According to The Sunday Times a couple of days ago, the war with Iran has already begun: BRITISH special forces have crossed into Iran several times in recent months as part of a secret border war against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Al-Quds special forces, defence sources have disclosed. There have been at least half a dozen intense firefights between the SAS and … [Read more...] about A war with Iran that is already underway
John Bolton vs. George Bush
The man with the white walrus mustache is back in Washington after a European tour of touting war with Iran. He has a new book to promote and a new cause--rallying Republican Congressmen to oppose the nuclear agreement with North Korea by that left-wing softie, George W. Bush. Last week he met with 42 GOP members at the invitation of Iowa Rep. Steve King, whose main … [Read more...] about John Bolton vs. George Bush
One Good Thing
During Bill Clinton's Presidency, Rush Limbaugh was a guest on David Letterman's late-night show. Letterman asked Limbaugh if he could say just one nice thing, one good thing, about the President. Limbaugh couldn't, or more accurately, wouldn't -- and that was pretty much the end of any interest I had in Limbaugh. Last month, Letterman presented Clinton with a similar … [Read more...] about One Good Thing
Mike Huckabee and the fake-ass-kicking blowhard vote
We were all waiting for this, weren't we? For president, Chuck Norris has endorsed... [DRUM ROLL] Mike Huckabee! If you must, read his endorsement piece at WingNutDaily (isn't that what it's called?). I won't bother to quote extensively from it here, nor to analyze his, um... argument. But here are some thoughts as I try to come to terms with this momentous … [Read more...] about Mike Huckabee and the fake-ass-kicking blowhard vote
Thanks to YOU, A Bit of Self-Promotion!
You Readers must really like us as a news and opinion source because we are ranked #46 on Memeorandum's Leaderboard! We are surprised, honored and grateful! Thank-you Memeorandum and Dear Readers! Gabe Rivera at Memeorandum and Techmeme: The ascent of blogs and other independent publishers has expanded and revitalized political dialogue in the United Status. While the … [Read more...] about Thanks to YOU, A Bit of Self-Promotion!
On the scourge of mercenary arms (in Iraq)
They may not get it in Washington, but they seem to be getting it in Baghdad, more or less, at least with respect to the nature of many of those currently tasked with waging the Iraq War and Occupation: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked the U.S. State Department to "pull Blackwater out of Iraq," after an Iraqi probe concluded that the private contractors committed … [Read more...] about On the scourge of mercenary arms (in Iraq)
Massive Southern California Fires Fuel Unprecedented Mass Evacuations
It's a another day in sunny (a positive point), windy (a problem), and fiery (a reality) Southern California. And as Californians -- particularly San Diegans -- arose in their homes and some 500,00 of them stressfully arose in their shelters or temporary lodgings, the news was not good. The winds are still going strong. There are wind advisories. And the end of the windy … [Read more...] about Massive Southern California Fires Fuel Unprecedented Mass Evacuations
The swoon that was: Fred Thompson and the “values” of the Republican Party
"Thompson's fall from grace" was the headline of a post by my friend Steve Benen at Talking Points Memo. While Romney and Huckabee led the way at the religious right's recent self-glorifying two-day "Values Voter Summit" in Washington, much to no one's surprise, Thompson placed well back in fourth, a distant fourth, behind Romney and Huckabee, a close 1-2, and Paul, a decent … [Read more...] about The swoon that was: Fred Thompson and the “values” of the Republican Party
Hillary Trick or Treat
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Hillary Trick or Treat
Battle For the Heart & Soul of Libraries
I have more than a passing acquaintance with the question of whether electronic media will replace books because of my day job in a rare book and manuscript library that sits within a larger library with nearly 3 million bound volumes and millions of electronic resources. The answer in my neck of the woods is that books will coexist for the foreseeable because it is the … [Read more...] about Battle For the Heart & Soul of Libraries
Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! …
Is the United States prepared to stop Turkey from entering Northern Iraq? Judging from this op-ed article from Turkey's largest newspaper, Hurriyet, that may not be advisable ... "What if American F-16s come in front of us to block us? Let them try, that's their business. … Our targets will be on Barzani's military and economic targets. Our goal will be to transform the … [Read more...] about Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! …
Guest Poet: The Right Payroll Priorities
Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Hard times are coming for many U.S. companies. In order to stay afloat they will have to cut payroll costs. There are two choices when doing so. They can fire 200 workers whose average pay is $50,000 a year. Or halve the salary of one $20 million a year CEO. Each choice saves $10 million … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: The Right Payroll Priorities
Rudy Giuliani
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Rudy Giuliani
Baldilocks, Fare Well For Now
I know Baldilocks as the first blogger to link to one of my posts when I began coblogging at the Moderate Voice seven months ago. Baldilocks, hmm, I thought, thank you! And what an unusual name you have. I found out Baldilocks is a sharp woman, with a close shaved head on purpose, and a beautiful first name: Juliette; She is insightful, tough, heartful and especially, well … [Read more...] about Baldilocks, Fare Well For Now
Glenn Beck: Partisan Demonization Amid Southern California’s Devastating Fires
SAN DIEGO, CA -- I just drove 250 miles from Central California down to San Diego County -- a county that has parts of it literally under fire. By Mother Nature -- and now by a talk show host. I saw the plumes of smoke. Outside of L.A., I saw helicopters flying away from a smoky area. Several fire engines with lights flashing zipped down the highway. Local news talked about … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck: Partisan Demonization Amid Southern California’s Devastating Fires
Burma: How Things Are
This is a picture of Than Schwe's latest publicity stunt in Burma, posting in public places, photographs of his innocent victims in chains and often beaten. Each prisoner is forced to hold a sign admitting to their crimes against Than Schwe. They were rounded up for as little as clapping as the monks and nuns marched, for as little as giving food to the holy people. One grim … [Read more...] about Burma: How Things Are
TMV & The Common Ground
My post earlier this month on the “vicious underbelly of the blogosphere†rearing its ugly head in the Graeme Frost affair reverberated far and wide, including a reference in a Washington Post op-ed column and in this article in NRC Handelsblad, a Dutch newspaper. (Sorry, no link available.) NRC Reporter Tom Jan Meuss refers to The Moderate Voice as “a weblog that is … [Read more...] about TMV & The Common Ground
Spreading Southern California Fires Take Toll And Spark Deja Vu
CNN - NASA Satellite Photo Showing California Wildfires LEBEC, California -- The skies in Lebec, right outside "The Grapevine" incline that takes travelers upwards towards Los Angeles, are bright blue at the center -- and speckled with increasingly darker shadings of brown stemming from the bottom of the horizon. The winds blow -- winds strong enough to fan spreading … [Read more...] about Spreading Southern California Fires Take Toll And Spark Deja Vu
Center of Attention
A round up of recent commentary by assorted voices who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view. -------------------------- The ed board of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, my hometown daily and one of the leftest … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Democrat Rangel Rips Into Giuliani’s Personal Life
If you're a Democrat, Republican or independent who wasn't in a coma during Bill Clinton's presidency you'll remember that many of Clinton's backers, Democrats and many other Americans argued that going after a politician's private life was a way to "get" him when he couldn't be gotten on the issues. Republicans leaped not only over Clinton's testimony but on talk-radio and … [Read more...] about Democrat Rangel Rips Into Giuliani’s Personal Life