A Vox story title asks a rhetorical question: "Is the media making American politics worse?" One might also ask, "Are the media teaching incorrect English grammar?" The word media is plural. One does not use a singular verb ("is") with a plural noun ("media"). Anyway, are the media making American politics worse? Answer: The American media have always - … [Read more...] about About That Modern-Day Yellow Journalism
When Will the End Be In Sight?
Is the end finally in sight? Aren't you tired of politics dominating our lives. We are approaching the finish line of the 2018 election marathon, with the winners still to be determined. Though the results are enormously important, a new election marathon that will finish in 2020 starts immediately after the 2018 race is over. It has reached a point where the competition and … [Read more...] about When Will the End Be In Sight?
Trump’s chance for peaceful engagement with Honduran refugees
Thousands of Hondurans who have grouped together - are walking toward us, toward the USA-Mexico border. They can be met and their pleadings sorted out while they are re-hydrated with barrels of fresh water instead interrogated at the barrels of firearms - the latter speaking of crassness instead of compassion to the thousands of tragedies those walking here are carrying as … [Read more...] about Trump’s chance for peaceful engagement with Honduran refugees
Black women could play a decisive role in midterms
WASHINGTON -- If a "blue wave" does let Democrats seize the House, protect endangered Senate seats and win key governorships, it looks likely that the party will have African-American women to thank. "Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can't take that for granted," Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said last December on Twitter. In … [Read more...] about Black women could play a decisive role in midterms
Caravan of Haters (Cartoon, Column and Video)
As a caravan of migrants heads north toward the United States from Honduras, Donald Trump and Republicans are using it as a campaign issue to scare their supporters and give the GOP some momentum going into the midterms. Republicans are accusing Democrats and George Soros of funding the migrants, but if anyone has an incentive to finance their thousands-mile journey on foot, … [Read more...] about Caravan of Haters (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Writing while Gay in the Time of Trump (Guest Voice)
By Kyle Thomas Smith Two women had just kissed each other on the lips and were holding each other tight while in line for a photocopier at Park Slope Copy Center. “Excuse me,” I said. They turned, fear flaring in their eyes and anxiety gritting their teeth. It was the morning after Trump-Pence had won. Both women were still decked out in Hillary swag. I made a … [Read more...] about Writing while Gay in the Time of Trump (Guest Voice)
Mistake about Khashoggi
Arizona Mirrors the Midterm Divide
by Peter Funt PHOENIX - The race to pick a new U.S. Senator from Arizona underscores the tenor, tactics and tightness of the 2018 midterm elections. Two admired congresswomen are neck and neck as they seek to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake. Martha McSally, the Republican, and Kyrsten Sinema, the Democrat, are engaged in a high-stakes, high-spending campaign that … [Read more...] about Arizona Mirrors the Midterm Divide
Cartoon: Republican Voter Suppression
Jamal Khashoggi: Casualty of the Trump administration’s disregard for democracy and civil rights in the Middle East?
David Mednicoff, University of Massachusetts Amherst The international crisis over whether top Saudi Arabian leadership murdered U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a striking example of the consequences of Donald Trump’s blanket disregard for democratic politics and human rights in other countries. This departure from decades of American foreign policy rhetoric … [Read more...] about Jamal Khashoggi: Casualty of the Trump administration’s disregard for democracy and civil rights in the Middle East?
Kushner and Trump: A Hit with the Saudis
by Blair Bless It pays to be friends with Jared Kushner. You can get away with murder. Or so thinks Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Early in his tenure as a special adviser to his father-in-law, Kushner went out of his way to become Best Friends Forever with the monarchical autocrat. Last year, Kushner travelled to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to … [Read more...] about Kushner and Trump: A Hit with the Saudis
Racism on the Rise in America
Racism is on the rise in America, or so it appears from a variety of news reports. Americans are witnessing a growing number of incidents in which cops are called on people of color who are doing mundane things. Here is a list of some places and people who have created unnecessary drama for people of color: Starbucks manager Nordstrom Rack in St. Louis, Missouri Hobby … [Read more...] about Racism on the Rise in America
Threats to journalism
‘Going low’ only validates Trump and debases America
By Richard Cohen Washington Post Writers Group Columnist Eric Holder, who has never been elected for anything in his life, has some advice for his fellow Democrats. Revising Michelle Obama's mantra -- "when they go low, we go high" -- Holder says "when they go low, we kick them." All through this great nation of ours, Republicans licked their chops. Someone should check to … [Read more...] about ‘Going low’ only validates Trump and debases America
TMV Financial Support
I’ve come to consider The Moderate Voice as a gathering of real friends and I know most of you feel the same way. In many respects, TMV friends are actually more real because of the way people open themselves up in their comments to various articles. Joe and Tyrone work hard behind the scenes while others are on the front lines providing interesting commentary for our … [Read more...] about TMV Financial Support
How prejudice against Israel hurts its young citizens
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Two Israeli college students personally have felt the sting of the world’s prejudice against the citizens of the Jewish State. Under the auspices of StandWithUs, they currently are touring the southwestern United States speaking on high school and college campuses, and telling about their experiences. Because one is a former Olympian, … [Read more...] about How prejudice against Israel hurts its young citizens
We know the GOP has at least one pre-existing condition
WASHINGTON -- Is selective memory loss a pre-existing condition? Embattled incumbent Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, stands accused of voting against health care for more than 100,000 Mainers. "To clarify," a reporter for the local ABC affiliate asked Poliquin recently, "did you vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act?" "No," Poliquin said. "I voted for a replacement plan." … [Read more...] about We know the GOP has at least one pre-existing condition
The Art of the Murder (Cartoon, Column and Video)
During Donald Trump’s Helsinki Summit with the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin was asked about having compromising information on Trump. Putin responded to the American journalist by telling him, “Just disregard these issues and don’t think about this anymore again.” As the supposed leader of the free world, an American president should have taken this opportunity to … [Read more...] about The Art of the Murder (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Generation Z voters could make waves in 2018 midterm elections
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Tufts University Unlike the much-studied millennials, we don’t know much about Generation Z, who now make up most of the 18- to 24-year-old voting bloc. These young people started first grade after 9/11, were born with the internet, grew up with smartphones and social media and practiced active-shooter drills in their classrooms. In 2018, they … [Read more...] about Generation Z voters could make waves in 2018 midterm elections
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Saudi Arabia
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Uproar Over Dissident Rattles Saudi Royal Family --Trump, Breaking With U.S. Intelligence, Appears to Accept Saudi Explanation of Journalist’s Death --“Trump Never Handles Anything Right”: The President Is Acting Like Saudi Arabia’s Lawyer in the Khashoggi Affair Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Saudi Arabia