The thumbs down by Dutch voters to the proposed European constitution is due to the long pursued ideal of a European Union having run into an unexpected roadblock: voters who analyze and exercise their democratic right to say no. The news has NOT been good for the leaders and political scientists who've dreamed of a United Europe. Coming on the heels of France's nixing of the … [Read more...] about Dutch Voters’ Treaty Nix Second Big Body Blow To EU

...but does it love them back? A Democratic advocacy group did some research that is likely to be ignored by the groups now controlling the party. … [Read more...] about Democrats love the middle class…

I am one of the guest-posters that Joe often refers to when he has other, more important and pressing issues to attend to than this weblog. I apologize for not being able to add any additional commentary this evening than a few brief posts linking to some recommended reading. I am currently living in France, and it is after 2:00AM here. For me it is after an evening out with … [Read more...] about My apologies…

Pennywit, who hosts a quasi-group blog at Pennywit.com (based upon a Drupal publishing system, the contributions of others frequently make the front page and RSS feed) and who is self-described as a liberal, has posted a response to the writings of one of his conservative contributors regarding the recent behaviors of the Democratic Party: The Ridiculousness of Being a … [Read more...] about More recommended reading

The Commissar at The Politburo Diktat is a self-described conservative; however he is uncomfortable with much of what he has seen written by bloggers, even those on the right-wing, as he illustrates here in this recommended reading: Questioning Patriotism Think seriously about what he has to say. … [Read more...] about Some notes (and cautions) on blogging from a voice on the right

Passions over Watergate apparently still runs VERY HIGH: some former Nixon aides are now blasting former FBI deputy director Mark Felt who is now confirmed as being the Washington Post's mysterious Watergate source "Deep Throat." Felt is being accused of, at best, not going through proper channels and, at worst, of being a "traitor." One former aide even accuses Nixon's … [Read more...] about Was “Deep Throat” A “Traitor” Who Destroyed Boss?

There is a series of remarkable, intensely honest, posts on drinking and AA, mostly on Dean's World. We don't want to wreck them by quoting from them so we STRONGLY urge readers to read each one in its entirety, starting from the first the last. You can see the thought that goes into them, as you read the progression in order. First, read this post by Dean Esmay. Then, read … [Read more...] about Some Remarkable Posts On Drinking And AA

President Jacques Chirac found a scapegoat accepted the resignation of Jean-Pierre Raffarin in the wake of the country's decisive rejection of the EU constitution and replaced him with a longtime ally. The replacement: Dominique de Villepin. So is this someone who will help Chirac chart a new course? Someone with a different view, a different approach. Unlikely, according to … [Read more...] about France’s Prime Minister Gets The Political Guillotine

It sounds like some folks need to spend a little more time meditating: BANGKOK (Reuters) - Five Thai Buddhist monks have been defrocked and fined after a brawl with monks from a nearby temple, police and newspapers said Tuesday. The street fight was the culmination of years of antagonism between monks from the two temples who had often exchanged curses, insults and rude … [Read more...] about What Would Buddha Do?

What's being called the world's first All Good News network. That means it can't run any news about Congress. … [Read more...] about You’ve Wished For It — And Here It Is (Or Is It?)

See? We made one exception to our rule due to extenuating circumstances...and now we see the floodgates opening: A reminder AGAIN on trackbacks. A trackback is used if you link to someone's post, then you send them a trackback as a courtesy to let them know you linked to them. Also, readers may then click on those trackbacks to read what you wrote. It's not considered polite … [Read more...] about A Reminder AGAIN On Trackbacks

Cross-posted to Random Fate. PARIS and GRENOBLE, France - The "Non!" vote has carried the day, in no uncertain terms. However, it is important to remember the wise words of an American politician, the equivalent of which I have yet to encounter here in France: All politics is local.    -Senator Thomas P."Tip" O'Neill I visited Paris the weekend before the … [Read more...] about France voted “Non!” on Europe? Not exactly…

President George Bush held a press conference today in which he blasted as "absurd" the human rights organization Amnesty International's report that likened U.S. treatment of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a gulag in the old Soviet union. This will likely spark a new round of debate. But what did the President actually say? ABC Newsonline reports … [Read more...] about Bush Blasts Amnesty International Report As “Absurd”

The decades-long political and journalistic mystery of who the source "Deep Throat" was in the momentous Watergate scandal that destroyed Richard Nixon's presidency is now, 100 percent solved: the Washington Post has now confirmed that former FBI bigwig W. Mark Felt was the man: The Washington Post today confirmed that W. Mark Felt, a former number-two official at the FBI, was … [Read more...] about Washington Post Confirms It: FBI’s Felt WAS Deep Throat

Has the ever-tantilizing mystery of Watergate's "Deep Throat" finally been solved? No, we're NOT talking about the "Deep Throat" pictured at left — but that's who this "Deep Throat" was jokingly named after. This refers to the decades secret of the mysterious source who helped The Washington Post bring down the Nixon administration. And, according to Vanity Fair, W. Mark … [Read more...] about “Deep Throat” Allegedly Comes Foward To Reveal Himself

Ah, yes, they're both singing that old standard "I Love Paris." The big news is that hotel heiress and "The Simple Life" reality TV star Paris Hilton is engaged to her boyfriend, Paris Latsis, her spokesman reports. Perhaps it's their names that make it sound so romantic. It might not sound as romantic if they were both named "Newark." Details:"They are happy and excited," … [Read more...] about Paris Hilton Engaged To Shipping Heir Paris Latsis

There's bad political news for President George Bush, coming in the form of a Washington Post article declaring:"Bush's Political Capital Spent, Voices in Both Parties Suggest." This is bad news for Bush for several reasons: It's a watershed political story. Every unfolding political story has a kind of "script." This now declares that Bush has used up his political capital … [Read more...] about Is George Bush’s Political Capital Spent?

Our occasional linkfest giving you interesting reading from sites representing varying viewpoints. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or his co-bloggers. Has Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Flip-Flopped On Stem Cell Research? Charging RINO looks at the issue. This Ties In With A Question About The GOP: Is there now what Bull … [Read more...] about Around The ‘Sphere

Iraqi terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is reported to have posted an audio address to his Osama bin Laden on Monday telling him that he's OK after being wounded in a fire fight with U.S. troops. This AGAIN points out the caution citizens, policymakers, and the military need to exercise in taking unconfirmed website reports as truth. The last big story about al-Zarqawi … [Read more...] about Al-Zarqawi Posted Audio Address To Bin Laden Says Wounds Minor

The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz profiles Buzz Machine's Jeff Jarvis, one of the most independent and thoughtful bloggers who many on the right, left and center consider a must read — and you WILL learn a few new things. … [Read more...] about Buzz Machine’s Jeff Jarvis Under The Microscope