The Democrats in Michigan seem to have lost, well, their sanity. Their latest plan? An iPod for every kid. We have come to the conclusion that the crisis Michigan faces is not a shortage of revenue, but an excess of idiocy. Facing a budget deficit that has passed the $1 billion mark, House Democrats Thursday offered a spending plan that would buy a MP3 player or iPod for every … [Read more...] about I Want an iPod
Legalizing Opium in Afghanistan
There are rumors that Tony Blair wants to decriminalize the production of opium in Afghanistan. With a vicious and effective Taliban resurgence spreading throughout many parts of the country, such talk indicates that the British government is becoming increasingly worried about their ability to establish stability in the country. Continued at Foreign Policy Watch. … [Read more...] about Legalizing Opium in Afghanistan
Gen Petraeus: ‘Carrying A Heavy Rucksack’
(This is in continuation of my earlier post...click here to read). In spite of all the mixed reports coming in, General David Petraeus appears to be a thorough professional. Well, you may ask how I have arrived at this conclusion without meeting the chief of US troops in Iraq. Also, isn't this a contradiction - on the one hand I oppose the continued occupation of Iraq … [Read more...] about Gen Petraeus: ‘Carrying A Heavy Rucksack’
Around The Sphere April 7, 2007 (UPDATED)
Our linkfest offering readers a road map to interesting blog posts of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily represent views of The Moderate Voice or its writers. Have We Just Seen "A Softer Gentler Iran?" Publius Pundit has a detailed answer 4 U. Meanwhile, Are Pundits Using The Hostage Crisis For Political Agenda Gain? Oxblog's Patrick Porter believes they … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere April 7, 2007 (UPDATED)
Oh Honey! Where Are You???
It seems the good old honey may be going out of our lives!!! I got a shock when I travelled from Hamburg to Husum, a small lovely town on North Sea, and discovered that honey bees have almost disappeared. It now seems to be a worldwide phenomenon. "US beekeepers have been stung in recent months by the mysterious disappearance of millions of bees threatening honey … [Read more...] about Oh Honey! Where Are You???
Jails as ‘Terror Training Camps’
James Hilder reports for The Times (London): America’s high-security prisons in Iraq have become “terrorist academiesâ€? for the most dangerous militant groups, according to former inmates and Iraqi government officials. Inmates are left largely to run their blocks, which are segregated on sectarian lines. The policy has created a closed world run by Iraq’s worst … [Read more...] about Jails as ‘Terror Training Camps’
Liberal Anti-Semites
This sounds like a very interesting book: Bernard Harrison, a philosophy professor at the University of Utah, has done something unusual. In today's climate of fearful academic inquiry, which often wavers between conspiracy theories and a refusal to acknowledge harmful trends, Harrison has written a sane, balanced book on the growing anti-Semitism in Left-influenced liberal … [Read more...] about Liberal Anti-Semites
Madeleine Albright: ‘Well Done, Nancy Pelosi!’
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for going to Syria against the wishes of President George W. Bush, saying the trip showed the importance of meeting leaders at odds with the U.S., says Bloomberg. "While the U.S. has had minimal contact with Syria since the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005, there has … [Read more...] about Madeleine Albright: ‘Well Done, Nancy Pelosi!’
Easter Food
Center of Attention
At Balloon Juice: an activist was arrested yesterday for, get this, feeding too many hungry homeless people. An older post, but one you've got to read: Jon Swift defends Matt Drudge. Steve Clemons came by "a letter from former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Jim Jones and frustrated conceptualizer of the military's "shock and awe" strategy Harlan Ullman … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
John Podhoretz: An Entertaining Propagandist
When I borrowed Bush Country: How Dubya Became a Great President while Driving Liberals Insane by New York Post columnist John Podhoretz, from the library (for an essay on George W. Bush's presidency / administration), I expected to be in for a right-wing propaganda drive. Podhoretz did not disappoint me. Bush Country is one of the most biased and partisan books I have … [Read more...] about John Podhoretz: An Entertaining Propagandist
Abbas: Gilad Shalit to be Released Soon
The Dutch news network the NOS reports that Palestinian president Abbas told reporters today that corporal Gilad Shalit will be released soon. If true: great. As the NOS points out Abbas has somewhat of a credibility problem: this is not the first time that Abbas says that Shalit will be released. Something like a broken record. … [Read more...] about Abbas: Gilad Shalit to be Released Soon
India Rising
Newsmaker Interview by Bill Steigerwald India Rising By Bill Steigerwald Until she became the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York City, Manjeet Kripalani was India bureau chief for Business Week magazine for the last 10 years. Based in Bombay, she reported on the many political and socioeconomic changes globalization has … [Read more...] about India Rising
Cheney Versus The Pentagon On Saddam Hussein Al Qaeda Link
So, who do you want to believe? Make your choice: Vice President Dick Cheney or the Pentagon? Dan Froomkin writes:Faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, even President Bush has backed off his earlier inflammatory assertions about links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. But Vice President Cheney yesterday, in an interview with right-wing talk radio host Rush … [Read more...] about Cheney Versus The Pentagon On Saddam Hussein Al Qaeda Link
Easter Egg Pork
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Easter Egg Pork
Hostage Crisis: ‘Soul’ Searching in USA and UK
"Robert Clive of India." There has been a wonderful response to Michael van der Galien's post Britain’s Lost Soul. I must say here that President George W. Bush and his team have done an excellent job of brainwashing people that "evil" nations of Iraq and Iran would swallow the Western nations. And this fear has paralysed public discourse in the USA. (I am surprised … [Read more...] about Hostage Crisis: ‘Soul’ Searching in USA and UK
UN Condemns Holocaust Denial
103 Countries co-sponsor resolution, passed by consensus with only Iran disassociating itself (shocking). If anyone can find a list of said 103, I'd be greatly obliged. … [Read more...] about UN Condemns Holocaust Denial
What Comes After Depression?
The five stages of dealing with our failure of Iraq (post-modern conservative edition!). … [Read more...] about What Comes After Depression?
Goodling’s Going – Oops, Gone
UPDATE: The MSNBC article has been revised to indicate that Goodling resigned today. According to MSNBC, Monica Goodling will resign tomorrow from her position as counsel and White House liaison to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. WASHINGTON - Monica Goodling, the counsel and White House liaison to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, says in a letter that she will … [Read more...] about Goodling’s Going – Oops, Gone
Coming to a Theatre Near You?
How many times has the current administration stated that if we leave Iraq too soon, the “enemyâ€?, the “jihadistsâ€?, will follow us here? To these United States. Our communities. Our shopping malls. Our movie theatres? Better to fight them there than to fight them here, goes the logic. McClatchy Newspapers addresses the issue here:It’s become President Bush’s … [Read more...] about Coming to a Theatre Near You?