There is quite some controversy surrounding a video, published at YouTube, made by Barack Obama supporters attacking Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton responded by saying: "I haven't seen it but I’m pleased that it seems to be taking attention away from what used to be on YouTube and getting a lot of hits, namely me singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’ Everybody in the … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton, 1984, Barack Obama, 1984
The Military, The Monetary & The Mercenary
2004: Murdered civilian contractors hang from a bridge in Fallujah Did you know that there are almost as many civilian contractors (120,000) in Iraq as troops (130,000)? And that 800 have been killed and more than 3,300 hurt doing jobs normally handled by a U.S. military stretched to the breaking point because of the Bush administration's wretched management of the … [Read more...] about The Military, The Monetary & The Mercenary
Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Worse.
This report from the New York Times:Insurgents detonated a bomb in a car with two children in it after using the children as decoys to get through a military checkpoint in Baghdad, an American general said Tuesday. Speaking at a news briefing at the Pentagon, Maj. Gen. Michael Barbaro, deputy director for regional operations at the Joint Staff, said American soldiers had … [Read more...] about Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Worse.
An Analysis of The Men Who Fall From The Sky: Icarus … The Lost Story
The Moderate Voice is pleased and honored today to offer our readers the first copyrighted co-blog post written for TMV by New York Times list best selling author Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. She will be posting most of her observations in a column titled I PUT THE CULTURE ON THE COUCH. You can read about her many books (and readers' reviews of them) by CLICKING … [Read more...] about An Analysis of The Men Who Fall From The Sky: Icarus … The Lost Story
Protest Signs
The recent demonstrations against the war drew huge crowds -- crowds of anti-war demonstrators and support-the-troops demonstrators. And then there were also those that favored one side, but went to another side's demonstration to see what it was like. Smash was one of them. He offers Part II HERE. … [Read more...] about Protest Signs
Persians
A “New Deal” for Latin America?
It's not a bad idea... … [Read more...] about A “New Deal” for Latin America?
Center of Attention
An interesting, good quote at The Daily Dish. While you're at it, also read what Thomas Sowell has to say about talk shows. Megan Donovan writes at the Gun Toting Liberal: "This administration decides to fire 8 US attorneys, for illegitimate reasons; because they refused to pursue baseless investigations; by slandering their names; and only after the Patriot Act allowed more … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Fired Prosecutors’ Controversy Is Continuing To Grow
The controversy surrounding the purge of U.S. attorneys is starting to grow -- not dissipate. Three signs: (1) The White House is letting it be known that political maven Karl Rove and President George W. Bush's former counsel Harriet Miers will be allowed to testify -- but not under oath:The White House will allow the president's top political adviser, Karl Rove, and … [Read more...] about Fired Prosecutors’ Controversy Is Continuing To Grow
New Light Bulbs
Beginning The Conversation
Anyone who has spent time in feminist or anti-racism circles knows about the tension between reaching new people, and having to rehash the same basic material indefinitely. I think figuring out how to transcend this issue is one of the biggest internal obstacles facing these groups. … [Read more...] about Beginning The Conversation
Four Years Later
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the (start of the) war in Iraq. This led Jules Crittenden, whom I respect very much (yes, even though I don’t always agree with him), to publish this post. Jules supported the war when it started and continues to do so. My story is slightly different. Please click here to read more. … [Read more...] about Four Years Later
Iraq War & Civilians: Bloody Benchmarks
The overflow yard at the Baghdad Central Morgue Iraq Body Count reports that the fourth year of the war was by far the worst for violence against Iraqi civilians: * Almost half (44 percent) of all violent civilian deaths after the initial invasion phase occurred in the just-ended year. * Mortar attacks that kill civilians have quadrupled in the last year (from 73 to … [Read more...] about Iraq War & Civilians: Bloody Benchmarks
‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’ Case Update
Supreme Court watchers, myself included, have felt from the outset that the high court would rule against the government in the now notorious "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case. There's nothing to change that view based on yesterday's oral arguments. If you're unfamiliar with the case, it involves Juneau, Alaska, student Joseph Frederick, who was suspended from high school in 2002 … [Read more...] about ‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’ Case Update
Gallup Poll: Giuliani Support Strong Among Moderate, Conservative Republicans
There's yet more good news for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, according to the latest Gallup Poll:With the 2008 Republican presidential field beginning to come into shape, there are still questions and apparent opportunities for a favorite "conservative" candidate to emerge. The three leading announced contenders -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney -- have … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Giuliani Support Strong Among Moderate, Conservative Republicans
Nationalization and Health Care
Can somebody explain to me why, exactly, nationalization has seemingly become The Vehicle for a healthcare system? There are a number of interesting state initiatives under consideration (or in the fledgling stages of implementation), and frankly, that’s about as wide an umbrella as I think can be efficiently managed. I agree that the healthcare crisis is an enormous … [Read more...] about Nationalization and Health Care
Rating the Members
I'm not sure how much weight to put behind this exercise in the National Journal (h/t memeorandum). The description of the methodology sounds impressive, but the ultimate decision about what's liberal and what's conservative still came down to a subjective judgment on the part of the magazine's editors: "The yea and nay positions on each roll call were then identified as … [Read more...] about Rating the Members
The Persistent Sea Gull
It has been storming here, in the north of the Netherlands, all day long. It doesn’t rain, nor is it extremely cold, it’s just… storming. Despite this, what we humans call, ‘bad’ weather, I had to take the dog, a chubby black labrador retriever, out for a walk. During the walk - the dog nervous, at times almost flying - I saw a sea gull trying to fly over the road. … [Read more...] about The Persistent Sea Gull
Iraq War Exit
New Jersey adopts Public Campaign Finance
Link The New Jersey Senate voted 27 - 3 to renew the state's Clean Elections pilot project for another year. The bill, which easily passed in the state Assembly, will next go to Governor John Corzine (D), who is expected to sign it when it reaches his desk. Meanwhile Maryland lawmakers are close to voting on legislation that would bring Clean Elections to their state … [Read more...] about New Jersey adopts Public Campaign Finance