The WonkLine: November 8, 2010

“U.S. President Barack Obama says it is ‘unacceptable‘ for the Burmese government to ‘steal an election’ and hold the aspirations of its people ‘hostage to the greed and paranoia of a bankrupt regime.’”

“Iran agreed to talks with the United States and other world powers on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, provided negotiations take place in neighboring Turkey, officials said Sunday.”

“Two car bombs exploded Monday in the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf, near Shia holy sites.”

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund late Friday asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to order officials in the state’s 15 counties to count the votes of those who cast “provisional ballots.”

Pro-immigration reform groups are “touting the impact of the Latino vote on the midterm elections as they renew their push for comprehensive legislation.”

The Nebraska State Supreme Court said Friday that it would not weigh in on whether municipalities can enact immigration-related restrictions on where people can live or work.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) wants new Members of Congress to learn about the Constitution from Fox News.

Iowa’s anti-gay vote removing three state supreme court justices could hurt that state’s ability to attract employers.

Gay Spanish couples protested the Catholic Church’s anti-gay stance by staging a massive “kiss-in” in front of the visiting Pope. There are pictures.

“Gay rights advocates fear lawmakers will repeal Wisconsin’s domestic partnership registry, which grants several dozen legal protections to same-sex couples.”

“Hawaii voters opened the way for same-sex civil unions to become state law next year.”

“The top U.S. military officer said Monday he was startled that the head of the Marine Corps publicly panned a proposal to lift the U.S. military’s ban on gays.”

“Republicans who have taken over state capitols across the country are promising to respond to crippling budget deficits with an array of cuts,” the New York Times reports.

The Washington Post’s Zachary Goldfarb explains how the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — which oversees nationally chartered banks — dropped the ball on the foreclosure-gate scandal.

Time’s Massimo Calabresi profiles the death of a small town bank.

“In a little-noticed but important part of U.S. President Barack Obama’s India visit, a delegation of U.S. education officials is trying to push India to speed up its acceptance of foreign universities,” the Wall Street Journal noted.

Eduwonk looks at what last week’s Republican takeovers of state legislatures means for education reform.

Washington D.C. is taking a serious look at extended school days.

Shell “is placing ads for the rest of the month in national newspapers, liberal and conservative political magazines and media focused on Congress” to promote its Arctic drilling, though “an oil spill under the ice could turn out far worse than one in warmer deepwater climates.”

Garth Brooks and Tiger Woods raise money for Nashville and Thailand flood victims, as floods and extreme rains hit Nova Scotia, kill 13 in the Philippines, 11 in Andhra Pradesh, and 8 in Haiti, while drought and excessive heat bring disasters to Vermont and Oklahoma.

Climate scientists have organized to communicate the science of global warming.

The fate of President Obama’s sweeping overhaul “will probably be determined not in Washington but in state capitals across the country, where the GOP also scored dramatic victories.”

“South Dakota Republican and U.S. Rep.-elect Kristi Noem expects the U.S. House to use its control of the federal purse as leverage to dismantle the federal health reform bill she and others campaigned against this year.”

“It was one thing earlier this year for Attorney General Tom Corbett to join the multi-state lawsuit against the federal health care reform law unfolding in a Florida court. It will be an entirely different thing for Gov. Corbett to manage how reform rolls out across the state.”

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