Berkley Bedell represented Iowa in the U.S. House from 1975 to 1987 and is working on behalf of Common Cause. He writes in the DesMoines Register about campaign Finance reform. ...I've heard hundreds of candidates who said they were running to "change business as usual in Washington." In fact, this presidential race has at least 15 candidates running for … [Read more...] about Let’s Remove Big Money From Campaigns
Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup December 16, 2007
Our original link-fest offering readers links to blog posts from websites of many different viewpoints -- soon to enter its fourth year. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. ED ROLLINS JOINS THE HUCKABEE CAMPAIGN and some say so what's the big deal. But yours truly agrees with Andrew Sullivan. IS HUCKABEE THE GOP's HOWARD DEAN? Some … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blogging Roundup December 16, 2007
Guest Voice: Primary Nonsense
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. Primary Nonsense by Michael Reagan Primary season, which appears to have begun about a week after the 2004 presidential elections, is getting sillier … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Primary Nonsense
Transnational Decision-Making is a Necessity, and the U.S. Can’t Do It
William Waack, a stalwart of commentary on the USA, writing in Portuguese for O Globo in Brazil, writes a particularly interesting piece, translated on Watching America.com, where he explains the necessity for nations to embrace decisions that will limit their own sovereignty. With reference to climate issues, in particular, he notes that 20 companies alone could bring about … [Read more...] about Transnational Decision-Making is a Necessity, and the U.S. Can’t Do It
Huckabee Hit Parade
After yesterday's right-left jabs from the Washington Post, the Republican Great White Hope is bashed today by the New York Times with charges of a Nixonish slush fund from tobacco lobbyists during his days as lieutenant governor of Arkansas. Huckabee's sudden rise in the polls has drawn hits not only from Big Media (read urban latte drinkers) but little media like National … [Read more...] about Huckabee Hit Parade
Huckabee Slams Bush, Becomes Frontrunner
Yesterday, the press was given an article where Huckabee was interviewed about his foreign policy views, and his tone towards Bush is, well, ballsy to say the least. What's more, I think this is a significant turning point in his campaign. I'll explain why after some AP reportage... Huckaboom: "American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, … [Read more...] about Huckabee Slams Bush, Becomes Frontrunner
Clinton, Obama, and the Experience Issue
With Illinois Senator Barack Obama in a virtual tie with her in Iowa polls before that state's presidential caucus, Senator Hillary Clinton and her husband are claiming that Obama is dangerously lacking in experience which the New York senator apparently possesses. The New York Times reports that former President Bill Clinton says that electing Obama would be "rolling the dice" … [Read more...] about Clinton, Obama, and the Experience Issue
A Leading Jihadist Recants
One of the jihadi movement's most prominent figures, Sayyed Imam Al-Sharif (more commonly known as "Dr. Fadl"), has published a sweeping retraction of many of his former views. Al-Sharif, along with Ayman al-Zawahiri, was one of the founders of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a violent splinter group that broke off from the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1970s. His books have long been … [Read more...] about A Leading Jihadist Recants
GOP Strategist Ed Rollins Explains Why He Joined Huckabee’s Campaign
Longtime GOP strategist Ed Rollins, who guided Ronald Reagan in his 1984 landslide re-election campaign, explains on CNN's Lou Dobbs today why he joined Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's Presidential campaign. He also explains how it came about and how Reagan would likely be received today by National Review and others: NOTE: Rollins is a heavy-hitter. Not only has he … [Read more...] about GOP Strategist Ed Rollins Explains Why He Joined Huckabee’s Campaign
Huckabee Seeks Victories To Show He’s A Broader-Appeal Republican Presidential Candidate
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, this campaign season's "come from behind" contender, is now moving swiftly to try to broaden his political support and get enough wins to show he's more than a creature of media hype, rising poll numbers or limited regional appeal. The first big tipoff was when he hired Ed Rollins, as veteran Republican consult, favorite TV talking head, and … [Read more...] about Huckabee Seeks Victories To Show He’s A Broader-Appeal Republican Presidential Candidate
Bush’s ‘Shameful Stance’ in Bali
Is the United States missing a chance to redeem its global reputation by obstructing a climate deal at a U.N. conference in Bali? Along with Al Gore, the editorial board of Saudi Arabia's Saudi Gazette certainly thinks so. "Of course, Bush was bought and paid for by the time he was elected President in 2000 … when it comes to the Bush Administration, the word 'moral' is … [Read more...] about Bush’s ‘Shameful Stance’ in Bali
Obama’s Latest Positive News: More Blacks Leaning To Him
The recent spurt of positive news about Senator Barack Obama's campaign now includes the fact that Obama is increasingly winning the support of black voters. Booker Rising: gives us this quote from a Wall Street Journal piece: Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Illinois) rising poll numbers among white voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are having an unexpected ripple effect: Some … [Read more...] about Obama’s Latest Positive News: More Blacks Leaning To Him
Fatal Bomb That Destroyed Bhutto Homecoming Rigged To Baby
If you wanted to get an idea of the ruthlessness of the enemy that the United States and countries battling terrorists are facing, just read this: The bomb that ravaged Benazir Bhutto's homecoming processional in October appears to have been rigged to the clothes of a baby who was held up for the former prime minister to embrace, Mrs. Bhutto said. A man approached her … [Read more...] about Fatal Bomb That Destroyed Bhutto Homecoming Rigged To Baby
CIA Risk Management
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about CIA Risk Management
U.S. Failures Bring Pakistan Close to Collapse
According to this article from Le Monde Diplomatique, instability in the Middle East, and the failure to meet the U.S. goals in the War on Terror, are responsible for Pakistan's current predicament, and the potential, were it to collapse, for nuclear weapons get to into the hands of a Pakistan-Taliban alliance. Pakistan is the latest country affected by spreading … [Read more...] about U.S. Failures Bring Pakistan Close to Collapse
‘We are a Foolish People That Destroy Ourselves’
Have British forces just handed the vital port city of Basra over to Iranian intelligence? According to this op-ed article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper, Iran's Shiite-clients in Iraq have betrayed their nation by chasing out British forces and preventing the "Queen of the Seas" from refurbishing the city's ports, ships and other infrastructure. Amonst other things, the author … [Read more...] about ‘We are a Foolish People That Destroy Ourselves’
Base on Balls
Should prosecutors launch investigations into the other 88 players (mostly White and Latino) named in the Mitchell Report? If not, should they drop the case against Bonds? … [Read more...] about Base on Balls
Iraq Al Qaeda Link to U.K. Attacks?
The terrorists involved in the unsuccessful attacks in London and Glasgow in June had links to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, making them the first that the group has been implicated in outside of the Middle East, The New York Times reports. The evidence includes phone numbers of members of the Iraqi group found on the plotters’ cellphones. British authorities have said that … [Read more...] about Iraq Al Qaeda Link to U.K. Attacks?
Larry Craig Sticks to His Guns
Washington's Walking Embarrassment is still sitting proudly in his Senate seat and, along with his Idaho colleague, Michael Crapo, is blocking President Bush’s nomination of Michael Sullivan to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. According to the Editorial Board blog of the New York Times, "Mr. Crapo’s spokesman said his boss is hearing from gun owners and … [Read more...] about Larry Craig Sticks to His Guns
The Speed of Journalism
Nobody expects the general public to know how the news media works; it isn’t taught in school. But sometimes it is astonishing to realize how little even the professionals understand, or forget, about the craft. Writing in The San Diego Union-Tribune this week, reader’s representative Carol Goodhue expressed awed surprise at the success of The U-T’s online news team. Not … [Read more...] about The Speed of Journalism