A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. -------------------------- Michael Linn Jones wants "a voter's refund." Reaching back to the middle of last week, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Source Protecting Reporters Shield Law Likely To Pass Congress
You'd think that with the "mainstream media" under fire in so many quarters (given the issues, on the left and the right) a shield law protecting reporters would be difficult to pass now -- but, USA Today reports, Congress is now poised to pass one with bipartisan support: A House bill that would help reporters protect confidential sources will pass easily this week, … [Read more...] about Source Protecting Reporters Shield Law Likely To Pass Congress
Axis Of Nobel
RJ Matson, Roll Call UPDATE: Also of interest: Paul Krugman on Gore Derangement Syndrome … [Read more...] about Axis Of Nobel
Of a Bad President and ‘Good Germans’: Our Long National Nightmare Continues
Even in the seventh year of the Age of Bush, I still don't want to believe that my country is being led by an intellectual, ethical and moral lightweight in the thrall of dangerous power mongers whose views are inimical to what my mother told me that the U.S. of A. is supposed to stand for. Then I wake up and realize that Our Long National Nightmare rages on. I also have … [Read more...] about Of a Bad President and ‘Good Germans’: Our Long National Nightmare Continues
Did The New York Times Cover Al Gore’s Award Fairly?
Some don't think so. Read this and decide (and give your view in comments). … [Read more...] about Did The New York Times Cover Al Gore’s Award Fairly?
Interview with Stephen Truitt and Charles Carpenter
[This is cross-posted to the talking dog. Regardless of one's political background or viewpoint, American detention policy and practice in the so-called "war on terror" is one of the biggest stories of our time. And yet, this story continues to receive far less media coverage than does trivial celebrity gossip. For my part, I continue to seek out relevant players who can … [Read more...] about Interview with Stephen Truitt and Charles Carpenter
Let’s Destroy And Discredit A Former Military Bush Administration Critic
When retired General Ricardo Sanchez made THESE REMARKS late last week blasting the Bush administration's Iraq policy, we noted that the administration would eventually reply -- perhaps by using the timeworn technique of "surrogates." That's where a politico or administration that wants to maintain "plausible deniability" has someone else leap into the mud puddle and septic … [Read more...] about Let’s Destroy And Discredit A Former Military Bush Administration Critic
Burma’s Nightmare: Where Shall One Go With A Heart Full of Non-Violence?
A Conversation with Dr. Jack Kornfield, American Buddhist Teacher trained in Thailand, Burma and India...on Burma, Buddhism, H.H. the Dalai Lama, and non-violence. Kornfield is one of the foremost teachers of Theravada Buddhism in the West. He was trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma and India (He is on the far right in the photo). He graduated from Dartmouth in … [Read more...] about Burma’s Nightmare: Where Shall One Go With A Heart Full of Non-Violence?
It’s George Will Versus Al Gore Versus Sam Donaldson
It's truly fascinating to watch former Vice President Al Gore's critics -- particularly those who insist global warming is merely a liberal buzz phrase -- belittle his winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Would they belittle the prize if someone THEY agreed with won it? George Will and (a visibly aged) Sam Donaldson go at it: … [Read more...] about It’s George Will Versus Al Gore Versus Sam Donaldson
And The Rich
....get richer... … [Read more...] about And The Rich
Are Americans Being “Good Germans” As Anti-Torture And Other Values Fade?
Once upon a time, there was a phrase that truly was cringe-worthy. It was as trite as when someone would say (as if it was profound) "we don't want to sit around singing Kumbaya." The phrase is "they're just being Good Germans." It's a phrase that was hideously overused during the Vietnam War (for those of us who remember) and now in the Iraq war....which has shaped up as … [Read more...] about Are Americans Being “Good Germans” As Anti-Torture And Other Values Fade?
Hillary’s Flip-Flops
Christo Komarnitski, Bulgaria … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Flip-Flops
Yes, Some Frequent Flyers ARE More Equal Than Others
If you're Republican AND Democratic members of Congress, you can actually write the law to make sure you don't get bumped and you make your flight. Because you're special. If you're one of us peons who don't serve in Congress, you could miss your flight and perhaps, due to a series of circumstances, even wind up dead. Read the details about the contrast HERE. … [Read more...] about Yes, Some Frequent Flyers ARE More Equal Than Others
Problems With Fast-Acting Security Guards Trickle Down To High Schools
In the past few months we've had some highly-publicized instances of college students being tasered by security guards at colleges. Now reports are surfacing of problems at high schools as well -- the latest one actually ending in the arrest of the high school principal who stuck up for his student. The New York Sun: The arrest of a high school principal is triggering a … [Read more...] about Problems With Fast-Acting Security Guards Trickle Down To High Schools
Guest Voice: Illegal Immigration Spurs Constitutional Amendment
NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs Guest Voice posts by readers who don't have their own website or some people who do 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 is TMV's second Guest Voice by Joel S. Hirschhorn. Illegal … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Illegal Immigration Spurs Constitutional Amendment
Charles Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” Speech
When Spanish dictator Francisco Franco died in the fall of 1975 there was one immediate consequence: Charles Chaplin's movie that poked fun at fascism and German dictator Adolph Hitler was FINALLY shown in Spain. I was writing in Spain for The Christian Science Monitor and also a slew of other publications. I saw the Spanish-dubbed version of this Chaplin classic 13 times … [Read more...] about Charles Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” Speech
Private Security Contract With Iraq
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Private Security Contract With Iraq
Fair Elections Action Week Coming Up
November 12-16th Common Cause, Democracy Matters, Public Campaign, Public Citizen, and U. S. PIRG will join together to promote Fair Elections Action Week. The Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, and similar legislation in House would bring full public financing to congressional elections and amplify a call for elections that are about voters, not big money donors. Fair … [Read more...] about Fair Elections Action Week Coming Up
Proposing Constitutional Change
In his new book A More Perfect Constitution (Walker & Company, 2007) Larry Sabato, the founder and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics lays out a series of twenty-three proposals for constitutional revision. These amendments would, he argues, bring the Constitution into the twenty-first century by making the structures of our government more fair, … [Read more...] about Proposing Constitutional Change
“Mr. Secretary, I Got An Interesting Question.”
As Blake Hounshell notes, Bush "doesn't seem to have done a lot of thinking about the legal implications of outsourcing the Iraq war to companies like Blackwater..." (Hat tip: Belgravia Dispatch) … [Read more...] about “Mr. Secretary, I Got An Interesting Question.”