the latest news on Elections, Republican candidates, Pakistan, Iraq, Us image abroad, US military in Africa, Farm bill, Budget, Vatican, Ministry spending, Civil rights, Catholic voting, and selected Op-Eds

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Elections. Ky. Governor Loses Bid for 2nd Term "Voters rejected Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican whose lone term was dogged by a hiring scandal, while his Mississippi counterpart won re-election." Democrat ousts Kentucky governor "Kentucky voters dumped scandal-stained Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, electing Democrat Steve Beshear, while Mississippi Republican Gov. Haley Barbour coasted to re-election." Democrats Capture Control of Virginia Senate "Democrats wrested control of the states' Senate from the Republicans in yesterday's legislative elections, picking up the four seats they needed to give them a majority of at least 21 to 19 and end a decade of GOP dominance in the chamber."

Republican candidates. Brownback to endorse McCain today in Iowa "Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback plans to endorse Republican presidential candidate John McCain today, with the two scheduled to appear together at stops across Iowa." Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani "The televangelist Pat Robertson endorsed Rudolph W. Giuliani today at the National Press Club in Washington, providing the former New York City Mayor with a big symbolic boost as he tries to allay the concerns of Christian conservatives about his candidacy." Mike Huckabee: a conservative with a social gospel "We care about individuals because of the intrinsic worth and value in every single human life," he says often on the campaign trail. It's the central theme in his campaign on issues ranging from abortion rights, which he opposes, to healthcare for poor children, which he promoted as governor."

Pakistan . Bhutto issues Pakistan ultimatum "Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has issued what correspondents say is an ultimatum to President Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule." Pakistani politicians issue election statements "Their conciliatory words followed clashes between followers of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's party (PPP) and the police - the first time in the five days of emergency rule that political activists have taken to the streets." Key Pakistanis challenge Musharraf "Two of Pakistan's most popular public figures issued separate challenges to President Pervez Musharraf, potentially raising the stakes and heightening the danger of a standoff over the imposition of emergency rule in the country," Voice for democracy muffled in Pakistan "Asma Jahangir is no terrorist. She is not a hardened criminal. She is a tough-minded, self-taught, internationally admired lawyer who has spent most of her adult life speaking out for democracy and against military leaders such as Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf. For her insistence that the government obey the constitution and respect individual rights, Jahangir was put under house arrest." In the Heart of Pakistan, a Deep Sense of Anxiety "Three days after President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule, a deep sense of anxiety prevails among Pakistan's students, rights activists and intellectuals, who say the mass arrests being carried out by the government mark an unprecedented assault on civil society."

Iraq. Deadliest Year for US Troops in Iraq "The U.S. military announced six new deaths Tuesday, making 2007 the bloodiest year for American troops in Iraq despite a recent decline in casualties and a sharp drop in roadside bombings that Washington links to Iran." 2007 Is Deadliest Year for U.S. Troops in Iraq " Military officials attribute the increase this year to an expanded troop presence during the so-called surge, which swelled the American force to more than 165,000 troops in Iraq, and sent units out of large bases and into more dangerous communities."

US image abroad. Next president urged to fix global image "The next US president must expand American involvement in the United Nations and other international bodies and dramatically increase foreign aid - especially among Muslim countries - to reverse the steep decline in American influence and enhance national security, a bipartisan group of politicians, business executives, and academics said in a report."

US military in Africa. Skepticism Greets New US Africa Command "The strategic importance of Africa and its natural resources is on the rise, and the Defense Department last month created a new unified U.S. military command for the continent called Africom."

Farm bill. Partisan bickering bogs down farm bill "The Senate on Tuesday drove its farm bill straight into a ditch, as a parliamentary clash revealed some deep-seated political problems that go well beyond agriculture."

Budget. On Water Bill, House Votes to Override Bush Veto for First Time "The House voted to override a veto by President Bush for the first time yesterday, acting to save a $23 billion water resources bill stuffed with pet projects sought by lawmakers from both political parties." White House, Congress in budget standoff "The standoffs between Congress and the White House over spending and other issues are heightening partisan tensions in the Capitol and causing legislative gridlock. And it is bound to get worse as next year's campaign season approaches and both parties work to define their differences rather than seek compromises."

Vatican . Pope Benedict Meets Saudi King at Vatican "The two met for half an hour, speaking through interpreters, in a conversation that a Vatican news release said had been cordial and had covered the "value of collaboration between Christians, Muslims and Jews for promoting peace" and "the necessity of finding a just solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, among other themes." Views mixed on Bush pick for envoy to Vatican "Mary Ann Glendon, a prominent legal scholar and a papal adviser poised to become the next US ambassador to the Vatican, is known for staunchly defending Catholic doctrine while striking a conciliatory tone with opponents, colleagues said yesterday."

Ministry spending. Senator Questioning Ministries on Spending"Senator Charles E. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent evangelistic ministries to determine whether they have illegally used donations to finance opulent lifestyles." Senator targets TV ministries' funds "Some of the nation's biggest televangelists - including faith healer Benny Hinn and best-selling Christian book author Joyce Meyer - are targets of an investigation by Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee."

Civil rights. Civil Rights Leaders Repeat Call for March "A group of national civil rights leaders came to Washington yesterday to reiterate calls for a massive march next week on the Justice Department to protest what they said was the federal government's failure to prosecute hate crimes."

Catholic voting. Bishops to guide voting faithful on life questions "U.S. Catholic bishops are set to pass a public statement on "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" during their annual fall meeting, which begins Monday in Baltimore. The statement is intended to offer believers guidance when they vote."

Op-Eds.

Musharraf's Martial Plan(BENAZIR BHUTTO, New York Times) "Last Saturday, Gen. Pervez Musharraf removed all pretense of a transition to democracy by conducting what was in effect yet another extraconstitutional coup. In doing so he endangered the viability of Pakistan as an independent state."

Cotton and Conscience (Michael Gerson, Washington Post) "It is the nature of American global power that an ignored amendment in a boring agricultural debate can take or save lives in a distant village, among people who will never know the names of Richard Lugar, Ron Kind and Jeff Fl;ake -- members of Congress leading this agriculture debate. But the price of power is moral responsibility. And giving African farmers a chance to earn and live is one of the clearest of those responsibilities."

New immigrant law a reminder of 1850 Fugitive Slave Act (William F. O'Brien,The Edmond (OK) Sun) "An analogy can be drawn between the Fugitive Slave Act and a recent enactment of the Oklahoma Legislature in the form of House Bill 1804. This law makes it a crime to harbor or transport illegal aliens in this state. That law serves to criminalize the work done by a variety of clergymen and women throughout the state of Oklahoma who minister to the needs, both spiritual and temporal, of undocumented workers and their families. Many of them have indicated they will not cease their activities despite the law's passage."