The Moderate Voice occasionally runs Guest Voice posts by readers who don't have a weblog or have one and have something special to say here. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its co-bloggers — but they do add to our free-wheeling debate. Nicholas Rivera, who has a new blog called The Coming Realignment (we have blogrolled it under Other … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Republican Senator Calls for Phased Troop Withdrawal From Iraq

Another poetic gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Think tank neocons. Pentagon advisors. Intel analysts. Senators with presidential ambitions. As the full idiocy of our Iraq adventure has finally become clear, inside the Beltway the big question is: Who's gonna take the political fall for this disaster? Iraq Blaming Beyond sad Beyond … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: Iraq Blaming

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Al-Jazeera Refuses to Air O.J. Special 'Not Up to Our Standards of Taste,' Says Satellite Net The Arabic-language Al-Jazeera network, which gained international notoriety for putting some of the most renowned sociopaths in the world on the air, today became the second network to refuse to broadcast the controversial O.J. … [Read more...] about This Just In!!

Not legally, necessarily, but in the wake of Michael Richards' appalling racist tirade some Black leaders are taking the initiative to get the word off the stage. … [Read more...] about Ban The N-Word?

Last time, he got it from former President Bill Clinton. This time he gets it from Barney Frank. Video here. … [Read more...] about Another Democrat Zings Fox News‘ Chris Wallace On Bias

My review of Stranger than Fiction, as well as first impressions of Final Fantasy XII. Even I'm not 100% politics, y'know. … [Read more...] about Cool Down

I am inspired by Governor Schwarzenegger's sense of possibilities, independence, self discipline, adaptability and vision. As an executive it is hard to imagine a better role model for any Centrist Governor or President. Here are some excerpts from his recent visit to Meet The Press. RUSSERT starts with a quote: "“Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 17-point victory alone commands … [Read more...] about The Very Model of a Modern Major Governor

The 16-year old actress playing the Virgin Mary is pregnant. I wonder who The Father is? … [Read more...] about I’ve Heard of Method Acting, But This Is Ridiculous

Meanwhile, in Bahrain:Bahrain's Shia Muslim opposition has won at least 40% of the vote in elections which saw women and liberal candidates fare poorly.This election was "only the second time people have been able to vote for national MPs". Bahrain is essentially a constitutional monarchy. The two-chamber National Assembly includes a 40-seat Consultative Council, appointed by … [Read more...] about Bahraini balloting

So what's up in Ecuador? Well, the run-off vote between the top two candidates in last month's presidential election -- Alvaro Noboa (banana tycoon, Bible thumper, the country's richest man) and Rafael Correa (leftist economist with a Ph.D. from Chicago, populist, friend of Hugo Chavez) -- was held today, and, as the BBC is reporting, with regular updates, Correa leads Noboa 68 … [Read more...] about Correa triumphs in Ecuador

Israel sweetened its offer to the Palestinians. If miraculously Hamas accepts, then the wise course is to reward the Palestinians with overwhelming aide and support. This is to help promote moderation in their community and to help make a peaceful prosperous future look more attractive than the violent past. … [Read more...] about Hope in Israel

Given this year's election results you knew it had to happen: the New York Times has printed an obituary for the "Yankee Republican (Republicanus newenglandensis)." Pam Belluck describes the subspecies as "Dignified in demeanor, independent in ideology and frequently blue in blood [how the heck did I miss out on that one?], they were politicians in the mold of Roosevelt and … [Read more...] about NY Times Runs Obituary for New England Republicans

Thomas Barnett is an international strategist with a growing fan base. He recently commented on an article by Henry Kissinger about negotiating with Iran. He agrees that to a great extent, "all the talks need to do is buy us time and a forum for starting what will inevitably be a long-term forum for regional security discussion, much like the The Organization for Security and … [Read more...] about Realism is just idealism stretched over time

It's not hard to see why golden retrievers are among the most popular breeds in the U.S. year in and year out. They're cuddly cute as puppies and beautiful as adults. They're great around kids, energetic, intelligent, intensely loyal and easy to train. In fact, they often train their owners. But many American golden retrievers are also time bombs because an extraordinarily … [Read more...] about What’s Killing Our Golden Retrievers?

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders called Sunday for an end to Iraq's sectarian conflict and vowed to track down those responsible for the war's deadliest attack. ... "We promise the great martyrs that we will chase the killers and criminals, the terrorists, Saddamists and Takfiri (Sunni extremists) for viciously trying to divide you," Shiite Prime Minister … [Read more...] about A Unified Front: Iraqi Leaders Demand An End To Violence

Given the other posts on the moderateness of this site, I suppose I should add my two cents. I don't post here as often as some of the others, but I certainly add my voice now and then. As for "moderation," I agree with Michael and David's sense that moderation refers to tone, not necessarily ideology or political position. Michael and I disagree on many issues, but I know that … [Read more...] about Chiming in on the “Meta” of Moderation

This has not been the greatest 12 months for the newspaper industry. Circulation figures aren't terrific. The once-great Knight-Ridder Newspaper chain had to put itself up for sale, was sold and partially dismembered. Questions remain about how some of the former KRN newspapers will fare. The Chicago Tribune Company — a company that owns and runs some excellent … [Read more...] about Ailing Newspapers: Is This A Bold Solution Or A Bland One?

Once again Charles Rangel has opened his mouth and stuck both feet in. He has given Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly so much material to blast him and, by implication, the Democratic part of which he is a key Congressional leader:I want to make it abundantly clear: if there’s anyone who believes that these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some … [Read more...] about More Foot And Mouth From Rep, Charles Rangel

We had some controversial posts here and here on Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney yesterday. Here's a take on a different aspect of Romney's emerging Presidential campaign. Some additional perspectives on Romney and the issue of religion can be FOUND HERE. … [Read more...] about More Views On Mitt Romney

TMV has occasionally gets new readers and we've had some since the elections. This is to clue new readers as well as old ones in on some changes and to restate how it works here: There are differing center voices. If you look at any election poll you will not see that 100 percent of the centrists, moderates and independents voted the same way. Nor will you find people on TMV … [Read more...] about A Note To Readers — Especially New Ones