Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has shed his army uniform and says he will allow free and fair democratic elections in January 2008 after ending the current martial law in mid-December 2007. Whatever happens will bring little change b ecause the current upheavals in Pakistan are not a bloody choice between democracy and political stability under a military dictator. They … [Read more...] about Pakistan democracy, terrorism, Islam and hope
The Torture Debate Continues…
Lots of credit to John McCain who eloquently articulated his objection to torture in a testy exchange with Mitt Romney at the recent presidential debate. Romney's ambivalence on this issue is disturbing, and we can only imagine the kind of administration that he would lead. As Steve Benen points out, Romney's top counterterrorism advisor is Cofer Black, the man at the … [Read more...] about The Torture Debate Continues…
Will Anyone Care?
Some of you will remember "The Letter," my attempt to amplify the voice of moderate Republicans and Independents. Around the middle of June this year, I launched the signature drive. Today, we have 40 names, collected at an average pace of eight a month, two a week. On the one hand, considering a country of some 200 million voting-age adults (of which an estimated 80 … [Read more...] about Will Anyone Care?
Media Coverage: Hostage Situation at H. Clinton’s Campaign Office in Rochester N.H.
UPDATE 4:15 MST It appears that the man who took hostages came out of the campaign office, and was taken down to the ground and handcuffed, and is now being taken away in a tactical vehicle. On a different front: Newspeople are turning to analyse the background of the man who entered the campaign offices in Rochester New Hampshire 5.5 hours ago, claiming to have a bomb, … [Read more...] about Media Coverage: Hostage Situation at H. Clinton’s Campaign Office in Rochester N.H.
Hostages Taken at Clinton NH Campaign Office
Ben Smith has the details. … [Read more...] about Hostages Taken at Clinton NH Campaign Office
Hear A Voice From The Moderate Voice At 1:00 PM EST
Now YOU can hear a voice from The Moderate Voice at 1 p.m. EST, a few minutes from now. The program will be hosted by Jazz Shaw. The link. PS: I will be on this program, even though I am way behind on events and my blogging due to some personal matters and family crises. My blogging on TMV should resume today and be back to normal by the weekend. … [Read more...] about Hear A Voice From The Moderate Voice At 1:00 PM EST
GOP Death Wish I: Sir Rudy Giuliani
Newspapers generally and The New York Times in particular have an aversion to calling people liars, preferring to let the facts speak for themselves and leaving it to readers to sort things out on their own. That is why you'd be hard pressed to find a single Times news story that states in unambiguous terms that The Leader of the Free Word has a predilection for lying … [Read more...] about GOP Death Wish I: Sir Rudy Giuliani
GOP Death Wish II: Question Us Not
Republicans and their blogospheric helpmaidens are in high dudgeon because some of the questions asked at this week’s CNN debate came from Democrats. Am I to take this to mean that the GOP’s death wish is so powerful that they don’t even want their presidential wannabes questioned by people other than their own? Just asking. … [Read more...] about GOP Death Wish II: Question Us Not
Why No Big Blogospheric Libel Suits?
Glenn Reynolds, whose Instapundit is one of the most read one-person blogs anywhere, also teaches law at the University of Tennessee. He has published a paper in the Washington Law Review titled "Libel in the Blogosphere: Some Preliminary Thoughts" that is a must-read for any blogger who is interested in more than just pointless, incessant barking. Reynolds notes that there … [Read more...] about Why No Big Blogospheric Libel Suits?
GOP Debate
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about GOP Debate
Musical Bleg
One of the most annoying things in the world to me is knowing a song by tune but not title, and not being able to find it. Normally, I'll just punch the lyrics in a search engine, but that doesn't work for instrumentals. So, while I don't like viewing TMV readers as my personal gophers, I'm enlisting the collective help of the blogosphere in my quest. Does anyone know what … [Read more...] about Musical Bleg
There Are Two Sides in American Politics? The Horror!
Yes, CNN should have known and disclosed General Keith Kerr's links to the Clinton campaign before letting him ask his question. But you know what? It was a good question, and he was the right person to ask it. The people who act as if it's a huge affront that Republicans had to even hear a question from someone who's voting Democratic (Kerr is a Log Cabin Republican but is … [Read more...] about There Are Two Sides in American Politics? The Horror!
Good McCain Pops Up
Unlike Mitt Romney, John McCain had the right answer when asked whether he'd accept a qualified Muslim his cabinet. Of course, that this is even a question is sad. That it's a question where McCain may well be in the minority of his party is even sadder. But let's not dwell on the negative. McCain gave the right answer, he gave it strong, and he gave it to the base. Credit … [Read more...] about Good McCain Pops Up
Iraq: Too Dangerous to Cover?
The Surge may be making Iraq safer, but not for those reporting it. Eight out of ten journalists say the war is now harder to cover than it was when they started working there. From an October survey of 111 journalists in 29 news organizations, the Project for Excellence in Journalism concludes: "They believe they have done a better job of covering the American military and … [Read more...] about Iraq: Too Dangerous to Cover?
Refugee Distortion
There's been a lot of hype about the alleged recent return of thousands of Iraqi refugees from neighboring countries like Syria and Jordan. American officials have touted this development as a clear indication that security is improving and that Iraqis feel safe enough to return to their homes. Not surprisingly, though, we're not being given an accurate picture. For … [Read more...] about Refugee Distortion
Rudy Giuliani: The Teflon Don?
Has there been a presidential candidate in recent memory as ruthlessly corrupt as Rudy Giuliani? Not that I know of, which makes the fact that Republicans seem to be treating the dirty past of one of the party's front runners as a non issue an issue in and of itself. Unless you spent the last few days in a cave, you know by now that in addition to all of Giuliani's other … [Read more...] about Rudy Giuliani: The Teflon Don?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: NOTES ON THE STATE OF POLITICS
Introduction This week, the Crystal Ball publishes another installment in our intermittent series of observations on the 2008 campaign and the politics of the day. We offer these musings as a supplement to our usual essays focusing on one subject, which will still appear regularly. Jefferson aficionados will find the title familiar, and they know he penned just one book in … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: NOTES ON THE STATE OF POLITICS
Debate Analysis from The Fix: Winners and Losers
Republicans Debate: Winners and Losers Last night's Republican debate in Florida provided plenty of fodder for folks like The Fix. The candidates unloaded on one another time and time again, a sign that voting is just around the corner in crucial states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The Fix spent late last night and this morning sifting through the remains … [Read more...] about Debate Analysis from The Fix: Winners and Losers
God Reportedly Forces Roberts To Resign From Oral Roberts University
And here we thought God was too busy trying to answer the prayers of Hurricane Katrina victims, California fire victims and of Dancing With The Stars Contestants who are praying for their competitors to fall flat on their faces. Just trying to save the souls of the men and woman running for President is a tough enough job for one overworked deity. But he is now busy with … [Read more...] about God Reportedly Forces Roberts To Resign From Oral Roberts University
The Sin of Appeasement
This should make it perfectly clear that negotiating with Arab terrorists is not just wrong but also futile: Jerusalem Post: Hamas demands UN rescind '47 partition Hamas on Thursday called on the UN to rescind the 1947 decision to partition Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs. The group said in a statement, released on the 60th anniversary of the … [Read more...] about The Sin of Appeasement