It seems that Governor Mike Huckabee would consider sending more troops to Iraq (if he were president): This morning on NBC’s Today Show, host Matt Lauer asked Huckabee, if Bush delivers a more pessimistic assessment of the surge this week, “would you feel we owe it to the 150,000 or so Americans serving in Iraq to start pulling them out sooner than later?†“We have … [Read more...] about Huckabee: Escalate the Escalation?
A Weird Bank Robber In New Hampshire
(As opposed to those weird Presidential candidates.) He must have been looking for a branch bank. What a sap.. You can just image what would have happened if the police dogs had found him... … [Read more...] about A Weird Bank Robber In New Hampshire
The Summer of Love Reconsidered
"America is still suffering the horrible consequences of hippies who thought utopia could be found in joints and intentional disconnect." -- Ted Nugent It has been 40 years since the Summer of Love and those unlovable right-wingnut Republicans, led by their knuckle-dragging shoot 'em up poster boy, are waging class welfare anew against a favorite target. But is it possible … [Read more...] about The Summer of Love Reconsidered
100 Percent Proof Turkey
Vince O'Farrell, The Illawarra Mercury, Australia … [Read more...] about 100 Percent Proof Turkey
(Updated) Loneliest Man In the World
Like the last person in the room to get a really bad joke, President Bush becomes more isolated by the day as the scales fall from the eyes of the small and shrinking number of people who share his belief that his war in Iraq can be won. There would seem to be an element of pathos to this: The lonely commander in chief walking the halls of the White House late at night, … [Read more...] about (Updated) Loneliest Man In the World
Is The New Mantra “Al Qaeda Is Around Every Corner?” (UPDATED)
The New York Times has a new Public Editor -- and he wasted no time zeroing in on a flaw he sees in his new organization: it has begun blindly accepting what some pointed to in recent weeks as a notable shift in the White House and military descriptions of Iraq where insurgent attacks are increasingly being attributed to Al Qaeda. The Public Editor is Clark Hoyt, who had an … [Read more...] about Is The New Mantra “Al Qaeda Is Around Every Corner?” (UPDATED)
Guest Voice: The Scooter Libby Affair
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. The Scooter Libby … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: The Scooter Libby Affair
We’re Used To Getting A Song And Dance
....from our politicians (of both parties). So how about seeing a song and dance from two legendary vaudevillians (before my time). Here's Jimmy Durante (who lived here in San Diego County) and his partner Eddie Jackson recreating their super-high-energy vaudeville act on early TV: (The song and dance from our politicians is more elaborate.) … [Read more...] about We’re Used To Getting A Song And Dance
Live Earth Concert
Deng Coy Miel, Singapore … [Read more...] about Live Earth Concert
Turning a Corner, Part II
For the first time ever, the Arab League has announced it is going to visit the state of Israel, to discuss peace, the creation of a Palestinian state, and recognition of Israel. It's not the last step. But it's a big one. … [Read more...] about Turning a Corner, Part II
Smelly Journalism Dept: Fred Thompson’s Wife
To those of you who roll your eyes and groan when you hear people go on and on about the biased news media that injects its personal opinions into news stories and peppers them with assumptions that the writer more than "critics say" seems to hold, roll your eyes no longer. The New York Times has a piece that makes you conclude: somewhere at that (once stellar) newspaper, an … [Read more...] about Smelly Journalism Dept: Fred Thompson’s Wife
An Amazing Déjà Vu Moment. Again.
Desert One: The Aftermath Although the mission had originally been viewed as preposterous, it gradually had come to seem feasible. It included a nighttime rendezvous of helicopters and planes at a desert landing strip south of Tehran, where the choppers would refuel before carrying raiding parties to hiding places just outside the city. There they would stage an assault on … [Read more...] about An Amazing Déjà Vu Moment. Again.
Seemingly Solid History Can Be Animated
U.S. Pulled Plug On 2005 Al Qaeda Chiefs Raid And Irked Intelligence Specialists
Once again it seems a perception about the Bush administration is proven "inoperative" by new facts. The mantra has been that the Clinton folks blew it on terrorism. And the legend, recorded for posterity on an ABC special, was that a top Clinton aide pulled the plug on an operation to catch the bad guys. Now it turns out there reportedly was such an event -- but the … [Read more...] about U.S. Pulled Plug On 2005 Al Qaeda Chiefs Raid And Irked Intelligence Specialists
Capitol Hill Blue Retracts Controversial Negative Ron Paul Piece
They say that journalism is "instant history." And if journalism is instant history, then blogging is instant history coupled with gut reactions. And if "instant history" must be revised and/or retracted from time to time, just imagine the complications when it comes to blog-like gut reactions. And if you can't imagine it read THIS POST which discusses Capitol Hill Blue's … [Read more...] about Capitol Hill Blue Retracts Controversial Negative Ron Paul Piece
It Can Mean Anything If You Use Your Imagination!
When folks try and tell me--after Stenberg II, after Hein, that the Roberts Court should be applauded for how well it "respects precedent", I just grow ever-surer in my realization that precedent can mean anything if you set your mind to it. … [Read more...] about It Can Mean Anything If You Use Your Imagination!
We’ll Try To Do Right By You, Mother
An Aboriginal group kicks off the Australian leg of the Live Earth Concert in Sydney, one of nine concerts worldwide aimed at persuading people to go green. More here. Photograph by Reuters … [Read more...] about We’ll Try To Do Right By You, Mother
It’s All the Iraqis’ Fault, Dammit
That dwindling minority of unquestioning supporters of the Iraq war have sought out one fall guy after another as Mission Accomplished has become the Forever War: That cooked pre-war intelligence was the fault of an incompetent CIA. Joe Wilson lied and thousands died. The Democrats have been giving comfort to the enemy. Those treacherous Irani mullahs are to blame. Yada yada … [Read more...] about It’s All the Iraqis’ Fault, Dammit
Extremism in Pakistan
Paresh Nath, National Herald, India … [Read more...] about Extremism in Pakistan
Poll: Americans Would Accept Black President And Bush Gets No Libby Bounce
A new Newsweek poll has three key elements: (1) Americans are ready to elect a black President. The poll has some hedges in these numbers but the bottom line is: Americans say they are ready. (2) Despite predictions that President George Bush would get a "bounce" from his conservative base for commuting the sentence of Scooter Libby, it looks like it has not helped him … [Read more...] about Poll: Americans Would Accept Black President And Bush Gets No Libby Bounce