The New York Times has updated its most excellent chart on the state of Iraq. Note the authors:"As 2006 winds down, two developments inside Iraq stand out: the failure of the previous year’s election to produce any sense of progress, and the commencement of Iraq’s civil war, dating back to the Feb. 22 bombing of the hallowed Shiite mosque in Samarra and escalating ever … [Read more...] about Iraq By the Numbers

Some attention to a few Centrist blogs. The AmbivaBlog on what led Rupert Murdoch to fire Judith Regan. Anti-Semitism should - in whatever way, shape or form - never be accepted. Good riddence. Daniel accused New Yorkers of being impolite at Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish a couple of days ago. Sadly for Daniel, readers forced him to issue a retraction. My view? I'm sure that … [Read more...] about Center of Attention

via memeorandum Here's a nice attack on what we do -- both those of us who write for this space and those who read it. Granted, it's not an attack on us specifically, but on this grand revolution of which we are a part. I'm not entirely sure why the Web logs attack the MSM and vice versa. They each have their place and function, and some at least, have learned to appreciate … [Read more...] about Checks and Balances

The WaPo reports that U.S. President George W. Bush plans to expand the size of the army. Why, one might ask. Well, Bush II has - for the first time - said that the U.S. is not winning in Iraq. He believes that the U.S. military should be bigger to cope with the new situation in the world, and more specifically with the problems in Iraq.As he searches for a new strategy for … [Read more...] about Expanding… Expanding…

If there were blogs back in Joan of Arc's day, feminists would have accused her enemies of having her torched because she was a woman. Not without justification, mind you. And so it comes as no surprise that some feminists are questioning whether Judith Regan was booted from Rupert Murdoch's publishing empire because she is a woman and not because she was so appallingly deaf … [Read more...] about Joan of Arc & Judith of Murdoch

I'm an admitted Obama-phile. But I'll agree that there are questions as to whether he should run in 2008. It is not a foregone conclusion that he is the best candidate--or best Democrat--in the field. He has a lot to prove over the coming months to show that he ought to be President. Indeed, a large part of me thinks he would be a far better VP candidate at this point. That … [Read more...] about Give Him A Shot

The Gun Toting Liberal asks in a post: "Why must the ‘Mighty Middle’ detest each other in the political blogosphere?" It's an interesting question because it touches on whether centrists can become organized and actually serve as a political force — rather than be perceived by many people in both parties as political leftovers. GTL writes:We’re the … [Read more...] about Is An Even Moderately Organized Center Attainable?

Over on my blog, I take a look at two pieces that bring some of the Barack Obama hype back down to Earth. I am once again inclined to issue an "amen." His whacko extremist-left, borderline socialist agenda for America aside, maybe the lovable, bright-eyed puppy dog from Illinois with the eagerly-wagging tail should focus on passing some significant legislation here and there … [Read more...] about Is Barack Ready . . . And Do We Really Want Him, Anyways?

NOTE: The Moderate Voice encourages blogs to do original reporting on their sites and take advantage of the new medium's potential. One of the most consistent blogs offering fresh reporting is The Talking Dog, a progressive blog. TTD generally has done interviews pegged to the war on terror. But this time he offers a fascinating change of pace: an interview with Deb Werksman … [Read more...] about Original Weblog Reporting: An Interview With Deb Werksman

Our linkfest offering readers a menu of posts from sites of varying opinions. Links do not necessarily represent the opinion of TMV or its writers. What is the Lernaean Hydra and how does it relate to Iraq? The answer is HERE. What John Edwards Does Over The Break: We'll give you a hint: it ain't break dancing. Neil at Ezra Klein has the details. But he also gets into some … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere December 20, 2006

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Calls Iraq Main Front in War on Gay Marriage Accuses Iran, Syria of Sending Wedding Planners over Border President George W. Bush attempted to build support for the increasingly unpopular war in Iraq today, arguing that Iraq is now “the main front in the war on gay marriage.â€? The president had never before linked … [Read more...] about This Just In!!

Spencer Ackerman: "I may hold a record for the number of times by a white person stopped/accosted by police and never arrested." … [Read more...] about Up Against The Wall

If President George Bush is planning — as reports suggest — to boost the American military presence in Iraq, then a new poll shows he is doing it at the worst possible time:Support for President Bush's management of the Iraq war has dropped to an all-time low even as his overall approval remains tepid but steady, according to a CNN poll released Monday. The survey, … [Read more...] about Bush Poll Numbers Continue Slide On War

Rep. Virgil Goode is afraid. Very afraid. … [Read more...] about Scary Scary Muslims

Tom DeLay, on why he started his blog:When was the last time the Republicans or conservatives attacked the left for their outrageous comments or outrageous activities? We don't attack. Jaw-dropping. … [Read more...] about No More Mister Nice Guy

We've noted this trend on this site for many months now — the isolation of the Bush faction of the Republican Party from other key segments of the party. U.S. News notes it here:Colin Powell's break with the administration's Iraq policy is more evidence of the rift between the Bush team and members of the Republican establishment in Washington. Powell, who was Bush's … [Read more...] about Isolation Of Bush Administration Over Iraq Apparently Widens

How Texas Law Professor Sanford Levinson explains those who do not consider sleep deprivation to be torture. I'm less pithy, so I'll substitute by being glib. Anyone who thinks that sleep deprivation is a peachy way to treat accused felons is perfectly free to move to the type of authoritarian regimes that practice it. I hear Pyongyang is lovely this time of year. … [Read more...] about “Reading Too Much Action Literature”

My Congressman, third-term Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), has been selected as the new head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). I'm a big fan. I campaigned for Van Hollen when he was still a primary underdog (the frontrunner was Kennedy relative Mark Shriver) in 2002. He scored an upset victory, then became one of only two Democratic challengers to knock … [Read more...] about Van Hollen to Head DCCC

A post, not about politics, but about something that actually matters. How will you celebrate Christmas? I for one will celebrate it with my parents, my sister, brother-in-law, niece and girlfriend. Saturday: girlfriend and I will buy most of the presents (... we only bought one present thus far), Sunday Church service in the evening, Monday claim that all presents under … [Read more...] about The Most Beautiful Time of the Year

Unfogged is a blog I 'discovered' (as in started reading) last week. A (mostly) Centrist blog (although that's very difficult to tell since, as you all know, centrists stand for exactly nothing... while, at the same time, for everything as well. In fact, it seems, they are insecure about, well, about just about everything, are afraid to form a real opinion, and as a result, … [Read more...] about Check it Out