As The Daily Star snidely comments, Bush's efforts at peace in Israel-Palestine are "as likely to succeed as the efforts of a lazy student who whittles away an entire semester in fraternity halls before cramming at the last minute for final exams." It's hard to argue with that. Indeed, despite our president's naive prediction of a peace deal by the end of his term, Bush's visit … [Read more...] about Wasting Time In Israel-Palestine
Will We Ever Trust Polls Again?
Andrew Sullivan suggests that question today in this very brief post on the numbers for McCain and Obama in South Carolina. In following the imbedded links and beyond, I stumbled on this mea culpa at Rasmussen Reports. Money quote: "It is hard to remember a time when the polling and expectations were so universally different from what really happened." Of course, … [Read more...] about Will We Ever Trust Polls Again?
Calling Kenya
Joe Klein, a political columnist for TIME, writes that Obama has been vigorously involved in some behind-the-scenes work to calm the violence in Kenya. On January 1st, he called Secretary Rice to discuss the situation and, when she called back, he agreed to record a message to be aired on Voice of America. Since then, he's talked with Desmond Tutu -- who's been trying to … [Read more...] about Calling Kenya
A Sad Commentary on These Times
It is a sad commentary on the times in which we live that my initial reaction to a Pentagon report that Iranian fast boats had swarmed U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday was disbelief. And that the incident was being used as a pretext to up the saber rattling instead of making a good-faith effort to engage Tehran diplomatically. The Irani government downplayed … [Read more...] about A Sad Commentary on These Times
Why Conservatives Oppose Universal Healthcare
This item from the Carpetbagger Report is over a month old but still very timely. In a recent issue of National Review, Ramesh Ponnuru and Rich Lowry explained how Republicans can avert electoral disaster and get back on track. Conservative writers offer advice columns like these periodically, but this one included a concession we usually don’t see in print. The plain … [Read more...] about Why Conservatives Oppose Universal Healthcare
Guest Voice: The Disconnected Media
NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs Guest Voice posts by readers who don’t have their own websites or some people who who want to present their viewpoint or just another perspective to TMV’s highly diverse readership. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. This Guest Voice column is by Bloomsburg University journalism … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: The Disconnected Media
John Kerry Endorses Barack Obama
Illinois Senator Barack Obama picked up a major endorsement today in his battle for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination: Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 Presidential candidate, has endorsed Obama for President. Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, planned to announce his support Thursday at 11 a.m. EST at a rally at the College of Charleston, … [Read more...] about John Kerry Endorses Barack Obama
A Honeymoon in Vegas For Obama?
Yet another state without much electoral clout is taking on an out-sized significance in the opening month of this presidential election year. Nevada will hold its first ever big-time caucuses on January 19, and despite Hillary Rodham Clinton's come-from-behind victory in New Hampshire following Barack Obama's big win in Iowa, she can no longer be considered the favorite in … [Read more...] about A Honeymoon in Vegas For Obama?
George Bush’s Final Middle East Visit: ‘History is Ruthless to Losers’
How much Arab angst does President Bush confront on his farewell tour of the Middle East? Judging from this op-ed article from Al-Seyassah, the leading newspaper of Kuwait which is the President's next stop - the moment he leaves the friendly embrace of Israel, things are likely to be touch and go at best. "What has the United States achieved in Iraq except handing it and its … [Read more...] about George Bush’s Final Middle East Visit: ‘History is Ruthless to Losers’
Guest Book Review: The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father’s Nazi Boyhood by Mark Kurzem
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: The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood by Mark Kurzem by Jessica Schneider A Jewish Nazi? Just reading the title … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father’s Nazi Boyhood by Mark Kurzem
Poetic Political Commentary: The Clinton Refurbishment Poem
Here's a special original 2008 presidential campaign poetic commentary by TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet. The Clinton Refurbishment Poem We watch the Clinton soap op'ra, Its daily boom and bust, A litany of well-honed boasts, And best forgotten lust. To some they seemed a played out shtick, A pair from yesteryear, ‘Til Hillary … [Read more...] about Poetic Political Commentary: The Clinton Refurbishment Poem
Will Democrat Bill Richardson Drop Out Of Presidential Race?
Actually, the headline should ask WHEN will Democratic Governor Bill Richardson drop out of the Presidential race? One news report says he will. Then another carries a denial by his campaign organization, noting that he'll announce a decision Thursday. But it's all a matter of time. Richardson was the quintessential "dream resume" candidate -- someone who had done so many … [Read more...] about Will Democrat Bill Richardson Drop Out Of Presidential Race?
China, the U.S. and the Dollar
The Mexicans are noticing the effects across their northern border of the weakness of the dollar and the creeping economic crisis. An article translated by Watching America.com from the Spanish-language newspaper, La Jornada warns that the U.S. systemic economic problems are soon to affect the world. The current state of affairs with the increasing deficit as a … [Read more...] about China, the U.S. and the Dollar
Neither Hillary Nor John Came Back from Anywhere
Neither Clinton nor McCain have comeback from anywhere. Neither of their wins in NH was a surprise. And the earlier result in Iowa was not an indicator of Hillary's imminent political demise. The Iowa election was one election: its results collectively constitute a “single datapoint” in any analysis of relative voter preference for candidates. A single datapoint does not a … [Read more...] about Neither Hillary Nor John Came Back from Anywhere
Obama and Huckabee are ‘Too Radical for America’
Are the ideas of Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee so alien to American political culture, that the electorate is bound to reject them? According to this op-ed article from Portugal's leading business daily, Diario Economico, 'Obama and Huckabee defend a set of ideas so radically different from mainstream American political ideas that, for some time now, no one has known how to … [Read more...] about Obama and Huckabee are ‘Too Radical for America’
For What It’s Worth
Wow, that was fast. On Monday, I was marveling at how smoothly, and quietly, Barack Obama had co-opted the word "change" and turned it into invaluable name identification. It worked because it was not about him and campaign promises, but about us, and our need. We are Americans in the seventh year of a game between the Nation and the Bush Administration, and the Bush team … [Read more...] about For What It’s Worth
Post New Hampshire Obama Suggests: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Get ready to see an intensely fought contest for the Democratic party's Presidential nomination between Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton. In fact, in the wake of his defeat in the New Hampshire primary, Obama is basically saying: "No more Mr. Nice Guy." And there are signs this is already happening. The "issue": did Hillary Clinton REALLY … [Read more...] about Post New Hampshire Obama Suggests: No More Mr. Nice Guy
The Gender Vote
(How) can voters legitimately (and illegitimately) take gender issues into account when deciding whether to vote for Hillary Clinton? … [Read more...] about The Gender Vote
You Can’t Always Get What You Want…
The conventional wisdom regarding GOP primaries is that what the establishment wants, the establishment gets. It's part of what makes it so difficult to believe Mike Huckabee is going anywhere in the primary process, despite his impressive victory in Iowa and his meets-expectations third place in New Hampshire. After all, if there is one candidate this side of Ron Paul the … [Read more...] about You Can’t Always Get What You Want…
Barack Obama ‘Has Already Triumphed’
Has Barack Obama single-handedly transformed America's political landscape - giving it back the "passion and hope so squandered by the the last two administrations?" According to this op-ed from Spain's most widely read newspaper, El Pais, 'The doomsayers have already begun to sow doubt about how long his star will shine … But whatever happens from now on, Obama has already … [Read more...] about Barack Obama ‘Has Already Triumphed’