On Saturday, Reaction co-blogger Creature wrote about "a happy, bubble-busting, propaganda piece" in The Washington Post, as well as about a similar "kiss-ass-fest" in The New York Times — see here. According to the Times, Bush is informed, engaged, and fully in command with respect to Iran. Indeed, Bush was the courageous impetus behind, in Creature's words, "our … [Read more...] about Leadership and diplomacy: Bush, Rice, and the spinning of success on Iran

An American perspective on the arrests of 17 suspected terrorists here in Toronto comes from The New York Times. It doesn't add much to what I've already linked to and quoted -- specifically, to what you can find in greater detail in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the CBC, and various other major Canadian news outlets -- but there is this: "Several of the people arrested … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 5)

According to the AP, Al Gore "has all but ruled out running for president in 2008, saying the best use of his time is to educate people about global warming". Fair enough. He's doing an enormous amount of good in his life after politics, and global warming is just about as important as it gets. But I still hope he runs. … [Read more...] about No Gore in ’08?

Today President George W. Bush is expected to put his reduced political capital on the line to personally push for a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage. The questions are: Is it a political profile in courage, or a caricature of craven political pandering? Is it the act of a politician who believes leading means getting out in front on cutting-edge issues or the … [Read more...] about Will Bush’s Push For Gay Marriage Ban Backfire? (UPDATED)

...and maybe now we have the answer. … [Read more...] about We All Wondered About Where He Wound Up

TMV will begin doing a few posts after 6 a.m. San Diego time this morning. Keep checking back. … [Read more...] about TMV’s Posts Begin Later This Morning

Rick Brookhiser's new book "What Would the Founders Do?" is out ... you can read what I thought of it here. [Pointer-posted because it's long.] … [Read more...] about “What Would the Founders Do?” (Book Review)

The Toronto Star is reporting that the RCMP "had to move quickly Friday night to arrest 12 men and five youths before the group could launch a bomb attack on Canadian soil" (at least according to the RCMP). According to RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell, "[the] group posed a real and serious threat. It had the capacity and intent to carry out these acts." According to … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 4)

Yet more carnage in Iraq on an especially violent day. … [Read more...] about The Murder Of The Iraqi Students

From the Ronald Reagan era, a classic Meeting Of The Mouths: in one corner, California TV talk show host Wally George; in the other, California then-radio talk show host Morton Downey, Jr. Both have since departed. But do you notice two things: 1) This foreshadowed the Jerry Springer Show. 2) This foreshadowed the TV political talk shows where confrontation and yelling is … [Read more...] about The Meeting Of The Mouths

Attention Tony: you're off to a very bad start as press secretary when your own Secretary of State undercuts your explanation. … [Read more...] about Rice Undercuts Tony Snow’s Explanation

If you're a regular reader or blogger/reader you will notice some blogroll changes. Our blogroll is admittedly very big. We USE THIS blogroll (it is NOT for show). We are trying to keep it up-to-date by removing inactive blog links and occasionally adding some new sites that we visit (of all ideologies). We're also removing blogs on the left, right or center that had us on the … [Read more...] about A Reminder: Blogroll Changes

Our periodic linkfest to introduce readers to a WIDE VARIETY of views from all over the 'Sphere. We do NOT restrict mentioned links to one viewpoint — and views do not necessary reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice. Is Global Warming A Factor In Hurricanes? Some suggest it isn't and some want them fired. What's REALLY Going On With George Bush, The GOP And Gay … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere June 4, 2006

Move over CNN and Fox News because you may soon have a competitor who has a somewhat different point of view:The BBC's global news channel, BBC World, has launched in the US, aiming to capture audiences hungry for international news. The channel, which already broadcasts to 270 million homes worldwide, can now be seen by cable viewers in New York. The BBC says it hopes to … [Read more...] about BBC 24 Hour News Ready To Compete With CNN And Fox

In these days when so-called pundits sneeringly say that reporters in Iraq sit in comfy hotels and don't bother going out to report stories (and are proven to be wrong and ideologically blinded by the sad headlines we read each day) it's not a bad idea to — every once in a while — remind everyone that journalists have died in their line of duty...sometimes in … [Read more...] about Remembering A Fallen Journalist

The National Post is reporting that "[a] Canadian counter-terrorism investigation that led to the arrests of 17 people accused of plotting bombings in Ontario is linked to probes in a half-dozen countries": Well before police tactical teams began their sweeps around Toronto on Friday, at least 18 related arrests had already taken place in Canada, the United States, Britain, … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 3)

You go out to eat and it's the perfect meal. You have some appetizers — preferably fried. Lots of them. Then maybe a huge dinner salad, with lots of croutons and a sea of creamy dressing. Then a super-super-super-duper sized entree. A mountain of french fries with that (or a pyramid of mashed potatoes and gravy). Then a BIIIIIIIIG hot fudge sundae for dessert. And then … [Read more...] about FDA’s Blab About Flab: Restaurants Need Smaller Portions

How CSIS tracked down the suspects From the Toronto Star: Last night's dramatic police raid and arrest of as many as a dozen men — with more to come — marks the culmination of Canada's largest ever terrorism investigation into an alleged homegrown cell. The chain of events began two years ago, sparked by local teenagers roving through Internet sites, reading and espousing … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 2)

According to Reuters, "[s]ome members of a group of Canadians arrested on terror-related offenses may have been in contact with two U.S. suspects now in custody who were based in Georgia". ********** The CBC quotes Luc Portelance, CSIS Assistant Director of Operations: "For various reasons, they appear to have become adherents of a violent ideology inspired by … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE)

He came to office as a self-styled anti-Clinton, but, as J. Kingston Pierce points out, various factors "are sending Bush’s trustworthiness ratings into the crapper and making it harder for him to govern effectively". For more, see here. … [Read more...] about Can President Bush be trusted?