Ai, if this is true (or / and perhaps even when it’s not), it could hurt Senator John McCain: Democratic lawmakers say that John McCain was ready to leave the GOP in 2001 “weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independentâ€?. Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) told The Hill that they were … [Read more...] about McCain Almost Left GOP
Harry Potter: Book 7
The above image is the cover of the final book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You can pre-order your copy at Amazon. On the one hand, I'm looking forward to reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but, on the other, it is also a bit sad that there will not be a 'Book 8'. I heard a lot about what's going to happen in … [Read more...] about Harry Potter: Book 7
Earth to George Bush: Blog This
Having affronted me as an America and a veteran, it probably was only a matter of time before President Bush affronted me as a blogger. Well, it happened yesterday when in yet another effort to spin the tired message that everything is marvelous in Mesopotamia, he told an audience of ranchers and cattlemen that: I want to share with you how two Iraqi bloggers — they … [Read more...] about Earth to George Bush: Blog This
Could Fred Thompson Really Get The Republican Presidential Nomination? (UPDATED)
Could 2008 be the year when the Republican party goes into the Presidential election offering voters a REAL "Law and Order" candidate? What once seemed worth a "Yeah...right...." is now looking like it COULD possibly happen... Fred Thompson, the veteran politico and actor, is clearly being examined seriously by GOPers and as that's happening some other Presidential … [Read more...] about Could Fred Thompson Really Get The Republican Presidential Nomination? (UPDATED)
Really Bad News For Alberto Gonzales
The handwriting seems on the wall for Attorney General Gonzales -- or, rather, the wall has fallen on top of him -- given with THIS editorial from the conservative-icon magazine National Review. Here are two main sections:If congressional Democrats are wrong to bluster, however, they are within their rights to investigate. They may yet turn up enough evidence to prove that some … [Read more...] about Really Bad News For Alberto Gonzales
Americans Support Edwards’ Decision
A CBS poll shows that Americans support John Edwards' decision not to withdraw from the race for president / the democratic nomination: 57% of those who were surveyed said Edwards is doing the right thing by continuing to campaign. Less than half as many — 24% — said he should have suspended his campaign or withdrawn entirely. "Two-thirds of Democratic voters polled … [Read more...] about Americans Support Edwards’ Decision
Republican Idol
Bloggers Behaving Badly
Joe posted earlier about bloggers and other media figures being nasty to Tony Snow and Elizabeth Edwards about their recurrences of cancer. Not long ago, the bloggers hired by the Edwards campaign (Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon and my friend Melissa McEwan of Shakespeare's Sister) received hate mail and death threats. Even we here at The Moderate Voice were lightly harassed … [Read more...] about Bloggers Behaving Badly
Again, Riots in France
'Youths' were, yet again, riotting in France yesterday. Gare du Nord, March 27th: A 33-year old [no further adjectives available] male passenger traveling without a ticket on an RER commuter train jumped the turnstile and was stopped by transport agents. He slapped them, triggering seven hours of punk jihad mayhem, cutely described in the media as “clashes with … [Read more...] about Again, Riots in France
Retired Army General Barry McCaffrey on Iraq
Retired army general Barry McCaffrey "released a dire assessment of the situation in Iraq, based on a recent round of meetings there with Gen. David H. Petraeus and 16 other senior U.S. commanders." He wrote, among other things, that "the population is in despair" and that "life in many of the urban areas is now desperate." That being said, McCaffrey sees reason for hope. … [Read more...] about Retired Army General Barry McCaffrey on Iraq
‘The Australian’ on Hicks’ Gitmo
David Hicks at his Adelaide home prior to his incarceration at Gitmo The Australian provides an interesting glimpse into Guantanamo Bay Naval Base prison where Adelaide-resident David Hicks, 31, has been detained for more than six years on charges of alleged terrorist activities. It says: "Detainees are glimpsed pacing manically in their cells. Others look calm - as much … [Read more...] about ‘The Australian’ on Hicks’ Gitmo
This Type of Thinking Will Do Us In
"If my critique of the Bush administration could be expressed in a single sentence, it would be this -- they ignore and attack restraints on their power." … [Read more...] about This Type of Thinking Will Do Us In
Iran Softens Stand on British Sailors
Captured British Navy personnel Faye (Topsy) Turney who may be released soon Some sense seems to have dawned on Iranian leadership. The latest news is that Iran now admits that 15 British Navy personnel may have entered Iranian waters by 'mistake'. Forbes says that "Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki discounted the possibility of an escalation in the crisis, … [Read more...] about Iran Softens Stand on British Sailors
Playing the Iranian Game
Iran's seizure of 15 British naval personnel has analysts and pundits spinning in circles. Were they trying to influence the U.N. Security Council? Are they trying to "reassert their political and military relevance" in the Persian Gulf area? Perhaps they're trying to leverage public opinion -- in this case, against Tony Blair -- by taking hostages to underscore that those … [Read more...] about Playing the Iranian Game
Anna Nicole Smith Autopsy
“Iraq’s Tal Afar: Symbol of US Failure”
James Hider, The Times correspondent in Baghdad, says "Tal Afar is quickly becoming a symbol of the failure of US policy in Iraq." (To read my earlier story on the horrific revenge killings in Iraq please click here...) "The Americans have been in there twice before as part of two huge operations. They pacified the situation, but each time they handed it over to the Iraqi … [Read more...] about “Iraq’s Tal Afar: Symbol of US Failure”
McCain Almost Left GOP
Ai, if this is true (or / and perhaps even when it’s not), it could hurt Senator John McCain: Democratic lawmakers say that John McCain was ready to leave the GOP in 2001 “weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independentâ€?. Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) told The Hill that they were … [Read more...] about McCain Almost Left GOP
Tony Snow And Elizabeth Edwards: The Cancer Is Focusing On The Party
This has been a wrenching -- and revealing -- week for many Americans of both parties and no party. First, Elizabeth Edwards' cancer returns and she and her husband Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards decide that given the fact we all are not guaranteed more than the present and our yesterdays, they will continue his campaign for President. Now, White House … [Read more...] about Tony Snow And Elizabeth Edwards: The Cancer Is Focusing On The Party
Zero Tolerance
If there is one thing Tony Blair cannot do, it is to give in to Iran. Iran kidnapped 15 British who were, at the moment of their 'capture' in Iraqi waters. To give in to Iran now, will give the Mullahs the impression that the West will eventually cave in regarding their nuclear program and sponsoring of terrorism, as well. Today, Pajamas Media published a good article by … [Read more...] about Zero Tolerance
Iraq & The Looming Constitutional Crisis
There have been two constitutional crises in my lifetime – a Vietnam era debate over whether the president can unilaterally declare war and the Watergate scandal. The table is now being set for a third over President Bush’s refusal to bow to the American people and a Congressional majority on his Iraq war policy. The republic survived the first two crises. In the … [Read more...] about Iraq & The Looming Constitutional Crisis