(photo courtesy Richard Ambler) Brij Khindaria's perceptive pieces in the TMV have prompted me to undertake a nostalgic trip. Incidentally, I have also read a lot of other comments about the complex Israel versus "they" conflict, its genesis and the future scenario. Some insights were very useful in understanding what is happening now. I will not like to go back too far … [Read more...] about Arabs, Israelis and Individual Perspectives

This has been reposted from yesterday at the top of this site due to interest and an update. Tuesday is truly “D-Dayâ€? for Joe Lieberman and the Democratic Party. For Lieberman, will it be the day Democrats defeat his re-nomination bid and send him (and others) a message that he is outside what many anti-war and anti-Bush Democrats believe is the Democratic party’s new, … [Read more...] about Connecticut Primary Is D-Day For Joe Lieberman And The Democratic Party (UPDATED)

Our periodic linkfest offering you links from sites of VARYING opinions. Posts linked do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or the co-bloggers. The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol Is Pondering Lieberman, The Democrats And Other Matters and Ron Beasley has some thoughts on Kristol. Kristol's quoted comments reflect part of the problem Lieberman now faces … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere August 7, 2006

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Urges Bin Laden to Take August Off Warns Terror Leader of Burnout Having begun his month-long summer vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, President George W. Bush used his weekly radio address on Saturday to urge Osama bin Laden to take the month of August off as well. President Bush said he was taking the … [Read more...] about This Just In!

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were something of an oddity for a comedy team: they actually LIKED each other. Some others (vaudeville's Smith & Dale; burlesque-originated Abbott & Costello; nightclub-originated Martin & Lewis)were famous for their behind-the-scenes quarrels, rivalries and/or tensions. But not Laurel & Hardy. They enjoyed each other's company and … [Read more...] about Great Comedy Teams: Laurel & Hardy’s Joyous Moment

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were something of an oddity for a comedy team: they actually LIKED each other. Some others (vaudeville's Smith & Dale; burlesque-originated Abbott & Costello; nightclub-originated Martin & Lewis)were famous for their behind-the-scenes quarrels, rivalries and/or tensions. But not Laurel & Hardy. They enjoyed each other's company and … [Read more...] about Great Comedy Teams: Laurel & Hardy’s Joyous Moment

The Middle East will not be at peace even if Israel were to suddenly withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, dismantle its settlements, return the Golan Heights and do everything else its enemies desire. All of those things might buy safety from rockets, but peace requires much more than that. Israeli generosity in peace will be a very powerful contribution but not sufficient. The … [Read more...] about Placing people’s needs above avidity

The controversy continues. … [Read more...] about Mexico Judges And The Recount

Our periodic linkfest offering you links from sites of VARYING opinions. Posts linked do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or the co-bloggers. A Debate Over Faith-Based Politics (have faith in GWB, Cheney and Rumsfeld no matter what) is at the root of a heated debate between Andrew Sullivan and Hugh Hewitt. And we agree with Sullivan: American politics … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere August 6, 2006

When Herbert Buckingham Khaury died in 1996 it was a big news story. And who in 1968 would have ever thought that when he made his major TV debut on the hit show Laugh In using his stage name Tiny Tim that he would have been more than a one-shot novelty act? After all, he sang the 1920s song "Tip Toe Through The Tulips" in a falsetto voice heavily laced with vibrato (his real … [Read more...] about Classic Unusual Entertainers: Tiny Tim

Surprise, surprise. Iran is behind Hezbollah. Haaretz reports: A senior Iranian official admitted for the first time Friday that Tehran did indeed supply long-range Zelzal-2 missiles to Hezbollah. Of course, we also know that Iranian President Ahmadinejad thinks that the only way to achieve a lasting piece in the Middle East is to destroy Israel — although a cease-fire … [Read more...] about The Iranian Connection

Don't like the heat? Blame global warming, says The Washington Post: Heat waves like those that have scorched Europe and the United States in recent weeks are becoming more frequent because of global warming, say scientists who have studied decades of weather records and computer models of past, present and future climate. While it is impossible to attribute any one weather … [Read more...] about From global warming to heat waves

For instance, being a weatherman (someone hide the coffee from this guy): … [Read more...] about Some People Love Their Jobs

Michael G. must be out doing something, so: AP via Washington Post:PARIS — Floyd Landis was fired by his team and the Tour de France no longer considered him its champion Saturday after his second doping sample tested positive for higher-than-allowed levels of testosterone. The head of France's anti-doping commission said the samples contained synthetic testosterone, … [Read more...] about Landis Tests Positive Again – Faces Loss of Tour Title

Unity08's plans are starting to materialize. Even if you don't believe in voting for third parties, Unity's idea to try and decrease polarized politics is an interesting one. Some say it is a noble one; others argue that given the choices and what's at stake if one side or the other prevails there can't be any ideological nuances or fudging, that people have to choose sides … [Read more...] about The First Online Presidential Convention

The RNC is urging GOP candidates not to try and defend President George Bush (subtext: "Or else..."). And Charlie Cook says the GOP is likely to lose the House and there's an even chance it could lose the Senate. … [Read more...] about More Bad News For Republicans

Our periodic linkfest offering you links from sites of VARYING opinions. Posts linked do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or the co-bloggers. So What Is The Israeli Army Really Up To? Donald Sensing (a former military man) gives his analysis here. A tiny part 4 U: I was talking to a former Marine a couple of days ago who thought that Israel would wind … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere August 5, 2006

Dire warnings about a wider regional war or a war of civilizations between the West and Islam are overblown. That would be the third World War. No Islamic state has the means to choose such an apocalyptic path. However, long insurgency and guerrilla warfare are feasible and probable in the region that Israel inhabits and in Iraq. The cause of this bloody and destabilizing … [Read more...] about A wider war?

TMV thanks The 3rd World View for the tip. … [Read more...] about Front Page Graphic Editorial On Middle East

A new poll conducted by CNN has good news for President George Bush, mediocre news for President George Bush — and good news for Mel Gibson:Respondents to a CNN poll released Friday were nearly evenly split on President Bush's handling of the current conflict in the Middle East. Forty-six percent of 1,047 Americans participating in the telephone poll, conducted by … [Read more...] about Poll Shows Split Public On Bush Middle East As His Job Approval Rises