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Quote of the Day. "Unfortunately people are so wrapped up in this anti-government thing right now; I don't know why ... People neglect to recognize how government helps." Phil Glover, Johnstown, PA, who cast his ballot in a special Congressional election against "tea party"-affiliated Republican Tim Burns, who was defeated. (Washington Post)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Billy Graham's family differs over his ability to preach "Charlotte-born Billy Graham would like to give one more sermon. That, everybody can agree on. But there appeared to be mixed signals coming out of Graham's family this week over whether, at 91 and in fragile health, he'll be up to achieving that goal."
France moves to fine Muslim women with full-face Islamic veils "The French government decided Wednesday to impose a $185 fine on women who wear a full-face Islamic veil in public, pushing ahead with a controversial ban despite signs of tension between France's Muslims and the Christian-tradition majority." Women protest proposed veil ban "One runs her own company, another is a housewife, and a third, a divorcée, raises her children by herself. Like nearly 2,000 other Muslim women who freely wear face-covering veils in France, their lives will soon change and they are worried."
NEWS AT HOME
Election Analysis. Democrats See Hope for Fall in Victory in House Race "Congressional Democrats on Wednesday seized on their special election victory in a Pennsylvania House district and other primary results as evidence that they can stem Republican political momentum, as both parties sifted through Tuesday night's returns for lessons to learn and mistakes to avoid heading to November." Primaries put Republicans on notice "Tuesday's election results -- arguably the best campaign day for Democrats since President Obama's victory in 2008 -- suggest the climb back to a majority may be steeper than Republicans thought." Primary day provided no joy for centrists "Voters in key primaries Tuesday rewarded candidates who bucked the political establishment and punished those with records of working across party lines -- signaling a time ahead when politics in Washington are likely to become more polarized." Voter Insurrection Turns Mainstream, Creating New Rules "Word has reached Washington that an anti-incumbent tsunami is roaring its way, and frightened politicians are already trying, sometimes comically, to put some distance between themselves and the tide."
Mexican President Visits. Obama and Calderón Decry Ariz. Immigration Law "At the White House on Wednesday, President Obama and the visiting Mexican president, Felipe Calderón, discussed the finer points of border policy. At a nearby school, their wives were unexpectedly confronted with the human face of illegal immigration." Md. second-grader gives first lady pop quiz on immigration "As much as they might want to defer the conversation, the politically charged issue of illegal immigration continues to dog members of the Obama administration."Obama clamors for federal fix to immigration woes "Confronting soaring frustration over illegal immigration, President Barack Obama on Wednesday condemned Arizona's crackdown and pushed instead for a federal fix the nation could embrace."
Finance Reform. Financial regulation measure is stalled in Senate "Two Senate Democrats broke party ranks Wednesday to block an effort to wrap up debate on landmark legislation to overhaul the nation's financial regulation, potentially delaying passage." Senate Fails to Advance Financial Reform Bill "The Senate on Wednesday rejected an effort by Democratic leaders to complete work on a sweeping financial regulatory bill as two key Democratic holdouts said it still did not tighten rules on Wall Street enough." Senate vote stalls overhaul of financial regulations "Attempts to pass a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations stalled in the Senate as a key procedural vote failed Wednesday because of near-unanimous Republican opposition and concerns from two Democrats that the legislation was not tough enough on Wall Street." Dem dissidents block financial reform "But a pair of dissident Democrats and one Republican who Reid claims reneged on a deal to vote 'yes' stopped the vote cold -- dealing the majority leader an embarrassing setback on a top administration priority."
Oil Spill. Gulf oil 'reaches major current' "The first oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill has entered an ocean current that could take it to Florida and up the east coast of the U.S., scientists say." Gulf oil spill may be 19 times bigger than originally thought "The latest glimpse of video footage of the oil spill deep under the Gulf of Mexico indicates that around 95,000 barrels, or 4 million gallons, a day of crude oil may be spewing from the leaking wellhead, 19 times the previous estimate, an engineering professor told Congress Wednesday." Scientists Fault U.S. Response in Assessing Gulf Oil Spill "Tensions between the Obama administration and the scientific community over the gulf oil spill are escalating, with prominent oceanographers accusing the government of failing to conduct an adequate scientific analysis of the damage and of allowing BP to obscure the spill's true scope."
Climate Change. National Academy of Sciences urges strong action to cut greenhouse gases "In a sharp change from its cautious approach in the past, the National Academy of Sciences on Wednesday called for taxes on carbon emissions, a cap-and-trade program for such emissions or some other strong action to curb runaway global warming." U.S. Science Body Urges Action on Climate "In its most comprehensive study so far, the nation's leading scientific body declared on Wednesday that climate change is a reality and is driven mostly by human activity, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
U.K. Government. Cameron and Clegg set out 'radical' policy programme "David Cameron and Nick Clegg have unveiled the policy programme their coalition will follow to create the 'radical' change they say the UK needs." Cameron and Clegg unveil final coalition deal "The 34-page document, which forms the basis for the governing partnership, provides for 27 policy reviews and allows at least three opportunities for Liberal Democrat MPs to opt out of voting with the Tories in parliament."
Afghanistan. Maldives hosts Afghan peace talks "Forty-five delegates, including representives from the Taliban, the Afghan government and major political parties, are expected to attend the talks, which come as the Afghan security situation continues to deteriorate." Bold Taliban Afghan attacks appear to send message "With back-to-back strikes at symbols of American power in Afghanistan, the Taliban movement appears determined to show strength and build prestige in advance of an expected confrontation on its home turf of Kandahar province."
Mideast Talks. Netanyahu reportedly to offer easing Palestinian movement in West Bank "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with the United States' special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, for a second round of indirect peace negotiations with the Palestinians."
Iraq. Iraq moves towards installing new government...slowly "The tense challenges to Iraq's March 7 election results appear over -- breaking one political logjam. But the impasse over who will be the prime minister, president, and participate in the ruling government coalition will likely continue for months."
Thailand. Thai government extends Bangkok curfew "Thailand has extended a curfew in Bangkok for three more nights as troops rooted out small pockets of resistance and residents attempted a return to normal life following yesterday's assault on anti-government protesters." Thai government extends curfew "A curfew enforced in Bangkok and 23 other provinces following the country's worst political violence in 20 years has been extended for the next three days, the Thai army has said."
North and South Korea. N Korea sank S Korea navy ship
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