There's a new tidbit in the Michael Jackson saga: according to a report legendary producer Quincy Jones warned Jackson about his sleepovers with young boys, to no avail: SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Star producer Quincy Jones, the mastermind who helped Michael Jackson craft such hit albums as "Off the Wall" and "Thriller," found the pop star's sleepovers with young boys "wrong" and … [Read more...] about Was Michael Jackson Warned?
Guest Bloggers Continue Today
Our Guest Bloggers will continue today, although I may be able to post a bit more. I was totally out of pocket yesterday -- a day when I drove 225 miles in the rain and did four events. … [Read more...] about Guest Bloggers Continue Today
Bickering Partisans At Home
...and yet Americans abroad. … [Read more...] about Bickering Partisans At Home
Protecting you with rhetoric!
I don't know how long it's been up, but I noticed today that the Justice Department website is advertising a site to explain the Patriot Act, with a very subtle Web address. Personally I would have favored KickingBadGuyAss.gov, which besides perking up the ears of the kids, doesn't try to hammer you over the head with its righteousness. Hyperbole in PR almost always … [Read more...] about Protecting you with rhetoric!
Move down the trough
Syndicated columnist Bruce Bartlett notes that his colleague on the right, Armstrong Williams, is hardly the first journalist to take money from those he covers. Remember Sidney Blumenthal's "fawning praises of Bill Clinton disguised as news reports" that led in short order to his White House job? But then there are the objective journalists......who routinely speak before … [Read more...] about Move down the trough
Runt of the litter
This is Greg Piper, Joe's late-arriving guest blogger, and I do my thing at GregPiper.com. You might remember me from a few weeks ago, when I filled in for Joe. As he mentioned below, I'm a journalist working in Washington, DC, but what he fails to mention (for my feelings, I'm sure) is that this is my first professional gig. I haven't reported since college and it's taken a … [Read more...] about Runt of the litter
The headline seems to presage a funny story…
...until you dig deeper. … [Read more...] about The headline seems to presage a funny story…
A Brief Word
Hello everyone! Joe mentioned me a while ago, but I just wanted to introduce myself formally. I'm a neo-Libertarian Centrist, and I hope to, as Joe said, always surprise you ideologically. I run my own blog, Verité. I am in the midst of a busy evening, but I'd like to leave you with a few interesting links if I might... Hey, the Right likes Free Speech too! We the … [Read more...] about A Brief Word
I don’t think he’ll get a scooby-snack for this one…
...at least not from his owner. From MSNBC.com: J.D. the Labrador retriever meant well, but he's landed his owner in a mess of trouble. Police say his owner was playing Frisbee golf with two friends at a suburban Dallas-Fort Worth course Monday when a police officer arrived. The officer thought he smelled burning marijuana, so he asked the men for identification and began … [Read more...] about I don’t think he’ll get a scooby-snack for this one…
And you thought the viruses in your PC were bad…
...wait until they infect things other than your computer. … [Read more...] about And you thought the viruses in your PC were bad…
Whither blogging?
I can't reconstruct the entire link-chain that got me to this discussion by Anil Dash on the direction of blogging in light of recent events with respect to both the Jordan and Gannon imbroglios, but regardless of how I got there, it is well worth reading. A brief excerpt to tempt you to go there and read: And about Eason Jordan: More myopic blogger triumphalism. Dear … [Read more...] about Whither blogging?
Are Moderates Passe?
Max Burns of the content-packed site The New Democrat looks at the status of moderates these days. A few highlights: On a dare, a friend of mine ate two cloves of raw garlic without water. He chewed on them for a while as tears welled up in his eyes, and reluctantly swallowed the awful mess. That's what being a moderate during this time of tension within both parties feels … [Read more...] about Are Moderates Passe?
In the “Whatever happened to?” bin…
...falls the Faith Based Initiative. The question is asked at Centerfield, and the comments make interesting reading. … [Read more...] about In the “Whatever happened to?” bin…
Instead of just throwing rocks
Instead of merely throwing rocks at proposals that we don't like, at which blogworld has shown it can excel, it is far more constructive to make alternate proposals. In that spirit, here are some alternatives to the plans being put forward by the administration on Social Security, which is being used as a lever in creating the "ownership society" that President Bush says is … [Read more...] about Instead of just throwing rocks
Is A Model UN A Contradiction In Terms?
That's the question Oxblog's David Adesnik explores in a short but potent post about a University of Chicago model UN. Read it all but here's his final comment: But is a "model" UN supposed to be effective and decisive? Or are students expected to behave like actual UN delegates? For that matter, does the Chicago Model UN program teach high school students how to embezzle like … [Read more...] about Is A Model UN A Contradiction In Terms?
Politics Isn’t What Life Is All About…
..and we have a reminder of that today with the sad news that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's diease. This lymph cancer diagnosis is just the latest health challenge to the 75-year-old Republican Senator and he's facing it with courage and determination: In the statement, Specter said: "I have beaten a brain tumor, bypass heart surgery and … [Read more...] about Politics Isn’t What Life Is All About…
Welcome Our GUEST BLOGGERS
Ah, yes, The Moderate Voice is going to be running around so much the next two days he will be an authentic Wandering Jew. But have no fear: We're leaving you in the capable hands of our guest bloggers Jack Grant (an American scientist working in France..his blog is in the process of being moved so I can't link to it) and Greg Piper (a journalist working in Washington, DC), … [Read more...] about Welcome Our GUEST BLOGGERS
The Titans of Blogs vs. Mad Mullahs of Iran
Watch out Iran...you are being scrutinized...bigtime. Not just by the State Department. But, very soon, by a slew of major weblogs that vow to clamor for a free referendum. Read the details here. Basically, in his latest National Review column Michael Ledeen talks about the importance of Iran in the context of the Middle East and that its an issue that must be met at the very … [Read more...] about The Titans of Blogs vs. Mad Mullahs of Iran
A Famous Texan May Be Readying A Run For Governor
Let's tell you this person doesn't belong to the Bush family. Not related to LBJ. This person didn't used to kill bugs for a living before he went to Congress. And we're not talking about a singer (though some partisans say the person has given voters a song and dance). Can you guess who? The answer is here. … [Read more...] about A Famous Texan May Be Readying A Run For Governor
GOP Foot-In-Mouth In NY
This time a GOPer put his foot in his mouth -- and talking about the Howard Dean scream doesn't obscure the sleaziness of his implication...no matter what party you belong to (and we don't belong to either). ALBANY, N.Y. — Howard Dean, just four days into his job as Democratic National chairman, called Wednesday for New York's state Republican chairman to apologize or … [Read more...] about GOP Foot-In-Mouth In NY