Gingrich, Gore Clash on Climate

Federal meddling will only lead to higher prices and crappy care

(NEWSER) - The states have a handle on health care reform, write Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry, and the federal government urgently needs to take a lesson from them. “Texas, for example, has adopted approaches to controlling health-care costs while improving choice, advancing quality of care and expanding coverage” write the former US House speaker and current Texas governor. But they see a federal initiative failing. More»

Parallels with 1994 are exaggerated

(NEWSER) - Hopeful Republicans are starting to play up the similarities between 1994 and 2010 but any talk of a second Republican Revolution is probably just wishful thinking, writes Ed Kilgore in the New Republic. The Republican capture of the House in '94 was made possible by retiring Democrats—some 22 of the 54 seats they picked up that year were open, while just four Democrat-held House seats will be open in "even vaguely competitive territory" next year, Kilgore writes. More»

Al Gore narrates intro to new feature detailing perils, and solutions

(NEWSER) - Google—with the help of Al Gore—has introduced new “layers” to its Earth application that detail the possible effects of climate change in the next century. The Nobel laureate narrates an intro to a series of virtual tours that highlight terrifying scenarios and solutions. The upgrade allows users to look at a view of any area on Earth from now through 2100 with changes based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s predictions. More»

House votes tomorrow on measure to cut greenhouse gases

(NEWSER) - Al Gore is engaging in phone diplomacy today as the House prepares to vote on a landmark climate bill tomorrow. Original plans called for the former VP to appear in person, but Nancy Pelosi says lawmakers are close enough to an agreement that it's not necessary. Others offer a less optimistic take, telling the Hill the vote is so close, Pelosi needs Gore to wheedle recalcitrant Democrats one by one rather than wasting time traveling. More»

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich is back, and he’s here to stay. “It’s Gingrich time,” Paul Waldman writes for the American Prospect. That’s not a good thing, for the Republicans or the country. “This is Newt's time again not only because there's a leadership vacuum in the GOP but because the Republicans are back in opposition, and nobody opposes quite like Newt,” Waldman writes. “He is a master of the contemptuous sneer.” More»