A new poll contains yet more bad news for President George Bush, the White House, Republicans running for re-election and for Democrats in Congress...but worse for Republicans in Congress: Most Americans oppose fully funding President Bush's $190 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a sizable majority support an expansion of a children's health … [Read more...] about Poll: Most Want War Funding Cut And Favor Children’s Health Care Expansion
(Updated) Erik Prince Defends Blackwater In Face of Critical Report
The publicity-shy chairman of military contractor Blackwater USA told a House committee today that his controversial company is the victim of "negative and baseless allegations" surrounding a bloody melee in Baghdad last month in which his employees killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more. Blackwater chairman Erik Prince, in an opening statement to the House … [Read more...] about (Updated) Erik Prince Defends Blackwater In Face of Critical Report
A Question for the Day
Paul Marks argues that what's needed in Burma (Myanmar) is some good-old fashioned armed revolt. Andrew Sullivan excerpts the money quote. As someone who has studied (with awe and respect) America's birthing revolution, I'm hard-pressed to disagree with Marks, though his argument makes me wonder, more than ever, exactly what it was that made Gandhi's unarmed resistance so … [Read more...] about A Question for the Day
Democrats Sleepwalking in Washington
Now that the month of decision about Iraq has come and gone in a Petraeus-MoveOn cloud of dust, the United States government has started October in a worse stupor than ever. Democrats who took over Congress in a fever to stop the old war and expose Bush-Cheney lawlessness have just opened the door to a new war and, after months of bloviating about Administration scandals, … [Read more...] about Democrats Sleepwalking in Washington
Setting the Record Straight on S-CHIP
As a parent of now-grown children, there perhaps was nothing more terrifying than wondering if they would be able to get health care should I lose my job. That thankfully never occurred. I had health insurance through my employer and could not be considered to be poor. But it is something that parents have to confront today who also are not poor but whose children are among … [Read more...] about Setting the Record Straight on S-CHIP
Privatized War
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Privatized War
The Sound Heard Around the World
As an impressionable fourth grader at the height of the Cold War, the faint sound that was broadcast via Radio Moscow on October 4, 1957 might has well been the shot heard around the world: Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep. Indeed, the sound from the radio transmitters aboard tiny Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, did herald enormous changes. It shocked a complacent … [Read more...] about The Sound Heard Around the World
Burma: Senior General, Sir: Show Us These Children Are Alive and Unharmed
These are child novice monks in Burma. Some have been on earth for only 6 years. Some young monks have been on earth for only 7 years. Some child monks have walked the little patch of earth around their monasteries for most of their 10 years. In this picture, they are peeking out of their monastery's windows. There have been thousands of child monks exactly like these … [Read more...] about Burma: Senior General, Sir: Show Us These Children Are Alive and Unharmed
Around The Sphere Oct. 2, 2007
Our link-fest offering readers links to blog-posts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. THEY'D SWEAR ON A BIBLE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY: Dick Polman reflects on the GOP's problem with the religious right, opening with some inside info: Back in May of 2000, I learned first-hand that James Dobson … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Oct. 2, 2007
Guest Voice: Time to Boycott Voting
NOTE: The Moderate Voice runs Guest Voice posts from time to time by readers who don’t have their own websites, or people who have websites but would like to post something for TMV’s diverse and thoughtful readership. Our goal: to give readers a taste of differing ideas, not just one idea or one viewpoint. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Time to Boycott Voting
Debt Rictus (A heroic debtor’s last hurrah)
Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Current economic worries focus on predatory lending to subprime borrowers in the housing market. That's certainly a serious problem. But it pales compared to the likely consequences of predatory lending to subprime borrowers in the credit card market. You might not know anyone threatened … [Read more...] about Debt Rictus (A heroic debtor’s last hurrah)
Democrats
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Democrats
Burma and Slaughter: The Red Robe Memorial
Tonight, as this image came in, I wanted to just turn away from my computer and weep. May ten-thousand holy red lotus bloom for every holy red lotus cut down. I prophesy: Retrieve all the red robes of the dead and pile them high. Higher. Highest. The Monks' Memorial of Red Robes. It will be made. By thousands of hands from the world over, the Red Robe Memorial … [Read more...] about Burma and Slaughter: The Red Robe Memorial
Why We See Elliott’s Law
Elliott's Law posits that: As an online discussion concerning race grows longer, the probability of a person referencing Martin Luther King, Jr. as a means to justify their racist and/or ignorant attitudes approaches one. It's certainly something I've observed. But why Martin Luther King? Because he's dead, that's why. And being dead, he poses no threat to the "splitting" meme … [Read more...] about Why We See Elliott’s Law
Al Oerter (1936-2007)
Have you ever tried to throw the discus? Let alone as far as this man did in winning a record four consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same event? More here. … [Read more...] about Al Oerter (1936-2007)
An Act of Defiance
Some Saudi women are getting tired of being harassed by the country's religious police. Asharq al-Awsat reports: Head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Eastern province Dr. Mohamed bin Marshood al-Marshood, told Asharq Al Awsat that two of the Commission's employees were verbally insulted and attacked by two inappropriately-dressed … [Read more...] about An Act of Defiance
What can be done to liberate the people of Burma?
(Cross-posted from The Reaction.) The totalitarians who call the country Myanmar, a military junta that makes up one of the most brutal regimes in the world, have clamped down on those who wish to liberate the country from within, the monks and other protesters who have had enough of being brutalized. The insular rulers of that insular country, a country made ever more … [Read more...] about What can be done to liberate the people of Burma?
Why Do Democracies Fail? When Do They Succeed?
As the Iraq example has shown, transitioning to democracy is smoother in some states than in others. Matt Eckel, a blogger and international relations guru who writes at Rational International, has written an interesting and detailed post about the conditions by which countries can be said to be "ready" for successful democratic governance. The full piece is here. … [Read more...] about Why Do Democracies Fail? When Do They Succeed?
Defining Political Courage
One of my all-time favorite voter education groups, Project Vote Smart, has completed its 2008 Presidential Political Courage Test and mailed it to all candidates vying for the White House. (This new test is the updated and re-named successor to PVS' Political Awareness Test.) If you have a moment, shoot your favorite presidential candidate a note and encourage him or her … [Read more...] about Defining Political Courage
U. S. Senate in the Toilet
If Republicans follow through on their threats, some time this month six United States Senators will gather in a hearing room to study and debate urgent questions about a men’s room stall in the Minneapolis-St. Paul air terminal. Ending the war in Iraq, starting one in Iran and health care for poor children will have to wait while the Senate Ethics Committee considers … [Read more...] about U. S. Senate in the Toilet