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Saturday, September 18, 2010 – Daily News – 7A WORLD BRIEFING Dems hope voters will see GOPas unacceptable WASHINGTON (AP) — With just six weeks to avoid a possible election catastrophe, Democrats are trying to limit the damage with a closing argument that’s more plea than plat- form: We know you voters are furious with us, but just let us explain why the Republicans would be worse. The strategy requires an autumn influx of voters willing to view the election as a choice between two imperfect parties — and imperfect candidates on each ballot line — rather than as a chance to slap the Washington establishment that the public seems to dis- like so deeply. But the Democrats admit the Republicans have a big emotional advantage with voters who are fed up with high unemployment, soar- ing deficits and what many see as an arrogant Congress and administration that rammed a revolutionary health care plan down their throats. If voters keep burning with the throw-the-bums- out fever that animated so many primaries, Democrats would be likely to lose more than 40 House seats, costing them the majority and posi- tioning Republicans to block virtually any Obama initiatives in the next two years. Losing the Senate majority, which would require a 10-seat Republi- can gain, is less likely. Democratic candidates want to convince these vot- ers that no matter how much they hate the status quo, they would be worse off under a Republican Party that hasn’t learned from its mistakes and is lurching ever harder to the right. Pope pushes ahead with visit after arrests in terror plot LONDON (AP) — Police raided a garbage depot and arrested street cleaners in a suspected ter- ror plot against Pope Bene- dict XVI on Friday. Unde- terred, the pontiff stuck to his message, reaching across Britain’s religious and secular divide to demand a greater role for faith in public life. Despite the six arrests, the pope did not alter a schedule rich in symbolism in this officially Protestant country with a history of anti-Catholicism: He prayed with the Archbishop of Canterbury and became the first pope to worship in Westminster Abbey. Benedict also addressed political, cultural and busi- ness leaders in Westminster Hall, for centuries the center of British political life, asserting ‘‘the legitimate role of religion in the public square.’’ Among those in atten- dance were Tony Blair — a prominent convert to Catholicism — as well as former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Gordon Brown. Faith, the pope said, ‘‘is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contrib- utor to the national conver- sation.’’ Mexico’s Hurricane Karl weakens VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Karl smashed into Mexico’s Gulf Coast on Friday, creating havoc in the major port city of Veracruz and forcing the country to shut down its only nuclear power plant and its central Gulf Coast oil platforms. Karl’s eye had passed 5-Day Ad “Flight” Packages start at $150! (6 column inch minimum ad size) “…that’s equivalent to just $5.00 per published column inch!” ADD FULL COLOR Only 25% of space cost! Plus nominal charge for daily publication on Our online digital page-turn edition at www.redbluffdailynews.com Contact your advertising representative (530) 527-2151 to place your ad today! D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Veracruz by early afternoon and sustained winds dropped to 90 mph (150 kph) as it headed southwest toward central Mexico, according to U.S. Hurricane Center. It had sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) when it hit land at mid- day about 10 miles (15 kilo- meters) northwest of the city. The storm caused wide- spread damage, knocking down hundreds of trees, billboards and power poles and upending cars, said Ver- acruz civil protection chief Isidro Cano Luna. Eighty percent of the city was with- out electricity. Cano said there had not been a storm like it since Hurricane Janet in September 1955. Local forecasters said the storm dumped 8 inches (215 millimeters) of rain in the city in the first 90 min- utes. Flights into Veracruz were cancelled, and public transit was shut down. A stretch of coastal road farther north in Nautla was also washed out. Scientist, wife accused of conspiring WASHINGTON (AP) — A scientist and his wife who both once worked at Los Alamos National Labo- ratory were arrested Friday after an FBI sting operation and charged with conspir- ing to help develop a nuclear weapon for Venezuela. After their arrest, the two appeared in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M. They were accused of dealing with an FBI under- cover agent posing as a Venezuelan agent. The gov- ernment did not allege that 90TH Venezuela or anyone work- ing for it sought U.S. secrets. The pair were indicted for allegedly communicat- ing classified nuclear weapons data to a person they believed to be a Venezuelan government official. Accused in a 22-count indictment are Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni, 75, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Argentina, and Mar- jorie Roxby Mascheroni, 67, a U.S. citizen. Both were formerly contract employees at Los Alamos. Candidate in Delaware reaches out to GOP WASHINGTON (AP) — The tea party’s latest dar- ling, Delaware GOP Senate candidate Christine O’Don- nell, aligned herself square- ly with the Republican Party’s social conservative base Friday in criticizing Democrats and ‘‘ruling class elites’’ in her first national appearance since her upset primary victory. ‘‘They’re trying to mar- ginalize us and put us in a box,’’ O’Donnell said to cheers. ‘‘They’re trying to say we’re trying to take over this party or that campaign. They don’t get it. We’re not trying to take over our coun- try. We are our country. We have always been in charge.’’ It wasn’t clear whether she was talking about the tea party or the conservative movement or both. But it didn’t seem to matter to the friendly crowd at the annual Values Voters Summit just days after she shocked the Tehama County Fair 2010 Back by popular demand! DAILY COVERAGE EDITIONS Publishing 5 Days Wednesday, Sept. 22 Thursday, Sept. 23 Friday, Sept. 24 Saturday, Sept. 25 & Monday, Sept. 27 Deadline: Monday, Sept. 20, noon Wed.-Sat. & Get Mon. FREE Buy GOP with her upset of nine- term Rep. Mike Castle. Since then, O’Donnell has seemed to focus on try- ing to repair a reputation battered during the prima- ry’s final days. She sched- uled interviews on two Sun- day morning news pro- grams and made a last- minute appearance at Fri- day’s gathering, which serves as a testing ground for presidential candidates and up-and-coming Repub- licans. Journey’s ‘‘Don’t Stop Believing,’’ After taking the stage to O’Donnell recalled when President Barack Obama took over the White House in 2009. Obama names Warren to launch agency WASHINGTON (AP) — In a poke in the eye to the financial community, President Barack Obama on Friday named Elizabeth Warren, an aggressive con- sumer advocate and Wall Street adversary, to oversee creation of a new agency to regulate banks, lenders and credit card companies. Sidestepping a Senate confirmation fight — for now — Obama stopped short of nominating Warren to actually head the new Bureau of Consumer Finan- cial Protection. Instead, his action will let the Harvard Law School professor and expert on bankruptcy move quickly to shape the bureau. Senate Republicans view her as too critical of Wall Street and big banks. The business and banking community opposed War- ren as director of the new bureau, contending she would make the agency too aggressive. Obama praised her highly. ‘‘Never again will folks be confused or misled by pages of barely understand- able fine print that you find in agreements for credit cards or mortgages or stu- dent loans,’’ Obama said, standing alongside Warren and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in the White House Rose Garden. ‘‘Elizabeth understands what I strongly believe: that a strong, growing economy begins with a strong and thriving middle class,’’ the president said. ‘‘And that means every American has to get a fair shake in their financial dealings.’’ Ethics trial for Rangel, Waters unlikely WASHINGTON (AP) — Highly visible ethics tri- als for two prominent Democrats will almost cer- tainly be put off until after the November election, denying Republicans a tele- vised spectacle that could influence voters near the end of campaigns dominat- ed by economic issues. The House ethics com- mittee failed this past week to set a trial date for either Reps. Charles Rangel of New York or Maxine Waters of California. Lawmakers plan to recess by Sept. 30 or soon afterward — not enough time to complete a trial. The House ethics committee is unlikely to start proceedings and then interrupt them. The committee has not announced its intentions. Neither Rangel nor Waters had an immediate comment on the delay. Rangel, who has tried to negotiate a settlement, has said previously he wanted the case resolved before the election. Republicans are making a strong bid to regain a House majority. Their House campaign committee is preparing advertisements that will focus on Democ- rats who received campaign money from Rangel or Waters, and demand that the money be returned. The campaign organization also has sent news releases to 35 House districts on the same issue. ’Sexting’ prosecutor says he’ll get therapy MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin district attorney said Friday he’ll get therapy and consider taking time off work but won’t resign despite the growing calls for him to step down over sexually- tinged text messages he sent to a domestic abuse victim. At a news conference Friday, Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz offered a ‘‘sincere and heartfelt apology’’ to the woman and his family for his lack of judgment. ‘‘This behavior showed a lack of respect, not only for my position but for the young woman that was involved,’’ he said from the courthouse in Chilton in remarks carried live by Wis- consin television stations. But Kratz left without taking questions after read- ing a four-minute statement, and did not respond to increasing calls for his res- ignation. He said only he would consider taking per- sonal time off work as the court calendar will allow as he gets psychotherapy treat- ment. The news conference marked the most remorse Kratz has shown in the two days since acknowl- edging he sent 30 text messages in three days to the 26-year-old woman last October. In one, he asked whether she was ‘‘the kind of girl that likes secret contact with an older married elected DA.’’