Gulf News reminds us that even limited, half-assed pressure from the United States can compel our Middle Eastern allies to make substantial changes: Washington rarely makes public criticism of Saudi Arabia over its political and human rights record. But Bush spoke out against a Saudi court verdict condemning a gang rape victim to 200 lashes in a case that provoked … [Read more...] about A Little Toughness Can Go A Long Way
Positive Polling out of Palestine
Some recent polling demonstrates what many of us have suspected: it's the leadership, not the people, who are the barriers to lasting peace with Israel. … [Read more...] about Positive Polling out of Palestine
Room For Another
Watching America has a nice translation from the German Financial Times Deutschland about the possibility and implications of Bloomberg's entering the race for the presidency under the headline "Room For Another" In New York, Bloomberg is viewed as a decision maker, who masters day-to-day business as well as crisis situations. In the middle of his second term of office, … [Read more...] about Room For Another
McCain’s Hundred Year War
As the new Republican front runner, John McCain had a good deal to say this week in the Wall Street Journal on the first anniversary of the Surge. So much, in fact, that he needed his Senate colleague, Joe Lieberman, to help him do the heavy lifting in proclaiming, "The Surge Worked," that "conditions in that country have been utterly transformed...al Qaeda has been beaten … [Read more...] about McCain’s Hundred Year War
Obama Seeks To Make New York Primary Competitive
Most media attention in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential nomination battle still centers on South Carolina -- but a perhaps even more intriguing political war is starting to rage in New York state, Senator Hillary Clinton's home turf: With Senator Barack Obama vowing to challenge Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on her home turf, the Democratic presidential primary in … [Read more...] about Obama Seeks To Make New York Primary Competitive
Dems Shoot Themselves In the Foot
Race may be the ultimate red herring as well as the most potentially destructive element of the Democratic presidential race. While the Republican field has fled from debates before black audiences, can expect precious few black voters come November and issues pertaining to race come up only incidentally such as in the context of immigration reform or whether Mitt Romney did … [Read more...] about Dems Shoot Themselves In the Foot
Corruption: Of USA, Pakistan, India & the World Bank
U.S. Primary System Is ‘Unfair’ and Has ‘Significant Flaws’ …
Are the U.S. primaries, 'just vulgar mud fights with rules so complicated that they could have been invented by the NFL?' Such is the verdict of the editorial board of The Netherlands' leading business daily, the NRC Handelsblad ... EDITORIAL Translated By Jan de Nijs January 9, 2007 The Netherlands - NRC Handlesblad - Original Article (Dutch) For most American … [Read more...] about U.S. Primary System Is ‘Unfair’ and Has ‘Significant Flaws’ …
Guest Voice: Looping, Or Just Loopy? In Defense Of Political Experience, At The Risk Of Political Entrenchment
The Moderate Voice runs Guest Voice columns by readers who don't have their own websites or want to present their ideas to TMV's ideologically diverse audience. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. This Guest Voice is by Jill Miller Zimon who has her own excellent site Writes Like She Talks. Looping, or just loopy? In defense of … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Looping, Or Just Loopy? In Defense Of Political Experience, At The Risk Of Political Entrenchment
I AM A MUSLIM!
A good message -- and well-delivered: … [Read more...] about I AM A MUSLIM!
A Matter Of Taste: What Presidential Candidates Eat…
The blogosphere is full of issues that the presidential candidates are (or not) addressing. I have always been curious to know what these presidential hopefuls prefer (or dislike) when it is time to have a bite. A bit of resarch tells me that some prefer eggplant, while others just turn away from the sight of a broccoli dish. Click here for a glimpse of these … [Read more...] about A Matter Of Taste: What Presidential Candidates Eat…
Mike Huckabee’s Free Medical Advice For Fred Thompson
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has some free medical advice for actor and former Senator Fred Thompson, one of his competitors for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. Yesterday we ran THIS POST about how well Fred Thompson did in last night's Republican debate. And we linked to a great video of Thompson going after Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee with an energy … [Read more...] about Mike Huckabee’s Free Medical Advice For Fred Thompson
Poll: Clinton And McCain Are National Front-Runners
A new national poll now shows two clear front-runners in each political party: New York Senator Hillary Clinton is the front-runner for the Democrats and Arizona Senator John McCain -- helped by a big "bump" from his New Hampshire primary victory -- is the Republican front-runner: The CNN/Opinion Research poll, conducted Wednesday and Thursday and released this afternoon, … [Read more...] about Poll: Clinton And McCain Are National Front-Runners
Winning Me Over
When a Republican Governor of South Carolina writes an editorial on race and the Obama campaign that I find stirring, you know you've got something good. … [Read more...] about Winning Me Over
Why the DLC supports Obama and Clinton?
The actual title to this blog post at the New York Times was D.L.C. Leaders Cut Edwards Out Democratic Leadership Council on a conference call today told reporters they’re “very happy about the two candidates” Americans are considering...I think in the end, Senator Obama’s appeal that he’s made very firmly and directly to independent voters, and Senator Clinton’s appeal to … [Read more...] about Why the DLC supports Obama and Clinton?
Flurry of Endorsements for Obama
Political observers were as stunned as everyone else by Hillary Clinton's win in New Hampshire, and are struggling the re-establish the frame for the race. Many people thought that Clinton would get major momentum out of New Hampshire, and it certainly didn't hurt her. She narrowly edged out Obama in Q4 fundraising, got a bevy of positive media coverage (ironically enough, most … [Read more...] about Flurry of Endorsements for Obama
The Candidates And Crying
Now another candidate has cried. Can you guess who (don't look at the categories on top of this post). The answer. … [Read more...] about The Candidates And Crying
Clinton Camp Race Tinged Comments Multiply
There are yet more comments coming from the Clinton camp's supporters that seemingly cast the election in racial terms -- comments that if left unchecked could leave New York Senator Hillary Clinton with a difficult problem if she wins the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. The Guardian has this quote: She is staking out policy ground slightly to the left of Obama … [Read more...] about Clinton Camp Race Tinged Comments Multiply
Iraq: ‘Shock & Awe’ Continues Even After Five Years…
After shamelessly proclaiming from rooftops that situation is normalising in Iraq, the US administration would find it difficult to explain why it has to resort to "shock and awe" strategy even after five years of occupation of that country. As Firedoglake puts it succinctly, "That the insurgency -- five years after 'Mission Accomplished' -- is still powerful and entrenched … [Read more...] about Iraq: ‘Shock & Awe’ Continues Even After Five Years…
Trouble In Rudyland? Giuliani Staffers Go Without Paychecks
No matter how it's explained or spun, it's never the sign of a truly healthy campaign that has "Big Mo" when you hear stories about staffers going without pay. And that is exactly what's now emerging about former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination: CNN has learned that top staff members of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign were … [Read more...] about Trouble In Rudyland? Giuliani Staffers Go Without Paychecks