Obama leads 51-46 in Ohio  —  PPP's newest Ohio poll finds Barack Obama leading 51-46, a 5 point lead not too different from our last poll two weeks ago when he led 49-45.  —  The key finding on this poll may be how the early voters are breaking out. 19% of people say they've already cast …

The Self-Destruction of the 1 Percent  —  IN the early 14th century, Venice was one of the richest cities in Europe.  At the heart of its economy was the colleganza, a basic form of joint-stock company created to finance a single trade expedition.  The brilliance of the colleganza …

Florida Passes Plan For Racially-Based Academic Goals  —  Palm Beach, Fla. (CBS TAMPA) - The Florida State Board of Education passed a plan that sets goals for students in math and reading based upon their race.  —  On Tuesday, the board passed a revised strategic plan that says that by 2018 …

Romney's plan to dump Bernanke sparking anxiety on Wall Street  —  Mitt Romney's promise to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke if elected president is stirring anxiety among some financial analysts — who fear such a move could send the nation's markets tumbling.

Whah?  —  A new Rocky Mountain poll has President Obama ahead by 2 points in Arizona.  —  Given the larger national dynamics in the race I'd strongly caution people not to assume this is actual the state of the race in Arizona.  I have to assume it's an outlier.  And the Rocking Mountain poll does not have a great reputation.

DO BLACK PEOPLE SUPPORT OBAMA BECAUSE HE'S BLACK?  —  Surviving slavery, segregation and discrimination has forged a special pride in African-Americans.  Now some are saying this hard-earned pride has become prejudice in the form of blind loyalty to President Barack Obama.

A Grand Experiment to Rein In Climate Change  —  LEGGETT, Calif. — Braced against a steep slope, Robert Hrubes cinched his measuring tape around the trunk of one tree after another, barking out diameters like an auctioneer announcing bids.  “Twelve point two!”  “Fourteen point one!”

Romney's Dog-Whistle Campaign Bears Predictable Fruit  —  I'm sure you're about as shocked as I am that this shirt showed up at a Romney campaign event in Ohio.  Which is to say, not even remotely.  —  Via Andrew Kaczynski at Buzzfeed: … Now, candidates can't really be blamed for all the nutcases they attract.

Hezbollah's CFO flees to Israel carrying stolen money, classified documents  —  Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah wave Hezbollah flags as a poster depicting their leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is held in the background during a rally in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.

Check Out This Mitt Romney Supporter's Horrendously Racist Fashion Statement  —  This photo of the not-so-subtle look, taken at Friday's campaign rally in Lancaster, Ohio, doesn't really require further description.  (A Romney spokesperson went with “reprehensible.")

‘Post’ poll finds Obama loses support among Israelis  —  Jewish citizens see US president as more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israel by 28:18 margin; Right-wingers four times more likely to see him as pro-Palestinian; Among left-wingers, 28% said the administration was more pro-Israel.