I’ve never understood what the big deal was about gays serving in the military. The GLBT community brings as much talent and patriotism to the table as any other. The idea that gays serving in the military would somehow disrupt military operations just didn’t seem logical to me. Apparently, others agree.Since the British military began allowing homosexuals to serve … [Read more...] about Gays in the Military: Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell. Don’t Discriminate.
Iraq Study Group: Déjà Vu All Over Again.
I’ve always had a lot of respect for James A. Baker III and Lee Hamilton. Their insightful observations and conclusions contained within the Iraq Study Group only heightened that respect. I was profoundly disappointed after the Bush administration had rejected their advice and had done so, sadly, rather summarily. But wait! Maybe there is hope! Today's Washington … [Read more...] about Iraq Study Group: Déjà Vu All Over Again.
CHP, DSP Slam ErdoÄŸan’s Comments
There is still a lot going on in Turkey (the CHP is the party founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk): Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer criticized the prime minister's comments on the election alliance of their parties Saturday, with Baykal accusing Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan of being out of control. Wondering what … [Read more...] about CHP, DSP Slam ErdoÄŸan’s Comments
Immigration Bill
Many conservatives are not exactly happy with the immigration reform bill. John Fund for the Wall Street Journal: It's understandable that the White House and its Senate negotiating partners want to rush through the compromise immigration bill they agreed to Thursday. Supporters acknowledge that the delicately balanced legislation could collapse if a single destructive … [Read more...] about Immigration Bill
San Francisco Chronicle Will Cut Newsroom Jobs 25%
In one of the most graphic examples of how the mainstream print news media has fallen on hard times partially due to the 21st century trends of people getting more news online and younger people often ignoring newspapers altogether, the venerable San Francisco Chronicle is going to axe 25 percent of its newsroom jobs. Coming on the heels of steep job cuts at the Los Angeles … [Read more...] about San Francisco Chronicle Will Cut Newsroom Jobs 25%
Gas Prices Curse 2007
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Gas Prices Curse 2007
Triangle of Death Hostage Search: Day 9
10th Mountain Division soldiers search for hostages in Rashdimullah There is no delicate way to put it: With every passing day, the possibility that the three American soldiers abducted in an ambush nine days ago will be found alive grows slimmer. This much is certain: * U.S. military intelligence has a basic understanding of the insurgent network behind the ambush in … [Read more...] about Triangle of Death Hostage Search: Day 9
Late Night Writing Makes Me Crazy/Brilliant
Crazy? Brilliant? Both? Neither? You make the pick. This is what happens when you write huge posts at 3 AM. Whiteness Candidates and Post-Racial America. Be forewarned: It's long--four sections, over 3,000 words and six pages single-spaced. … [Read more...] about Late Night Writing Makes Me Crazy/Brilliant
The Absurdity of the Torture Debate
Two former military commanders wrote a blazing op-ed in The Washington Post recently laying out the dangers of engaging in torture. Here's an excerpt: As has happened with every other nation that has tried to engage in a little bit of torture -- only for the toughest cases, only when nothing else works -- the abuse spread like wildfire, and every captured prisoner became the … [Read more...] about The Absurdity of the Torture Debate
Pressure Continues For Gonzales To Resign
The clamor continues for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Now he's the subject of an Impeach Gonzales campaign online. What's notable when you watch the video below is: given the news stories and facts that have come out, these clips of Gonzales and his boss/friend President George Bush are devastating...not just to Gonzales but to Bush. … [Read more...] about Pressure Continues For Gonzales To Resign
A Must Own DVD: Roots (Epic Television Miniseries)
An epic television mini-series is now available on DVD. From the review by Booker Rising's Shay: "Roots" did not present a moonlight-and-magnolias version of slavery, as does "Gone With The Wind" and other movies. The slave ship that brings Kunta Kinte to America is dangerously crowded and full of human waste and sick, tortured passengers. The graphic realism persists … [Read more...] about A Must Own DVD: Roots (Epic Television Miniseries)
Surprise, Surprise: Pope Denounces Attacks on Israeli Border Towns
YNet reports that Pope Benedict "denounced rocket attacks on Israeli border towns that provoked Israel's armed retaliation, and appealed in God's name for Jerusalem to use moderation and for Palestinian authorities to 'neutralize' violent forces." He said, literally: "The clashes among Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and the rocket attacks against inhabitants of the … [Read more...] about Surprise, Surprise: Pope Denounces Attacks on Israeli Border Towns
Around The Sphere May 20, 2007
Our linkfest offering readers a guide to provocative and informative posts on weblogs representing many different viewpoints. Links to not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its writers. Is Rudy Giuliani Following A Classic Political Textbook? One of the best books on politics is Hardball by Chris Matthews -- the book that propelled him to … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere May 20, 2007
Condi Meets Putin
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune … [Read more...] about Condi Meets Putin
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. To start off, Andrew Sullivan features a quote from Archbishop Romero on torture. Michael vdG looks at the good week Candidates Clinton and Paul had on YouTube. While those candidates had a good week, the UN did not, as Jeb at Foreign Policy Watch reminds … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Border Patrol Agents Blast New Immigration Bill
When the new immigration bill -- a truly delicate compromise between seemingly irreconcilable sides on the highly emotional issue -- comes to the Senate floor this week, expect high drama and a bit of suspense. The reason: even though the bill is a compromise and what politicos on both sides of the issue say is the best chance to pass any kind of a bill this year (or for … [Read more...] about Border Patrol Agents Blast New Immigration Bill
Spiderman III
It's out...and the new movie even has some religious implications. … [Read more...] about Spiderman III
The Gaza Match
Paresh Nath, National Herald, India … [Read more...] about The Gaza Match
Triangle of Death Hostage Search: Day 8
Blackened asphalt, debris show where insurgents sprung ambush A massive dragnet entered its second week today with no indication that searchers were any closer to finding three U.S. soldiers kidnapped after an ambush in the Triangle of Death, but there was a flurry of reports that it is believed two of the three men are alive. Meanwhile, families of the four men killed in … [Read more...] about Triangle of Death Hostage Search: Day 8
The Happy Trio
The Washington Post has an article up by Molly Moore, carrying the title: "New Leadership Trio Could Put Europe Back on Political Map." Subtitle: "Merkel, Sarkozy and Brown Seen Reenergizing Region." Indeed: very, very positive (almost overly positive in my humble opinion). One thing that has to be mentioned: Brown? Brown reenergizes the region? We are talking about Gordon … [Read more...] about The Happy Trio