Pastor Fred and his crew of self-styled Baptists who like to show up at funerals of gays, military and disaster victims, carrying signs saying God Hates You, and bellowing over bullhorns about how happy God is to murder human beings. He's back. Again. They say decent Christians never speak out against others who hold themselves out to be 'the one and only true Christians" … [Read more...] about Minneapolis Bridge Victims’ Funerals: It’s ALL FUN-erals ALL THE TIME To Pastor Fred Phelps
Another Debate? Open Thread
I have missed the last couple of debates for various reasons and don't pay Time Warner Cable for MSNBC so I may not see this one either. The New York Times: Labor Sets the Stage for a Democratic Forum CHICAGO — Labor groups are ready to hand out 10,000 rain ponchos, but hope their members won’t have to use them tonight when the Democratic candidates and thousands of … [Read more...] about Another Debate? Open Thread
The New Republic Can’t Confirm Weekly Standard Report Of Beauchamp Recant
This one is surely now to stack up as a case for the nation's journalism schools. We ran this extensive post earlier about a report in The Weekly Standard that Scott Thomas Beauchamp had recanted his controversial articles written about the U.S. military in Iraq under a pen name. If you re-read it, you'll note that we added our own journalistic "hedges" since we were … [Read more...] about The New Republic Can’t Confirm Weekly Standard Report Of Beauchamp Recant
Major Crackdown in Iran Indicates Regime Is Feeling the Heat
Although it's not getting much play in the American press, there is a major crackdown on opposition groups being carried out by the Iranian government. In fact, there have been more executions in the past few weeks in Iran than at any time in over two decades. Ahmadinejad's government has justified this wave of repression by alleging that the country is under siege from … [Read more...] about Major Crackdown in Iran Indicates Regime Is Feeling the Heat
Cost of War Reaches $450 Billion
According to the National Priorities Project, the War in Iraq has now cost American taxpayers $450 billion. That stands in stark contrast to the $100 billion to $200 billion pricetag estimated by President Bush's chief economic advisor in September 2002 or the $50 billion to 60$ billion estimate offered by the White House Office of Management and Budget Director in December … [Read more...] about Cost of War Reaches $450 Billion
I’m Voting For Fred Thompson ‘Cause His Wife Has Nice You Know Whats
Stories like this one from The Los Angeles Times make me want to throw up, tear my eyes out or something: "In this long, hot campaign season, intimations of sexuality are sprouting like wildflowers along the road to the White House. Not that the commingling of sex and politics is anything new, but for what seems to be the first time in memory, voters are being confronted … [Read more...] about I’m Voting For Fred Thompson ‘Cause His Wife Has Nice You Know Whats
It’s About Times (Select)
While the matter of whether newspapers and other media outlets should charge for Internet content will never be settled, I've always found TimesSelect, the paywall that allows only paid online or print subscribers to access certain New York Times content, to be a penny-wise-pound-foolish affront. While I have continued to buy the dead-tree edition of the Sunday Times, which … [Read more...] about It’s About Times (Select)
Hillary Clinton Widens Poll Lead Over Barack Obama
NOTE TO READERS: Due to some kind of system glitch, this post mistakenly went on the site as a "PRIVATE" post that no one could get to. We are therefore redating it and putting on today's TMV. New York Senator Hillary Clinton has widened her poll lead over Senator Barack Obama -- while the GOP race remains largely unchanged, a new poll reports: "New York Sen. Hillary … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Widens Poll Lead Over Barack Obama
Beauchamp Reportedly Recants Controversial TNR Articles (UPDATED)
A controversy has been raging this summer entailing Pvt. Scott Thomas Beauchamp and series of anonymous diary "shock troops" articles he wrote under a pen name for the newly reconstituted The New Republic. And it may have ended now with Beauchamp recanting his controversy-sparking charges. None of TMV's writers with their many viewpoints covered this controversy which was … [Read more...] about Beauchamp Reportedly Recants Controversial TNR Articles (UPDATED)
Did Beauchamp Recant?
The Weekly Standard is reporting he did. My quick take here. McQ goes into greater detail. And as of 8:55 am Central Time, it's the top story at memeorandum, generating considerable buzz. Check it out. … [Read more...] about Did Beauchamp Recant?
Guess Who’s Had a Change of Heart?
Remember the old saying that a conservative is a liberal who got mugged? Well,who's a new believer? A conservative governor who twice vetoed tax increases to pay for infrastructure improvements, but had a change of heart after a catastrophic bridge collapse in his own back yard. More here, as well as here for observations on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s former … [Read more...] about Guess Who’s Had a Change of Heart?
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. McQ summarizes an interview with MG Douglas Stone, Deputy Commanding General, Detainee Operations. In a post on the WSJ's James Taranto vs. John Kerry, Michael Dunaway writes: "I have long held that, while unthinking noisy gongs on both sides are obnoxious ... the thinking conservatives tend … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
The Nursing Crisis Has Arrived. Stat!
Smiling on the outside . . . The next time you’re in a hospital – hopefully as a visitor – watch the nurses as they interact with Uncle Stanley, you and his family, the residents and other physicians, the pharmacy, the therapists, housekeeping and dining services. It quickly becomes obvious that it is nurses who make things work. That makes the crisis in American … [Read more...] about The Nursing Crisis Has Arrived. Stat!
Guest Voice: Questions For The Candidates
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. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its writers. This is another Guest Voice by Alex Hammer. Questions For The … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Questions For The Candidates
Minneapolis Bridge Collapses
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Minneapolis Bridge Collapses
Poll: Iraq War Policy Support Grows
It sounds as if the White House has started to make some headway in terms of support for the Iraq war -- although it has a long way to go: USA TODAY's Susan Page reports that President Bush is making some headway in arguing that the increase in U.S. troops in Iraq is showing military progress. In the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, taken Friday through Sunday, the … [Read more...] about Poll: Iraq War Policy Support Grows
Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Supports Barack Obama
The old song was "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" but when it comes to votes the heart of Rudy Giuliani's daughter now belongs to Barack Obama, according to Slate: There's one vote that Rudy Giuliani definitely can't count on in his 2008 presidential bid: his own daughter's. According to the 17-year-old Caroline Giuliani's Facebook profile, she's supporting Barack Obama. On … [Read more...] about Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Supports Barack Obama
Little Boy and Fat Man: An Amazing Constitutional Rule and a Psychological Document We Might Learn From
Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right … [Read more...] about Little Boy and Fat Man: An Amazing Constitutional Rule and a Psychological Document We Might Learn From
Three Students Lined Up and Murdered Execution Style; A Fourth Student Shot, Survives: Why Isn’t This Top News? Update
UPDATE CNN reports that two males, 28, and 15 years old are in custody regarding the lining up and execution style murders of three students. A fourth student shot in the head and knifed, Natasha Aeriel, 19, survives in hospital and has been able to speak to police and give information. She is under heavy police guard. It’s reported that Jose Carranza, 28, of Newark, New … [Read more...] about Three Students Lined Up and Murdered Execution Style; A Fourth Student Shot, Survives: Why Isn’t This Top News? Update
Is Huckabee Poised To Break Out?
McCain's self-destructing campaign is giving him an opening to surprise in Iowa. … [Read more...] about Is Huckabee Poised To Break Out?