There was a brief moment in the debate over expanding the S-CHIP program when the clouds parted and something of a consensus emerged that the crisis in American health care has brought to ground not just the poor but middle-class families like that of Halsey and Bonnie Frost. Then the swiftboating of their 12-year-old son began. Well, the right-wing blowhards who pulled the … [Read more...] about Onward Through the Fog (Or: The Urgent Need to Reform Health Care)
Graeme Frost, Senator Mitch McConnell: and An Earlier Eye-Witness J’Accuse
Update: It’s been reported on MSNBC that erroneous assertions about the Frost child and family that have spun out of control to allegedly include death threats and falsehoods broadcast via internet and radio, may have originated, in part, from the offices of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell who represents Kentucky... ironically, a state that has many constituent families … [Read more...] about Graeme Frost, Senator Mitch McConnell: and An Earlier Eye-Witness J’Accuse
Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 11, 2007
Our linkfest offering readers links to blogposts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. FROSTY RECEPTION: The furor continues over the role and/or treatment of 12-year-old Graeme Frost, who delivered a counter radio address to President George Bush's...complaining of the President's veto of the … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 11, 2007
Republican Debate
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Republican Debate
Blogging: When You Have Ideas You Cannot Yet Execute
WAYS OF LEARNING... I’m teaching myself to draw because I would like to be able to draw some ideas I have for editorial cartoons... some sharp and hard-hitting ones, I hope. I met a young guy at the camera store recently who is going to art school. How I envy him; to have teachers to help you, tell you, show you, let you in on some of the 'secrets', some of the … [Read more...] about Blogging: When You Have Ideas You Cannot Yet Execute
“Never” till the bitter end
“There is practically no chance communications space satellites will be used to provide better telephone, telegraph, television, or radio service inside the United States.†- T. A. M. Craven, FCC Commissioner, 1961 It's quite amazing how wrong Commissioner Craven was. His statement confidently rejects the subject. Yet look at how far we come in those 46 years with … [Read more...] about “Never” till the bitter end
Seymour Hersh: The Good American
Are Americans as well-informed as it would appear, given the country's mind-boggling number of media outlets? According to this feature article from Germany's Die Zeit, it takes a man like journalist Seymour Hersh to 'to open their eyes about their own country.' The people of New York are surrounded by media. Nonetheless, it took an hour of questions and answers with … [Read more...] about Seymour Hersh: The Good American
Temper Tantrum
A House committee just passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide. Turkey has threatened to go berserk if it passes the full House. Why we should let them do their worst. … [Read more...] about Temper Tantrum
There’s A Reason I Don’t Watch Congressional Debates On C-SPAN
Case in point: the inane decision of 42 Congressmen to stage an act of protest against the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. … [Read more...] about There’s A Reason I Don’t Watch Congressional Debates On C-SPAN
Center of Attention
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. -------------------------- Starting off, two two-fers for your consideration. First, two from Dave Schuler: one in … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Mild-Mannered Democrats
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Mild-Mannered Democrats
Semi Book Review: The Reason Why
"Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred." Those immortal words come from "Charge of the Light Brigade," Tennyson's classic poem about the disastrous British cavalry charge against the Russians in the Crimean War that came to symbolize warfare at its most courageous and most stupid. The poem inspired two … [Read more...] about Semi Book Review: The Reason Why
Guest Voice: Frost Bite
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 view to TMV's diverse readership. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. This is by The Mystery Reader whose identity is known to yours truly (and he has had our respect for his … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Frost Bite
Baseball: A Class Act Prepares to Exit
Back in my youth when the New York Yankees were on an unprecedented post-season roll -- appearing in an extraordinary 13 World Series in the 15 years from 1950-1964 and winning eight of them -- I considered myself to be a Yankees Hater. But with the mellowing and acquired wisdom of the years, I became a Yankees Disliker and finally a Yankees Respecter, which is to say that I … [Read more...] about Baseball: A Class Act Prepares to Exit
Torture’s Wrong, Except If You’re Jack Bauer
Gregory Djerijian points us to a recent Meet the Press interview in which Bill Clinton suggests that while torture should officially remain illegal, American soldiers -- a la Jack Bauer -- should not hesitate in ticking bomb scenarios. Although they would have to be prosecuted for violating the law (in order to preserve our national image), these soldiers should be considered … [Read more...] about Torture’s Wrong, Except If You’re Jack Bauer
Graeme Frost & Why I’m Ashamed to Be a Blogger Today (Update III)
The Frosts Outside & Inside Semi-Palatial Home The vicious underbelly of the blogosphere is in full-howl display over the story of Graeme Frost, the 12-year-old who gave a Democratic Party radio rebuttal to President Bush’s veto of a bill to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program that had passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. Before you could … [Read more...] about Graeme Frost & Why I’m Ashamed to Be a Blogger Today (Update III)
Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 10, 2007
Our linkfest offering readers links to blogposts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. FROST STORY CONTINUES TO BOIL: The ongoing saga of how some of the most loyal supporters of President George Bush are going to teach 12 year old Graeme Frost a lesson by going after him and his family (even … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 10, 2007
Guest Poet: A Credit Score Heavy To His Love
Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: How does a guy get a girl? The answer to that vital question has differed greatly over the years. At times the main attraction has been idealism, commitment to social causes, or even (on very rare occasions) the ability to work a rhyme. Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary of Shakespeare, … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: A Credit Score Heavy To His Love
Secret Torture Memos
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Secret Torture Memos
Recall the Words of the National Review
Cross-posted to The Debate Link In my post on dead civil rights leaders, I noted that even the scion of light, Dr. Martin Luther King, was the subject of vigorous and vicious attacks from the mainstream right at the time of his activism. These attacks take very similar forms to the contemporary assaults the right regularly lobs at modern-day civil rights activists, which … [Read more...] about Recall the Words of the National Review