Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6942
Evan Bayh the latest exit WASHINGTON (AP) — The moderate middle is disappearing from Con- gress. Evan Bayh is just the latest senator to forgo a re-election bid, joining a growing line of pragmat- ic, find-a-way politicians who are abandoning Washington. Still here: ever-more-polarized col- leagues locked in gridlock — exactly what voters say they don't like about poli- tics in the nation's capital. Politics runs in cycles, and the Senate has seen flights of self-styled cen- trists before. In 1996, for example, 10 senators who could boast strong biparti- san credentials chose to retire rather than re-up. Many of them com- plained how lonely a place the middle ground of American politics had become. But to some, the center has become even lonelier. More than their feel- ings are at stake. The moderates in the middle are the ones who tend to make deals and some- times resolve standoffs blocking decisions that affect programs — not to mention taxes — that touch virtually every American. Former Sen. William Cohen says what's hap- pening now is a continua- tion of the ''hollowing out of the middle.'' An article he wrote when he left his Senate seat in 1996, lamenting partisan grid- lock, could just as easily be reprinted now, subbing his name for that of Bayh, the Indiana Democrat who announced on Mon- day he won't run again. Capture of Afghan Taliban's No.2 ISLAMABAD (AP) — The capture of the Afghan Taliban's No. 2 comman- der by a joint CIA and Pakistani team dealt a fresh blow to insurgents under heavy U.S. attack and raised hopes that Pak- istani security forces are ready to deny Afghan militant leaders a safe haven. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's arrest in the Pakistani port city of Karachi may also push other insurgent leaders thought to be sheltering on this side of the border toward talks with the Afghan government — a development increasingly seen as key to ending the eight-year war. Baradar, in his late 40s, was the second in com- mand behind Taliban founder Mullah Moham- mad Omar and was said to be in charge of the day- to-day running of the organization's leadership council, which is believed based in Pakistan. He was a founding member of the Taliban and is the most important figure of the hardline Islamist move- ment to be arrested in the war. Baradar, who also functioned as the link between Mullah Omar and field commanders, has been in detention for more than 10 days and was talking to interroga- tors, two Pakistani intelli- gence officials said Tues- day. One said several other suspects were also captured in the raid. He said Baradar had provided ''useful information'' to them and that Pakistan had shared it with their U.S. counterparts. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the informa- tion. The White House declined to confirm Baradar's capture. Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters the fight against extremists involves sensitive intelli- gence matters and he believes it's best to collect that information without talking about it. US demands Toyota docs tied to recalls WASHINGTON (AP) — The government ordered Toyota to turn over docu- ments related to its massive recalls Tuesday, pressing to see how long the automak- er knew of safety defects before taking action. Toy- ota, concerned about unsold cars, said it would temporarily idle some pro- duction in three states. The Transportation Department is demanding that Toyota reveal when and how it learned of prob- lems with sticking accelera- tors and with floor mats trappping gas pedals, and the company must respond within 30 to 60 days or face fines. Those defects and problems with brakes on new Prius hybrids have now led to the recall of 8.5 million vehicles. The intensifying investi- gation and the production halts at Toyota's assembly plants are fresh signs of the ripple effect the recalls are having on the world's No. 1 automaker — even as car- owners are streaming to dealers for fixes. Toyota faces separate probes by the Obama administration and Congress as it struggles to maintain its loyal customer base and its reputation for safety and quality. Toyota said it was halt- ing production temporarily in San Antonio, Texas, and Georgetown, Ky., to address concerns that too many unsold vehicles may be building up at dealer- ships because of the large recalls. Company spokesman Mike Goss said the Texas plant, which builds the Tun- dra pickup truck, would take production breaks for the weeks of March 15 and April 12. The Kentucky plant, which makes the Camry, Avalon and Venza vehicles, plans to take a non-production day on Feb. 26 and may not build vehi- cles on three more days in March and April. Obama touts nuclear WASHINGTON (AP) — Prodding Republicans, President Barack Obama on Tuesday championed nuclear energy expansion as the latest way that feuding parties can move beyond the ''broken politics'' of Washington that have imperiled his agenda and soured voters. His call came as he dis- patched Vice President Joe Biden and Cabinet secre- taries nationwide to tout the economic stimulus plan against Republican criti- cism, reflecting that until bipartisanship comes, the White House will remain aggressive in selling its own case to the public. Since a January special election in Massachusetts, when Democrats lost the 60th vote they need in the Senate to overcome Repub- lican delays on legislation, Obama has recalibrated his strategy to advance his agenda. His plan includes reaching out to Republicans on tax breaks, on health care and on energy, but also putting them on the spot for any refusal to help. With a host of new goals — rebuilding public confi- dence, keeping Obama in charge of the debate, halting deep Democratic losses in this year's elections — the White House is now infus- ing its communications strategy with more of the discipline that it famously used in Obama's presiden- tial campaign. The president cast his push for more nuclear ener- gy as both economically vital and politically attrac- tive to the opposition party. He announced more than $8 billion in loan guarantees to build the first nuclear power plant in nearly three decades, part of a nuclear initiative that could draw essential backing from Republicans. Hezbollah warns it will rocket Tel Aviv airport BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah's leader warned Israel Tuesday that the mili- tant group would fire rock- ets at Tel Aviv airport and other strategic targets if Israel's military strikes Lebanese infrastructure. Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war in 2006, and in recent months both sides have exchanged tough words of warning. The new threat from Hezbollah is backed up by what the group says is an arsenal of thousands of rockets and missiles, some of which it says can reach anywhere in Israel. Hassan Nasrallah said the group's rockets would also target buildings in Israel's seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv if Israeli war- planes strike buildings in Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern outskirts. During the 2006 fight- ing, Hezbollah slammed about 4,000 rockets into Israel, while Israel bombed the group's strongholds in Lebanon's south and east as well as its headquarters in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. The war killed around 1,200 people in Lebanon and 160 in Israel. Tut died at 19 from broken leg CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's most famous pharaoh, King Tutankhamun, was a frail boy who suffered from a cleft palate and club foot. He died of complications from a broken leg exacer- bated by malaria and his parents were most likely brother and sister. Two years of DNA test- ing and CT scans on Tut's 3,300-year-old mummy and 15 others are helping end many of the myths sur- rounding the boy king. While a comparatively minor ruler, he has capti- vated the public since the 1922 discovery of his tomb, which was filled with a stunning array of jewels and artifacts, including a golden funeral mask. The study, which will be published Wednesday in the Journal of the Amer- ican Medical Association, provides the firmest family tree yet for Tut. The tests pointed to Pharaoh Akhen- aten, who tried to revolu- tionize ancient Egyptian religion to worship one god, as Tut's father. His mother was one of Akhen- aten's sisters, it said. Tut, who became pharaoh at age 10 in 1333 B.C., ruled for just nine years at a pivotal time in Egypt's history. Specula- tion has long swirled over his death at 19. A hole in his skull fueled speculation he was murdered, until a 2005 CT scan ruled that out, finding the hole was likely from the mummifi- cation process. The scan also uncovered the broken leg. The newest tests paint a picture of a pharaoh whose immune system was likely weakened by congenital diseases. His death came from complications from the broken leg — along with a new discovery: severe malaria. 8A – Daily News – Wednesday, February 17, 2010 343 S. Main St. Red Bluff Ph: 530-529-5888 Adult: $6.99 Mon-Sat. 10:30am-3:30pm Sunday & Holiday Adult: $10.99 All Day Dinner Buffet 11:00am-9:30pm Adult: $9.99 Mon-Thurs 3:30am-9:30pm Fri-Sat 3:30-10:30pm Carry-Out Buffet Lunch $3.50 / Lb. Dinner $4.50 / Lb. All Seafood $6.50 / Lb. Open 7 Days A Week (No Checks) Childrens prices vary NOW OPEN Feb. 1 thru March 7 only ANY CHILD (8 yrs or under) EATS FREE (when accompanied by 2 adults) China Buffet CHINESE RESTAURANT Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Corning Calif. PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT Paid for by the committee to elect William Murphy WilliamMurphy4Judge.com For Judge Of The Superior Court Office Two, 2010 William Murphy in support of Wed., March 17th, 6pm-10pm St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Fundraiser Tehama County Fairground Tickets $20 Call 529-6647, email skysong@msn.com or go to WilliamMurphy4Judge.com Tickets available at the door or from committee members before the event. 1417 SOLANO ST., CORNING, CA 96021 824-1100 www.advhydro.net INDOOR LIGHTING & GARDENING SUPPLIES Nutrients, Fertilizers, Soils Grow trays, Pots & Mediums WORLD BRIEFING