Evangelical pastor Jim Wallis calls out Republican support of the gun lobby on sojo.net. There is nothing we can do to reduce the growing number of mass shootings in America — except get more people to have guns. Unbelievably, that’s what conservative spokespersons and Republican presidential candidates are saying after the latest college massacre in Oregon which killed 10 and … [Read more...] about Jim Wallis on Gun Violence
Paul Ryan: What the Republican party (but definitely not America) needs
Jonathan Chait has put together a wonderful sketch of the potential contribution of Paul Ryan to America. Excerpt: What actually separates the insurgents from the Establishment is not ideology but tactics. The insurgents refuse to accept the constitutional limits of their power, and believe that more frenzied assertions of their core beliefs, combined with a periodic … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan: What the Republican party (but definitely not America) needs
Uptick of violence prompts diverse Israeli responses (Guest Voice)
Uptick of violence prompts diverse Israeli responses by Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — “What’s happening?” “What should be done?” There are no sure answers to either of those questions. Both Israelis and Palestinians are arguing–with each other and among themselves–if the current uptick in violence signifies an intifada or something less. Politicians, activists, and … [Read more...] about Uptick of violence prompts diverse Israeli responses (Guest Voice)
Chaos is the GOP’s new normal
WASHINGTON -- At this point, I worry we're going to start finding members of the Republican establishment curled up in their beds, eyes clenched shut and ears covered with trembling hands, moaning "make it stop, make it stop, make it stop." Pity their suffering, but remember that they brought it on themselves. The insurrection that propelled billionaire Donald … [Read more...] about Chaos is the GOP’s new normal
What is wrong with Democrats?
The condescending attitude that some Democrats have toward the GOP is laughable considering the Democrats' woes. One would have to be stuck in a Democrat echo chamber in order not to see the trouble that the Democratic Party is in during the current presidential contest. For example, in a previous post, this writer talks about Democrats awakening to the fact that Hillary … [Read more...] about What is wrong with Democrats?
Did Kevin McCarthy Quit House Speaker Race After Personal Threat Over Affair Allegations?
Did Kevin McCarthy's quit the race for Speaker of the House after he received a personal threat about allegations he had an affair? A piece of enterprise reporting by The Huffington Post bolsters those who have thought it could have played a role -- as does the context of what Republicans and the entire country now seen unfolding in the GOP-controlled House: The article by … [Read more...] about Did Kevin McCarthy Quit House Speaker Race After Personal Threat Over Affair Allegations?
GOP civil war rages as McCarthy falls
WASHINGTON — Rep. Kevin McCarthy's startling decision to pull out of the race for speaker of the House of Representatives was the latest vivid illustration of how today's Republican Party is bitterly divided between hardcore conservatives and pragmatists. And there's little hope of healing anytime soon. The Republican civil war has been escalating for years, particularly… … [Read more...] about GOP civil war rages as McCarthy falls
Those ‘Criminal’ Immigrants
GOP presidential wannabe Donald Trump has repeatedly denigrated undocumented immigrants, especially those from Mexico, as being rapists, bringing drugs and bringing crime. If elected, he has promised to deport millions of unauthorized immigrant families and to roll back birthright citizenship for children of such immigrants who he proudly calls “anchor babies.” About … [Read more...] about Those ‘Criminal’ Immigrants
McCarthy Republican “shocker” leads to “disarray” and maybe a tea party takeover followed by market plunge
Kevin McCarthy, the California shoo-in for Boehner's old job as Speaker, had dropped out. As shocked members left the room there was a sense of total disarray, with no clear path forward and no set date for a new vote. Representative Peter King, Republican of New York, said that in dropping out of race, Mr. McCarthy said, “I’m not the one to unify the party.” A group … [Read more...] about McCarthy Republican “shocker” leads to “disarray” and maybe a tea party takeover followed by market plunge
Daryl Cagle Cartoon: Republican Infighting
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Daryl Cagle Cartoon: Republican Infighting
NOTE to readers on House Republicans story and more
Due to the big political story dealing with House Republicans, we'll be redating some posts and adding one or two more and fixing the order of "featured posts" on top. This should make following this major political development easier. Also: many thanks to the TMV readers who recently put The Moderate Voice on small ongoing monthly contributions via Paypal. Money from ads … [Read more...] about NOTE to readers on House Republicans story and more
Sanders Gets First Congressional Endorsement And Continues To Show He Makes A Strong General Election Candidate
When Hillary Clinton was thought to be the inevitable Democratic nominee, she received a tremendous number of endorsements from office holders. Bernie Sanders is receiving his first endorsement from a member of Congress, Raul Grijalva of Arizona. As an outsider, Sanders is not expected to match Clinton in terms of insider endorsements, and this year his outsider status is … [Read more...] about Sanders Gets First Congressional Endorsement And Continues To Show He Makes A Strong General Election Candidate
Politix Update: Democracy, Truth & Lives All Devalued In Fallout From GOP’s Rigged Benghazi Probe
Isn't it just a hoot that Representative Kevin McCarthy's bid to replace John Boehner as House speaker came under withering attack and eventually collapsed because he told the truth? In fact, it's hard to wring much humor out of this semi-shocker of a farce because it was an open secret that the Select Committee on Benghazi, which has spent $4.5 million of your money in … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Democracy, Truth & Lives All Devalued In Fallout From GOP’s Rigged Benghazi Probe
McCarthy Withdraws From Speaker’s Race
Kevin McCarthy, regarded as a shoo-in to replace John Boehner as House Speaker just a week ago, has withdrawn from the race, leaving the Republican House majority in disarray. The Republican nominating meeting to replace Boehner has been postponed without a new date set. Word from the room was that no representative currently in the race could garner the 218 votes needed to … [Read more...] about McCarthy Withdraws From Speaker’s Race
Are Democrats Finally Waking Up To Reality?
The effort to recruit Joe Biden to run for POTUS demonstrates that Democrats are waking up to a particular reality: Hillary Clinton isn't the innocent person that her supporters make her out to be. That reality is reflected in the latest Quinnipiac University poll. That poll pertains to the states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Here are excerpts from the poll … [Read more...] about Are Democrats Finally Waking Up To Reality?
French Train Attack Hero Spencer Stone “Repeatedly” Stabbed: in critical condition in non-terrorist incident (UPDATE 2)
French train attack hero Spencer Stone has been stabbed, according to news reports now coming in. The details on what specifically occurred are sketchy so far, but one report says he was trying to help a friend after a bar right. Reports put him in either stable or critical condition. UPDATE 2: The latest is that police are saying this was not an event involving terrorism. … [Read more...] about French Train Attack Hero Spencer Stone “Repeatedly” Stabbed: in critical condition in non-terrorist incident (UPDATE 2)
Mass Murders are Good for Business
Shortly after the mass murders at Umpqua Community College near Roseburg, Ore., President Obama predicted the extreme right wing would crank out press releases declaring the nation needs fewer gun control laws and more guns. The pro-gun lobby didn’t disappoint him. Shortly after the mass murders in a Charleston, S.C., church in June, NRA board member Charles Cotton, an … [Read more...] about Mass Murders are Good for Business
First Blood: A humbling surprise
(Taken from the Chocolate Films blog) I made a huge mistake waiting so long to watch Rambo: First Blood - this film is one of the best I have ever seen. I thought First Blood would be your stereotypical 80's over the top action film - that is why I avoided it for so long. Every time I heard people talk about the Rambo franchise, it reinforced this view. But First Blood is … [Read more...] about First Blood: A humbling surprise
What the heck is (or was) Safe Harbor? And why should you care?
A European Court decision has probably strained diplomatic relations between the United States and the European Union. Until this week, the Safe Harbor agreement (2000) allowed U.S. companies to transfer and store European citizen personal data to the United States. Because the U.S. does not have a general data protection law, Safe Harbor was needed to bypass strict … [Read more...] about What the heck is (or was) Safe Harbor? And why should you care?
Let’s focus on the gun makers
WASHINGTON -- It's not just Congress that fails to respond after another massacre briefly focuses attention on the irrationality and permissiveness of our country's firearms statutes. Those of us seeking change also regularly fall down on the job. We express outrage and move on, leaving the debate exactly where we found it. Opponents of the big gun interests are often … [Read more...] about Let’s focus on the gun makers