Political scientist Steven Taylor, aka Poliblogger, has a superb, stand-back, take-a-deep-breath thoughtful piece pondering the meaning — and importance — of the controversial nuclear option compromise. Read it in full. But we'll look at some key points here. Taylor notes that the discussion of the compromise over President Bush's judicial nominees "misses the … [Read more...] about So What IS Compromise?

File this one in the Give Me A Break Department:Insurgents in Iraq attached explosives to a dog and tried to blow up a military convoy near the northern oil centre of Kirkuk. The canine bomb went off but the only casualty was the unfortunate animal, said police. The militants wrapped an explosive belt around the dog and detonated it as the convoy passed through Dakuk, 25 miles … [Read more...] about Iraqi Terrorists Draft Fido

The latest Peggy Noonan lecture column makes us wonder: isn't it hard typing on your keyboard when that jacket restrains both arms? Ms. Noonan has written yet another one of her wonderfully written, lyrical columns, this time revealing to us that the moderates of both parties who helped nix the "nuclear option" (aren't we getting sick of that phrase already?) on judicial … [Read more...] about Peggy Noonan Strikes Again

The Pentagon is now insisting that the detainee who made the allegation about a the Koran being flushed down the toilet has basically said "Never mind!" The Guantanamo detainee who told an FBI agent in 2002 that U.S. personnel there had flushed a Koran in a toilet retracted his allegation when questioned this month by military investigators, the Pentagon said on … [Read more...] about Pentagon Says Detainee Retracted Koran Toilet Flush Allegation

...what better way to oppose him than to make fun of his illness and the way he looks to try and score a political point? This is CONTEMPTIBLE. Let The Moderate Voice be quite unmoderate for a moment here: People on the far left AND right don't realize how reprehensible personal attacks like this totally destroy the credibility of anything they have to say in the future. … [Read more...] about Senator Arlen Specter Has Cancer And You Disagree With Him SO

...it is important to remember that this involves only federal government funded research. It does not affect privately funded research on stem cells in the United States, regardless of the origin of the stem cells. This is a key point that is lost sometimes, and it may be an important compromise in acknowledging that not all feel the same about the true significance of … [Read more...] about Regarding the likely veto on the bill including stem cell research…

What is going ON?? I went down to my corner 7-Eleven to get my fix on the weekly tabloids and what did I see? These headlines: The National Enquirer: Katie Couric AT WAR with Matt Laurer The Globe: IT'S OVER! Regis wins war with Kelly....She loses bid to replace him...He's bringing back Kathie Lee. Our thoughts: Kathie Lee coming back to daily TV would be good news to … [Read more...] about Is There Something In The Water, Or What?

If this is true it may be why little kids who don't want their noses to grow like Pinocchio's don't go into politics. It's interesting, just one of the many tidbits TMV picks up as he obsessively prowls all four categories of his bloated blogroll... … [Read more...] about Sanctimonious Santorum?

As our co-blogger Justin Delabar wrote earlier here the nomination of John Bolton for U.S. Ambassador to the UN will be decided real soon. And for many it's a serious political and emotional issue. How serious? Just watch this MUST VIEW VIDEO HERE at Crooks And Liars showing Republican Senator Voinovich literally crying as he pleads with his colleagues not to approve Bolton. … [Read more...] about Voinovich Cries While Opposing John Bolton For UN Post

The saga of Newsweek's later retracted-under-fire story about accusations that a Koran was flushed down the toilet at Guantnamo continues to rage — this time fueled on by a news report that an FBI agent made the allegation in a 2002 report. This continues to raise the possibility that Newsweek was right about the allegation being out there — but did not have the … [Read more...] about FBI Memo: Koran Was Flushed Down The Toilet

This has definitely been Senator John McCain's shining moment (for some) — but does this mean he is the Senate's "real leader"? David Broder, often called "the Dean of commentators" (does that mean he screams? APOLOGIES but we can't resisting making a joke about anyone — and I mean it or my name isn't Jeff Gannon), thinks so. Highly respected, always thoughtful, … [Read more...] about John McCain: Was The Compromise His Rebirth Or Last Hurrah?

TMV says emphatically: he loves animals. He grew up with dogs and now has cats. His sister volunteered to help animals in animal shelters. Her life's work has been animals and today she works at a prominent nonprofit organization that strives to protect and preserve animals. So you could say the belief that animals are BEINGS with FEELINGS and limited time on this earth (just … [Read more...] about SERIOUS QUESTION: Do You Know Someone Who Can Help This Cat?

The Bolton confirmation fight has now reached the Senate floor. While it doesn't look overly probable, the anti-diplomat's confirmation can still be thwarted. Public opinion can help push those senators on the fence to the side of reason and Rockefeller, who's up now (from what I hear, unfortunately I'm deprived of C-SPAN 2), can drop some hefty information on the chamber if he … [Read more...] about Bolton Debate Begins

When in Rome don't do like the Roman-descended judges do: don't go after Italian journalists who dare to write things about Islam that Muslims don't like. Because that's precisely what's happening in Italy, where a combination of P.C. mentality and perhaps a tad of political genetics left over from the country's World War II authortarian past has produced this outrage: A … [Read more...] about Defaming Islam In Italy?

The first of President George Bush's seemingly stuck judicial nominees has been approved by the Senate — the first judge given the green light under the compromise Senate moderates struck to head off a divisive battle over eliminating the filibuster on judicial nominees. The judge: Texan Priscilla Owen. Where she's going: 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New … [Read more...] about Senate Confirms Owen As Federal Appellate Judge In First Post-Compromise Vote

Reports continue to indicate a massive effort is underway to capture puportedly injured Iraq Al Qaeda chief Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi — and a Muslim website now suggests he has fled Iraq. Once again, in analyzying these news reports the questions arise as to the authenticity of the claims and the possible political motives behind them. Just because someone posts an … [Read more...] about Report Says al-Zarqawi Has Fled Iraq As Two Key Aides Arrested

Coming on the heels of the surprise check-mate of the administration and its Senate allies by moderates on judicial filibusters, the administration now faces a new incarnation of Congressional defiance: a vote by the House to ease stem cell restrictions. This measure now goes to the Senate where many expect it will pass — and in the end face President George Bush's veto … [Read more...] about House Votes To Extend Stem Cell Funding Amid Certain Bush Veto

...to read THIS POST below about how TMV got a letter from Dick Cheney, inviting him to dinner in Washington, D.C. We've updated the post, if you read it when it was first posted late yesterday. Did you know that Dick Cheney wants to honor TMV? Go to the link and read that post. … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget…..

Our occasional linkfest that helps you get good reading of ALL viewpoints. Links are NOT selected because of or limited to one viewpoint — and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its independent-thinking co-bloggers. TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO PROTECT INTERNET FREEDOM: Mike Krempasky is continuing his bipartisan, nonideology battle to make readers … [Read more...] about Around The ‘Sphere

I just I opened my mailbox And do you know what I found? Vice President Dick Cheney has invited me to "join President Bush, Laura and the entire Republican Congressional leadership as they gather on the evening of June 14th here in Washington D.C..." ME. The Moderate Voice. A little Jewish guy from Connecticut whose claim to fame is writing a blog that infuriates liberals, … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney Just Invited Me To Dinner!