by LowellHere are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, December 2.
- ISIS Dream of Statehood Said to Be Fading in New Fighting (The only question is WHEN this group ultimately collapses. However, the root causes - corruption, bad governance, ethnic divisions, economic and environmental problems - will remain unless they are seriously addressed/ameliorated.)
- The Toll of Violent Anti-Abortion Speech
- For Robert Dear, Religion and Rage Before Planned Parenthood Attack
- Donald Trump is a bigot and a racist (Ya think? Same for Ted Cruz.)
- Mark Zuckerberg, wife will give 99% of their Facebook stock to charity
- Republicans deserve some blame for the Planned Parenthood shooting ("Politicians who fueled the ‘baby parts’ controversy bear partial responsibility.")
- A disturbing new glimpse at the Reagan administration’s indifference to AIDS (Worse than "indifference," they actually thought it was a big joke. Just remember, THIS is who Republicans practically deify.)
- It's not just Trump: Islamophobia in America is spiraling out of control
- John Kerry on Climate Change: The Fight of Our Time
- On climate change, Republicans are truly exceptional ("Nowhere else among the world’s major nations (and maybe the minor nations, too, though I don’t claim to be familiar with all 200 of them) is there a political party representing half the electorate which is adamantly opposed to doing anything to address climate change. So congratulations, Republicans: you have made America truly exceptional.")
- The real reason the media is rising up against Donald Trump ("Their twin idols — objectivity and influence — are being exposed as illusions. That's what has them so anxious about Donald Trump.")
- The right’s anti-choice death count: They can’t pretend to think abortion is murder without encouraging terrorism ("Anti-choicers denouncing terrorism are unconvincing, because they need to perpetuate the lies for political gain")
- Chris Christie joins the torture caucus: Another 2016 hopeful wants to bring back waterboarding (Christie is utterly demented. BTW, why haven't Cheney et al been prosecuted for war crimes?)
- Bump For Trump As Carson Fades In Republican Race, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Clinton, Sanders Surge In Matchups With GOP Leaders ("On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton widens her lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont to 60 - 30 percent, compared to 53 - 35 percent in a November 4 survey by the independent Quinnipiac...University Poll. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has 2 percent, with 6 percent undecided.")
- Kaine says House bill would punish ISIL victims, not protect the U.S. (Kaine is 100% correct on this.)
- Schapiro: Two delegates from different eras and their shared bond ("Bunny Tucker died last Friday. He was 101. Tom Moss died last Thursday. He was 87.")
- Bell in for 2017 AG's race (No thanks.)
- Belote: Paris climate talks will help grow businesses in Virginia (Bingo!)
- A Virginia elections official did an unsanctioned fraud investigation. Now he may be in trouble. ("While the registrar was away, Prince William Republican Guy Guiffré and some friends inspected absentee ballots and registration records, which Democratic electoral board members say violated voter privacy.")
- Lawyers for elections board want map work to proceed ("The plaintiffs and the original defendants in Virginia’s congressional redistricting case want a three-judge panel to proceed with drawing a new map over the objections of Republicans in the state’s delegation.")
- A new ramp at the Virginia governor’s mansion: Allowing dignity or disrespecting the landmark?
- Will Sessoms' conflict of interest case
- Carfax expands its Northern Virginia footprint, will invest additional $15 million
- Former inmates, some connected to white supremacist group, indicted in federal court
- O’Malley discusses education, energy and immigration at U.Va.
- Editorial: Tough fracking rules needed in Tidewater region
- D.C. area forecast: Still soggy today, then sunshine returns for an extended stay