Here's another big story that isn't getting much attention given that so much of our attention is on — because directed towards by the news media and their single-issue herd mentality — Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah. Big? How about huge? In National Journal, Murray Waas reports: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today that … [Read more...] about Covering up misconduct: Why did Bush put a stop to the domestic surveillance investigation?

Uh-oh. I know that most of our focus the past week has been on the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, but turn your attention to Iraq for a moment. Not just to the continuing bloodshed in Baghdad and beyond (and there was a good deal more yesterday when, according to WaPo, "[a] suicide bomber killed more than 50 day laborers... in the Shiite shrine city of Kufa") … [Read more...] about Turkey’s temptation

TMV will be on the road all day. He won't be posting but please check back to see what our always talented co-bloggers have to say on breaking and non-breaking stories. … [Read more...] about TMV’s Own Posting Limited Today

According to the AP, "Israel declared Tuesday it was ready to fight Hezbollah guerrillas for several more weeks and possibly send ground forces into Lebanon, raising doubts about international efforts to broker an immediate cease-fire in the fighting that has killed more than 260 people and displaced 500,000." Indeed, "Israel is in no hurry to end its offensive, which it sees … [Read more...] about Israel’s window of opportunity to weaken Hezbollah

Jerusalem Post:Two children were killed and a dozen people wounded in Katyusha falls on the Arab Israeli town of Nazareth on Wednesday evening. Earlier reports indicated three dead, two of them children, when Katyusha rockets directly hit a house in the city. Reports indicated an automotive repair shop was hit along with a three-story building, both in the densely-populated … [Read more...] about Deaths in Arab-Israeli Nazareth

The United States gave Israel the "green light" for its attack in responding to Hezbollah — and the signal light has now turned "yellow" light because it's about to turn red, the Guardian reports:The US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, … [Read more...] about The United States’ Green Light And Red Light To Israel

Cherokee Wisdom Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. "The other is Good. It is … [Read more...] about Cherokee Wisdom for George Bush & Tony Blair

Cherokee Wisdom Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. "The other is Good. It is … [Read more...] about Cherokee Wisdom for George Bush & Tony Blair

The mainstream media's alarming reports about the Civil War in Iraq seem to be the "last and final" call for the U.S. and the U.K. to prepare an emergency exit strategy. What is happening in Iraq now had been predicted right at the beginning when the myopic foreign intervention began in that cursed country. Even CIA had in confidential notes clearly stated the possibility of … [Read more...] about “U.S. & U.K. refuse to admit that Civil War Is On In Iraq”

The mainstream media's alarming reports about the Civil War in Iraq seem to be the "last and final" call for the U.S. and the U.K. to prepare an emergency exit strategy. What is happening in Iraq now had been predicted right at the beginning when the myopic foreign intervention began in that cursed country. Even CIA had in confidential notes clearly stated the possibility of … [Read more...] about “U.S. & U.K. refuse to admit that Civil War Is On In Iraq”

Another gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Given what's in newspapers these days, it's probably best not to read one shortly after rereading William Butler Yeats "The Second Coming." Doing so may lead to thoughts such as these... The Coming Conflagration The problem with a tenderbox The cause for great dismay Is that once you¹ve stacked … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: The Coming Conflagration

The Moderate Voice always encourages blogs to do original reporting. Why? Because blogs have a potential to be FAR more than just ornate op-ed pages (which is what this one is most of the time as well). Blogging allows ANYONE to create, package and present ORIGINAL reporting to readers — without having an editor to give a green-light on what and how it is … [Read more...] about Original Blog Interview: A Professor On The Influence Of Blogs

It sounds as if even You-Know-Who couldn't help former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed get elected in Georgia — and a guy name Jack Abramoff certainly didn't help:Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed conceded defeat about 9:50 p.m. in Georgia’s Republican primary for lieutenant governor. “Tonight my candidacy for lieutenant governor comes to an end,â€? … [Read more...] about Ralph Reed Defeated In Georgia

The best quotes are the ones that can inspire even when one misses the author's point entirely. … [Read more...] about “One Gets Beyond Racism…”

I'm not one of those people who thinks anyone who criticizes Israel is closetly pro-terror. There's no reason for me to think they would be. What I do wonder about, however, is how many people have yet to grasp that no matter how bad or unjust you find Israel's response, it is not the moral equal of randomly shooting off rockets aimed at innocents for the sole purpose of sowing … [Read more...] about Learning Lessons

Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead reading a MySpace blog (alright, so I'm a blog-elitist). But this one had the good sense to link to me, so I decided to see what he had to say. And lo and behold if he doesn't toss off a pretty good line: America's 9/11 lasted a single, terrifying day. Israel has been living it for, quite literally, decades. Well said. … [Read more...] about Good Line

If this is a correct report, Hezbollah's Sheik had better say his prayers NOW. Arutz Sheva - Ma'an: Nasrallah Will Give Tel Aviv Residents One Hour to FleeArab press sources close to the Hizbullah say that residents of Tel Aviv will be given one hour to flee before the terrorist group launches a barrage of missiles at the city. The unnamed sources are quoted by the … [Read more...] about Nasrallah’s Death Wish

The death toll from the new Java tsunami keeps growing: CNN: 340 perish in Java quake, tsunami JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- The death toll from an earthquake and resulting tsunami that smashed into fishing villages and resorts on Indonesia's Java island has reached 340 with more than 200 people missing, officials say. More than 54,000 people have been displaced, they added. … [Read more...] about There’s More to the Mini-Tsunami Than I Realized

My recent posts at The Reaction on the Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah situation (for lack of a better word) suggest that I support Israel, perhaps even unreservedly so. And some readers no doubt object to this. Consider: In one post, I wrote this: "Right. Israel's aggression and Israel's crimes. That's always the spin, isn't it? When groups like Hezbollah and states like Syria make … [Read more...] about To support Israel or not to support Israel?

Rasmussen Reports has been one of the polling firms documenting President George Bush's slide in the polls. Now, in recent weeks, it is noting a slow rebound:Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans approve of the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President. Fifty-five percent (55%) disapprove of the job President Bush has been doing. Much of the improvement for … [Read more...] about Bush’s Poll Numbers Rise As Base Slowly Returns