Ali Ansari wrote quite a lousy op-ed about Iran for The Guardian. An excerpt: There can be little doubt that US hawks will interpret recent events as proof that pressure works, and that any more pressure will encourage the hawks further. Yet the reality is that while Ahmadinejad has been his own worst enemy, the US hawks are his best friends. Yep that is because, without … [Read more...] about When Pressure Works
A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come
A perversely interesting aspect of the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, is that the further you get from the scene of the crime the more people think he is innocent. I happened to have known Abu-Jamal. And while the criminal justice system did not exactly cover itself in glory in prosecuting him, he is as … [Read more...] about A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come
And Don’t Forget The Earlier Fleischer
Previous generations associated the name "Fleischer" with Ari's relative, legendary animator Max Fleischer, most famous for his surreal Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons. Max Fleischer was Walt Disney's closest competitor until his studio went under (Disney had better financing). For younger readers who've never experienced a Fleischer cartoon (it cannot be confused with Hanna … [Read more...] about And Don’t Forget The Earlier Fleischer
Bush Moves Puts Political Gatekeepers In Charge Of Agencies
This question again, to Republicans: Is this REALLY what you had in mind for your party to do?President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy. In an executive order published last week in the … [Read more...] about Bush Moves Puts Political Gatekeepers In Charge Of Agencies
Surge In Iraq
From CagleCartoons: … [Read more...] about Surge In Iraq
Intelligence Failure
Puget Sound Professor Seth Weinberger has a summary and thoughts on a lecture by IR maven Robert Jervis, regarding our massive Iraq-centered intelligence failure. … [Read more...] about Intelligence Failure
The Credibility of Chuck Hagel
A front-page article in the The Washington Post on Friday on the prospects of a presidential run by Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska got right to the point: "His Republican colleagues regard him warily." "The White House barely speaks to him." "He is reviled by his party's conservative base." Those are, in my view, three unassailable reasons to like him. If they … [Read more...] about The Credibility of Chuck Hagel
Barbaro: The Horse That Wouldn’t Quit
(This is an update and my personal take on Holly's previous post below.) Barbaro, who captured America's heart when he won the Kentucky Derby and then broke it when he suffered a catastrophic leg injury at the Preakness Stakes, was put down today after making a recovery that had been nothing short of miraculous. The colt had undergone successful post-race surgery on his … [Read more...] about Barbaro: The Horse That Wouldn’t Quit
Maher Arar and a Tale of Two Countries
Maher Arar, you'll remember, is the Syrian-born Canadian citizen who in 2002 was detained by the U.S. at JFK airport in New York and "rendered" extraordinarily to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured before being released a year later. A formal inquiry initiated by the Canadian government and headed by Justice Dennis O'Connor fully exonerated him and recommended … [Read more...] about Maher Arar and a Tale of Two Countries
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. The Gun Toting Liberal on the Clinton - Obama controversy. Tim F. at Balloon Juice: Bush's healthcare proposals will leave employees worse off. The more than just hilarious Jon Swift on a remarkable lady... as always with Jon an incredibly funny read. Michael J. Totten on Hezbollah propaganda... they … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Quasi-moview review
Cross-posted to Random Fate. ---- A few weeks ago I tried to write a movie review of <em>Casino Royale</em>, the new James Bond movie. (In case you're interested, I enjoyed the movie a lot, especially considering I went into it expecting to not like it.. I'll finish the full review if anyone cares to read it at this late date after the release of the movie). This … [Read more...] about Quasi-moview review
Young British Muslims Getting More Radical
Ah, well, at least they're politically engaged The Telegraph has wonderful news. Well ‘news’ - it’s something most people already knew, but it’s always nice when studies back up common sense / knowledge. The ‘news’? Young British Muslims are getting more and more radical. In fact, they are “adopting more fundamentalist beliefs on key social and political issues … [Read more...] about Young British Muslims Getting More Radical
Comments
If you have problems registering, please send an e-mail to supportATthemoderatevoice.com. You can also send your e-mail directly to me and I will make sure that the problem is fixed. … [Read more...] about Comments
Cry for a Horse
MSNBC Breaking News: Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized this morning, co-owner says … [Read more...] about Cry for a Horse
Conservatives, Race, and Racism
Over at The Reaction, Heraclitus has a post up responding to a column at Townhall, a prominent conservative website, by Burt Prelutsky, who addresses race in America today and determines that blacks (and liberals) are to blame, not whites. Indeed, Prelutsky makes this utterly unfounded and irresponsible remark: "There is such a thing as white prejudice. No doubt about it. But … [Read more...] about Conservatives, Race, and Racism
Those Words
Starting today this site is subscribing to Cagle Cartoons, which will be featured often on TMV. Cartoons may reflect varying viewpoints. Here's the first: … [Read more...] about Those Words
Hillary Clinton Makes A Joke (Updated)
It's really not a "botched joke" but some would like to spin it into one. And look at how (via Fox News) this is jumped upon to turn it into the latest frenzied news byte controversy -- one that will suck up air time and print space. Fox News takes a swipe at the national press corps for raising it -- when they raise it --- but we suspect this clip will be re-run over and … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Makes A Joke (Updated)
Public Education: Is It Broken Enough Yet?
Last month, the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce proposed massive, comprehensive reformation of our public educational system. Response to their report, Tough Choices or Tough Times, was tepid from a number of quarters. From the NEA: “Tough Choices or Tough Times has shed light on some very real issues. However, we urge caution in calling for drastic … [Read more...] about Public Education: Is It Broken Enough Yet?
The Armed Robbery of Iraqi Childhoods
Rev. Robert Drinan (1920-2007)
The Rev. Robert Drinan, an internationally known human-rights advocate who became the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of Congress, has died. He was 86. Drinan represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House for 10 years during the turbulent 1970s, and he stepped down only after a worldwide directive from Pope John Paul II barring priests from holding … [Read more...] about Rev. Robert Drinan (1920-2007)