The situation in Italy is now beyond the point of repair. With debt yields above 7%, it’s a matter of time before Italy cannot afford borrwing. And there’s only one mechanism with the lender of last resort ability, the ECB, that could halt the collapse, but it refuses.

Even though Herman Cain has been leading or tied for first in most national polls, the Republican base believes that in the end Mitt Romney will be the party’s nominee. It appears even among regular Republicans there is a strong belief that Cain is more likely just another favor of the month instead of the front runner the polls indicate.

Musicians David Crosby & Graham Nash, who both have been playing music for over forty years and are best known for their work as members of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, visited Occupy Wall Street in the afternoon on November 8. They played a set for occupiers in Liberty Square that was about 20 minutes long.

A couple days ago, Dick Durbin was confronted by constituents in Illinois and forced to take a position assuring protection of Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. Two days later, he offered to put “entitlements” on the table in exchange for phony GOP tax proposals that benefit the rich.

The Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of police using GPS tracking devices on your autos without a warrant. The case has dire Fourth Amendment implications, reports the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

When Ohioans soundly turned back an assault on worker’s rights, defeating Issue 2 and SB 5 with 61% of the vote, they did it with a broad coalition that points to a total reversal of the voting bloc that brought Governor John Kasich to power in 2010. It could have long-lasting implications for 2012 and beyond.

While Ohio was soundly rejecting Ohio’s anti-union SB5 it was passing, by 65.6 percent to 34.4 percent an amendment deliberately written so that voters would view voting for it as a way to reject of the individual mandate in “Obamacare.” The mandate remains extremely unpopular, even in an arguably liberal-leaning election.

Penn State’s football coach Joe Paterno submitted a pre-emptive retirement, effective at the end of the season, before the Board of Trustees of the university meets to investigate the case. The day before, Paterno appeared at an impromptu pep rally on his front lawn, cheering on student supporters. It’s a horrifying cap to an era of elite failure.

Yep, it’s Anita Hill all over again.

There’s a growing collaboration between labor unions and the Occupy movement. As labor provides resources to help OWS get through the winter, and boots on the ground for their larger activities, OWS has helped labor think more boldly