How did we go from the certainties of World War II to the so-called age of irony we now endure with men proclaiming they are both moral and "did nothing illegal"? Some thoughts on the fifty year wound of the Cold War are expressed at Random Fate. … [Read more...] about A brief interlude from the controversy du jour

From The Christian Science Monitor: As the Senate moves toward a showdown over the so-called nuclear option, risks and rewards confront both Republicans and Democrats, whatever the outcome. Both sides concede that the move to lower the threshold required to end a filibuster from 60 votes to a simple majority could shut down the Senate. But it's not clear for how long, with … [Read more...] about Playing chicken with OUR government

As an expatriate in France during a time of expansion and transformation of the European Union and being a first-hand witness to the questioning of what it means to be "European", I have had a unique opportunity to learn about this gallimaufry of cultures that gave rise to the "melting pot" in the United States. To help me understand what I see and hear, I write "letters from … [Read more...] about A letter from Europe: opinions on the EU constitution and Turkey

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has stuck a verbal pin in what apparently were trial balloons to see if there could be a compromise with Democrats to head off the use of the so-called "nuclear option" that would eliminate the filibuster for judicial nominees. What's going on now is fascinating because there is so much at play here: Frist's well-known presidential … [Read more...] about Frist: My Way Or The Highway On Judicial Nominees

Stay tuned today for some posts by our highly talented Guest Bloggers. TMV has to make a trip to L.A. which takes up basically the entire day. There should be some guests posts throughout the day. TMV will resume his posts starting tomorrow. See ya! (And do check back) … [Read more...] about Light(er) Blogging Today

Syria yesterday pulled out of Lebanon yesterday sooner than expected — taking its remaining soldiers and what it said was its remaining intelligence agents with it. So a crisis that seemed to be heading to a confrontation-packed conclusion ended with a whimper, not a bang. And although no one can really confirm that Syria has ended its 29-year military presence … [Read more...] about Syria Quits Lebanon Intelligence Agents And All

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals just can't get a break. They've been shut down by California's high court on their false advertising suit against the state Milk Advisory Board, which has the bad taste to show "happy cows grazing in lush green pastures" in its commercials. I'd put this in the same category as fast-food restaurants' depictions of their food in … [Read more...] about Happy cows choose PETA

Here's a story about a mom who really gave her son the cold shoulder — and cold neck, and cold legs, and cold etc. (you get the idea). According to the AP, a Wisconsin man hept his dead mother in a freezer for several years because he wanted to collect her Social Security checks. This isn't the first story of a son whose mother has a cold heart but it is a bit unusual, … [Read more...] about Man Kept His Dead Mom In Freezer For Years

And we do mean anything. … [Read more...] about Some People Will Collect Anything

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. SO NOW THERE'S A NEW POPE and skippy the bush kangaroo (who writes in all in lower case and coined the word Blogtopia) wonders if the new Pope was … [Read more...] about Around the ‘Sphere

There's something going on at Wendy's restaurants and you can't put your finger on it. Wait: let's rephrase that. Bit by bit, customers are reportedly starting to give a thumbs up (whoops...sorry again) to the fast-food restaurant which just weeks before saw sales nosedive after a woman said she found a human finger in her Wendy's chili at one of the company's San Jose … [Read more...] about Customers Give Wendy’s A (Helping) Hand

Will Majority Leader Bill Frist and top Senate Democrat Harry Reid reach a compromise on President Bush's court nominations — one that can head off the so-called "nuclear option" and thus prevent increased polarization and a possible Senate work slowdown? At issue are some 7 highly controversial court nominations that Democrats threatened to filibuster. The GOP for … [Read more...] about Frist-Reid Judge-Approval Compromise Possible

Some people go through life thinking they can live forever. Or, they may do something that's risky and accept the fact that it involves a particular risk. But, in the end, they may have to think again. What can be sadder that this story underscoring the truly unpredictible nature of fate — this story about a beloved skydiver who died after colliding with the plane he … [Read more...] about Skydiver Killed After Hitting Plane Shows Fate’s Quirkiness

This city on California's coast that loves to call itself "America's finest city" has been rocked by a political bombshell with the news that San Diego's controversial Mayor Dick Murphy has resigned as criticism continues over a $1.2 billion deficit in the city's pension fund. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports: Amid demands by the city attorney that he quit and a week after … [Read more...] about San Diego’s Mayor Quits Amid Continued Scandal

Here's a story about a child who might have to undergo some therapy one day: A MOTHER who underwent an abortion after learning that she was pregnant with twins is suing the NHS for £250,000 after one of the babies survived. Stacy Dow, who was 16 when she found out that she was pregnant, is seeking compensation and damages for the “financial burdenâ€? of raising her … [Read more...] about Mother Sues Because Twin Survives Abortion

Read this transcript of CNN's Reliable Sources and you can see that Pope Benedict XVI has a rocky road ahead of him because some media types already have him pigeon-holed and stereotyped. He just doesn't live up to THEIR standards about the kind of PERSONALITY that is needed. Here's an excerpt containing a candid (which is why this is always such a good show) take on it in … [Read more...] about Did The New Pope Poop Out With The Media?

....at a new weblog that you are going to hear a LOT about. It's called Virtual Scratchpad and it's done by media and tech consultant Matt Sheffield, one of the key players in RatherBiased.Com, the website that doggedly followed and chronicled the career of CBS's controversial Dan Rather and the media issues surrounding him. After the Rathergate scandal and Rather was … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..

As reports indicated that Republicans were increasingly confident that they had the votes to use what they earlier called "the nuclear option" to ban judicial filibusters, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist appeared at a Christian anti-filibuster rally and vowed to do what it takes to pass President George Bush's nominees. And that is the so-called "nuclear option" that for … [Read more...] about Republicans May Have Votes To Nuke Filibuster

The nomination of John Bolton for U.S. Ambassador to the UN now seems shakier than ever with calls on him to withdraw — all coming within the context of ANOTHER dose of bad news. The bad news comes in the form of a Newsweek piece that says Bolton — dogged by various allegations that he is an ill-tempered bully and reports in two major newspapers asserting that … [Read more...] about Bolton Nomination Prospects Dim Amid New Bad News

A professor's laptop was stolen. A student apparently thought it was a clean theft. Right? WRONG? The professor used the last few minutes of his class to explain to the anonymous student exactly how huge his error was. CLICK HERE to hear his speech — but make sure to go to the third link and use the one that says "I trimmed out the actual educational part of the lecture … [Read more...] about Somewhere In Berkeley A Student Is Truly Trembling In His Boots