“Skepticism and outright denial of global warming are among the articles of faith of the Tea Party movement,” the New York Times notes today, surveying the movement. Nearly all tea party-backed candidates are global warming deniers, while a Times poll found “only 14 percent of Tea Party supporters said that global warming is an environmental problem that is having an effect now.”
Bill Gates has donated $700,000 to the campaign against California’s Proposition 23, which would effectively kill the state’s landmark climate law. Google co-founder Sergei Brin and the Intel Corp. co-founder Gordon Moore have both also contributed, but large polluters have spent at least $8 million to get Prop. 23 passed.
Republican plans for Social Security will dramatically reduce future benefits for people now entering the work force, according to a study from the Social Security Administration’s chief actuary. The GOP proposals would result in benefit cuts from 10 percent to as high as 50 percent.
A former African-American technician who worked at Fox News has filed a discrimination lawsuit, alleging that he faced “daily abuse, fear and humiliation” from other employees because of his race. When the technician complained to Fox management, they reportedly fired him.
On Good Morning America today, Senate candidate Chris Coons (D-DE) switched his position on the Bush tax cuts extension, saying, “I’d be willing to extend them for several years for all Americans, of whatever income.” His statement contradicts President Obama’s position and his own campaign website, which reads “High-Income Bush Tax Cuts Should Expire on Schedule.”
Reuters warns that Republican gains in Congress would “further stymie President Barack Obama’s efforts to try terrorism suspects in criminal courts.” “I personally think they’re going to lose the House and once they do that, I think that’s the end of their hopes of criminal trials rather than the military courts,” said UVA politics professor Larry Sabato.
During a visit to Damascus earlier this week, former President Jimmy Carter called for a full lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza. “The blockade is one of the most serious human rights violations on Earth and it must be lifted fully,” said Carter. The group of peace mediators Carter was traveling with, known as The Elders, noted that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that exclude Hamas are unlikely to succeed.
Yesterday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a one-page order that reinstating the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law. The decision will be in effect while the appeals court considers whether to issue a stay until February, when the Ninth Circuit will hear the full appeal.
And finally: Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell regrets airing her “I’m not a witch” campaign ad. Appearing on Good Morning America today, O’Donnell said, “our intention was to kill” talk of her witchcraft dabbling, “and that’s not what happened.” O’Donnell added that for Halloween, “I certainly am not going to be a witch,” though she said she may dress up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, who kills a witch.
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