From the Headquarters of Sir Winston Churchill near Blenheim Palace May 3, 2007 Dear President Bush, Just this my dear man: "Let us learn our lessons... Never believe any war will be smooth and easy... or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. "The statesman who yields to war-fever must … [Read more...] about Open Letter to President George W. Bush from Sir Winston Churchill on the Anniversary of “Mission Accomplished.”
To Criticize or Not To Criticize, That is the Question
A fascinating article at the NYT: As they gather Thursday night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for their first debate, the Republican presidential candidates are thrilled at the chance to associate themselves with Reagan. But they may not be able to escape the challenge created for them by the current president. As much as Iraq or health care or any other issue, … [Read more...] about To Criticize or Not To Criticize, That is the Question
De La Hoya or Mayweather?
Those commercials are really starting to annoy me. Nonetheless, it's an intriguing question. So? If it's a boring fight, Mayweather. Boring means that Mayweather is too slick for De La Hoya. If it's a battle though, then De La Hoya has a much better shot. Ultimately, I'm going with Mayweather, UD12. Your picks? … [Read more...] about De La Hoya or Mayweather?
Exclusive TMV Interview: James Surowiecki
This interview was conducted on April 16 and has been published exclusively at TMV. Background on James Surowiecki and The Wisdom of Crowds -- as well as a review of the book's politically oriented twelfth chapter -- are available at Central Sanity. The book can be purchased from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Surowiecki is also available as a guest speaker, via the Leigh … [Read more...] about Exclusive TMV Interview: James Surowiecki
UPDATED: Letter to My Congressman on LLEHCPA (H.R.1592) Hate Crimes Prevention Act
UPDATE: House Passes Hate Crimes Bill Despite Possible VetoEven before House members debated and passed a bill today to expand hate crimes law, the administration signaled that President Bush would veto it if it ever reaches his desk — delighting Republican lawmakers and social conservatives. ===================================================== The US House of … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Letter to My Congressman on LLEHCPA (H.R.1592) Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Andrew Sullivan points to a debate and marc at Black Shards launches one on Islam, its moderates and extremists. Jeff Jarvis ponders the value of book reviews by local newspapers ... and by bloggers. Megan Donovan at GTL announces that she has been granted an interview … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Iraq’s Oil-Revenue Law Hits a (Shiite) Wall
In Iraq, as in life, if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is. And so the much-vaunted draft of the national oil law has hit a wall with the news that Kurdish and Sunni officials now have deep reservations about it because of what appears to be Shiite chicanery: A provision quietly slipped into the bill by the Shiite-controlled Oil Ministry that would cede … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Oil-Revenue Law Hits a (Shiite) Wall
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi Killed?
Pajamas Media reports that Iraqi authorities said that “the leader of al-Qaeda’s political front organization the Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, was killed in the Ghazaliya district in western Baghdad this morning.†The US army declined to comment thusfar, but U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver did say that ‘a news conference … [Read more...] about Abu Omar al-Baghdadi Killed?
Iraq: Onward Through the Fog
Okay, so President Bush has vetoed the war spending-withdrawal bill. The Democrats, lacking veto-proof majorities, are on the defensive. The president has pretty much cajoled Congress into going along with his latest executive dispensations -- giving Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki six more months to find his mojo and General Petraeus six more months to turn things around. At … [Read more...] about Iraq: Onward Through the Fog
Fred Thompson Tells it Like it Is
Well, Fred Thompson succeeded in pissing the left-wing of the Democratic Party off by saying that MoveOn and Harry Reid are "adhering, to the extent they can, to the most left-wing element of their base." Faiz and others can try to make themselves look like the mainstream all they can, but these people are even considered to be left-wing here, in the Netherlands. Even … [Read more...] about Fred Thompson Tells it Like it Is
‘War Against Terror’: Whose Ally Is Pakistan?
India's claims for over a decade about Pakistan's links with terrorism in Kashmir, and elsewhere, stand vindicated again by a recent US state department's report released in Washington on Monday. The USA never took India's repeated warnings seriously, and always shoved them under the carpet. The usual response is "Well, Pakistan is our front-line ally in … [Read more...] about ‘War Against Terror’: Whose Ally Is Pakistan?
The Scots: No Longer British First? Nae!
The Scots lost the Battle of Falkirk (1298) during the First War of Scottish Independence. Some 700 years later, they may prevail for good. Three hundred years ago this week, the marriage of England and Scotland was sealed by treaty. This union was unpopular in Scotland then and is unpopular now, and many Scots say that it is time for a divorce. My mongrel pedigree … [Read more...] about The Scots: No Longer British First? Nae!
DVD Review: All The President’s Men
NOTE: The Moderate Voice frequently reviews books, dvds, movies and music in reviews written by both our co-bloggers and guest reviewers. One of our most popular guest writers is Dan Schneider who writes highly thoughtful reviews of classic films. Here's his latest. DVD Review: All The President’s Men Copyright 2007 © by Dan Schneider Alan J. Pakula’s 1976 … [Read more...] about DVD Review: All The President’s Men
Note To Readers
Cagle Cartoons and my own posts will resume starting Friday afternoon. I'm in Oregon about 30 miles south of Eugene and due to extremely slow dial up, I won't be able to post much -- if at all -- from here. I just spent 35 minutes trying to post a Cagle Cartoon. But be sure to keep checking back since TMV's many cobloggers will almost certainly have a lot to say. This means … [Read more...] about Note To Readers
Donklephant Hacked
My site's look and feel is down, but not out. I can't login to the backend, so I don't know when I'll be posting, but all the content is there and I hope to get back to posting soon. Also, if anybody knows anything about Wordpress, please drop me a line at justinpgardner at yahoo dot com. … [Read more...] about Donklephant Hacked
Rhode Island’s Incest Laws
They contain an exemption for Jews. Weird. Interesting. Biblical, too. … [Read more...] about Rhode Island’s Incest Laws
Le Pen says abstain
From the BBC: French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen has urged supporters not to vote in Sunday's presidential run-off between Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal. Mr Le Pen said that neither candidate deserved support from the voters who backed him in first round polling. This could be bad for Sarkozy, who has been courting Le Pen's supporters with his xenophobic … [Read more...] about Le Pen says abstain
Open Thread
I'm bored. Open thread to alert me to all the fascinating and interesting things in the wide world. … [Read more...] about Open Thread
Après moi, Gordon Brown
Au revoir, Tony Blair. As the The Guardian is reporting, "Blair began the final countdown to his departure [yesterday] by promising a resignation announcement next week and anointing Gordon Brown as his successor". Said Blair: "Within the next few weeks I won't be prime minister of this country. In all probability, a Scot will become prime minister of the United Kingdom, … [Read more...] about Après moi, Gordon Brown
Not Yet Veto-Proof
AP via MSNBC: House fails to override Bush’s veto of Iraq bill222-203 vote falls far short of the two-thirds majority Democrats sought … [Read more...] about Not Yet Veto-Proof