Politicians are normally rational creatures. This isn't to say that they act in ways that I find preferable. Rather, though they upset me rather often, normally it's based on at least a perception of political gain. When they do dumb things, it's usually based on a miscalculation of the same. That being established, what was Gordon Smith's angle, defending Trent Lott's … [Read more...] about What is Gordon Smith Thinking?
This Election Is About Torture
In 2004, after the Presidential debates had concluded, conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan noted an interesting omission from the question list. Neither George W. Bush nor John Kerry had ever been asked about torture. Abu Gharib was still of relatively recent vintage, and it seemed like the sort of topic that should have gotten some play. But no. We got a free pass. It's easy … [Read more...] about This Election Is About Torture
TMV Posts To Be Featured On Newsweek’s New “The Ruckus” Newsweek/MBA Group Politics Blog
The Moderate Voice is now one of 9 weblogs providing campaign story-related content to The Ruckus, a new political group blog created by Newsweek.com and the Media Bloggers Association which you can see here. Here's part of the text of the announcement: (NEW YORK) Media Bloggers Association (MBA) and Newsweek have launched "The Ruckus," a new group blog about politics … [Read more...] about TMV Posts To Be Featured On Newsweek’s New “The Ruckus” Newsweek/MBA Group Politics Blog
Why John Edwards may be the best option for Democrats
Like many of my Democratic friends -- like many Democrats period -- I've been struggling with the current crop of candidates. Whom to support? I've never much cared for either Clinton or Obama. The former is too much of a centrist triangulator, and I don't trust her on foreign policy. The latter is too much of a feel-good, group-therapy Oprah candidate, and I don't like his … [Read more...] about Why John Edwards may be the best option for Democrats
Poll: Democrats’ Concern Is Candidate Electibility
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll now solidifies the debate within the Democratic party over electibility: it finds that Democratic voters above all want a candidate who has a good chance of being elected -- something of a shift for the Democrats. And the poll shows its yet another piece of good news for Illinois Senator Barack Obama. This is likely to mean a bigger scramble … [Read more...] about Poll: Democrats’ Concern Is Candidate Electibility
Presidential Primary Season Haiku Commentary
Here's a special original Campaign 2008 commentary in haiku form by TMV's favorite witty poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet. Primary Season Haiku By Michael Silverstein Former president Decides to support his wife This is most prudent Populist Edwards Seeks to be the poor man's friend Poor choose other friend Biden qualified Richardson … [Read more...] about Presidential Primary Season Haiku Commentary
Deradicalization Programs: Changing Minds?
Note: This is a follow-up to Saturday's post. Sayyed Imam Al-Sharif's recent revision of his longstanding jihadi views have raised some interesting questions about whether his ideological transformation is genuine, or if it was forced by torture-happy Egyptian authorities. No one knows the answer, although there is much speculation. Interestingly, Egypt has the largest … [Read more...] about Deradicalization Programs: Changing Minds?
Hillary, Politics & The Beast of Beauty
Did you know that this blogger finds older women who don't have plastic surgery, get Botoxed or otherwise try to hold back the inevitable consequences of physical aging more attractive than those who look like they walked off the set of Extreme Makeover? No, you probably didn't. But then that shouldn't matter. Mind you, I believe that a woman can do or not do whatever … [Read more...] about Hillary, Politics & The Beast of Beauty
The Media And Hillary Clinton
Are we now seeing a new wave of "Clinton derangement syndrome?" … [Read more...] about The Media And Hillary Clinton
Clinton Supporter Bob Kerrey Continues To Raise Obama “Muslim” Issues
The "Muslim issue" continues to be raised regarding Democratic Senator Barack Obama and it's coming from (could you guess?) a supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton. (See Shaun Mullen's post and my post for background on what has happened with the Clinton campaign.) And, now, it seemingly continues. Today, Obama is still being linked to Muslims in the media..and it's … [Read more...] about Clinton Supporter Bob Kerrey Continues To Raise Obama “Muslim” Issues
Amsterdam: World’s Famous Red-light Area Faces ‘Clean Up’
Whenever there is a mention of Red-light Area/District, two countries immediately come to mind for different reasons. While in Saudi Arabia this thought could rarely occur for fear of lashes on the buttocks freezing the wildest libido dream, the Netherlands has managed to attract the libidinous lot from far and wide without fear and restraint...that is until … [Read more...] about Amsterdam: World’s Famous Red-light Area Faces ‘Clean Up’
Not Interested In Newspapers
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Not Interested In Newspapers
Sinatra: Love Songs to Love Letters
The Postal Service unveiled a Frank Sinatra stamp last week on what would have been his 92nd birthday. It was, of course, first-class. For better and occasionally for worse, Sinatra provided the sound track for our romantic lives as the Greatest Generation went to war, morphing from a scrawny crooner mobbed by teen-age girls to middle-aged sophisticate specializing in … [Read more...] about Sinatra: Love Songs to Love Letters
A TV News Hen Runs Afowl of the Law
It has been way too long since I blogged on something as inconsequential as a television news anchor making the news instead of reading it. But the saga of Alycia Lane -- who allegedly punched a cop in the chops, which is against the law, and made an all around fool of herself, which isn't -- is too juicy to pass up. Lane, who co-anchors the news at Philadelphia's CBS3 and … [Read more...] about A TV News Hen Runs Afowl of the Law
Sarkozy & Bruni: Another French Public Love Story
While the world media may be in a tizzy speculating about the recently-divorced French President's new love affair, it should not surprise anyone if the French treat this development with a traditional Gallic shrug...as they did when President Francois Mitterrand had an affair with a young lover who had to be packed off to England when she became pregnant three decades … [Read more...] about Sarkozy & Bruni: Another French Public Love Story
Egads! Another War Without a Strategy
American and Afghani Soldiers Until the U.S. hit on the Surge strategy, the war in Iraq was just one bad trip after another. Now, as I noted here the other day, there is a damning calm in Mesopotamia – damning because it is likely a calm before yet another storm since that window of opportunity the Surge provided for the Baghdad government to get the national house in order … [Read more...] about Egads! Another War Without a Strategy
Britain Bows Out of 5-Year Iraq War; US…No Timetable?
Britain bows out of a five-year war it could never have won, reads The Independent headline. This major story is unlikely to make it to the headlines in many of the US newspapers and American blogs. The grave implications of this development are either lost or are being intentionally underplayed. "Britain handed over security in Basra province yesterday, bringing a formal … [Read more...] about Britain Bows Out of 5-Year Iraq War; US…No Timetable?
Ron Paul vs. Morton Downey, Jr.’s Audience 1988
A blast from the past (and Ron Paul does seem like he's having a blast): Ron Paul on the controversial and highly loud Morton Downey, Jr. talk show in 1988: … [Read more...] about Ron Paul vs. Morton Downey, Jr.’s Audience 1988
60 Democrats in the Senate?
Chris Cillizza of 'The Fix' says that dream has deflated. … [Read more...] about 60 Democrats in the Senate?
Online Bullying
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant FOOTNOTE: And, yes we know, there are left wing nuts and centrist nuts, too (so that will spare some us some comments). In fact, this is election year and you can already see the squirrels rushing down from the trees... … [Read more...] about Online Bullying