton is Senator Hillary Clinton's closest, best and most-astute political adviser. If that's the case and a recent statement he reportedly made is any indication, she should consider firing him and getting a new one. The statement is reported by The Politico and is a jaw-dropper for anyone who DOES want to see our politics … [Read more...] about Is Bill Clinton About To Sandbag Hillary Clinton’s Campaign?
Post-Iowa: Making A Sense Of It All…
I wonder how much wiser we all are going through the outpourings/hysteria in the blogosphere in the wake of the recent Iowa storm. However, some of the analysis has been readable/enjoyable. Michael Barone, who is the principal author of The Almanac of American Politics, says the stunning show at Iowa is "a good starter — but where’s the meat?" Writing in The Times, Barone … [Read more...] about Post-Iowa: Making A Sense Of It All…
Boren on Upcoming “Unity” Meeting
Former OK senator David Boren was on NPR yesterday (audio here) to talk about Monday's tripartisan conference in Tulsa, where various former and current centrist officeholders will discuss the potential for a "government of national unity." … [Read more...] about Boren on Upcoming “Unity” Meeting
Britain: New Regulator for Alternative Medicine Soon
The United Kingdom is poised to take a pioneering step this year by giving much-deserved recognition to alternative medicine that includes aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, nutrition, shiatzu, reiki, naturopathy, yoga, homoeopathy, cranial osteopathy and the Alexander and Bowen techniques. This major news is brought to us by Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor, of The Times of … [Read more...] about Britain: New Regulator for Alternative Medicine Soon
Obama: The World’s Candidate
Watching America.com is running a multiple feature of global stories about the candidate who has the world's attention - Obama. He is has the world's attention not because he is personally more interesting than any other candidate, but because he is symbolically the most important - and by far. The prospect of a black leader is engaging the world's media for some very … [Read more...] about Obama: The World’s Candidate
Obama: A Revolution Begins?
Is the Obama victory in Iowa the beginning of a 'political revolution' in America? According to this op-ed article from Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau, the proof will be in the New Hampshire pudding next Tuesday ... "Was this the beginning of a political revolution - at the end of which could be the first Black man in the White House? … the colored hope bearer - for whom many … [Read more...] about Obama: A Revolution Begins?
On ‘Caucus’
As I was watching the Iowa results last night, a friend asked me what the Latin root of the word 'caucus' was. I had no idea, but vaguely remembered knowing at some point in the distant past that 'caucus,' while sounding vaguely Latin [or Greek] in origin, wasn't. So off to the OED I went, and found this etymological explanation: "[Arose in New England: origin obscure. … [Read more...] about On ‘Caucus’
Iraqis Win ‘Our War Against Terror’
Have the people of Iraq defeated al-Qaeda - and didn't Americans have anything to do with it? According to this op-ed article from Iraq's Al-Zawraa newspaper, 'After four years of resistance, courage and sacrifice by our Iraqi people in the fight against al-Qaeda and its offshoots, success has been achieved … With gold letters, Iraqis have marked their place in the annals of … [Read more...] about Iraqis Win ‘Our War Against Terror’
Survivor 2008
I was watching PBS NewsHour while eating a hefty salad with lots of garlic when I heard that the McCain and Huckabee campaigns have teamed-up in New Hampshire to knock Mitt Romney out of the race. Politics becomes Reality TV. … [Read more...] about Survivor 2008
The End of the American Century
Now that Bush Administration is drawing to a close, is American influence irretrievably on the wane? According to this editorial from the NRC Handelsblad of The Netherlands, 'Across the globe, America has lost its popularity and authority ... the American century is coming to an end. Aspiring superpowers are hot on America’s heels.' EDITORIAL Translated By Jan de … [Read more...] about The End of the American Century
What Obama Accomplished in Iowa
"There are painters who transform the sun (in)to a yellow spot, but there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun." - Pablo Picasso … [Read more...] about What Obama Accomplished in Iowa
Pakistan’s Impending ‘Collective Suicide’
Does the murder of Benazir Bhutto 'mark the culmination of the war on terror which began on Sept. 11, 2001?' According to this analysis by one of France's leading historians, Alexandre Adler, the Pakistani military is up to its old tricks, appearing not to realize that 'its chances of survival are directly linked to victory for the democrats and to a closer relationship with … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Impending ‘Collective Suicide’
That’s Some Serious Economic Growth
Michael McFaul and Kathryn Stoner-Weiss write about Russia: …growth has averaged 6.7 percent -- especially impressive against the backdrop of the depression in the early 1990s. The last eight years have also seen budget surpluses, the eradication of foreign debt and the accumulation of massive hard-currency reserves, and modest inflation. The stock market is booming, and … [Read more...] about That’s Some Serious Economic Growth