Janet Napolitano was honored today by Time Magazine who called her one of the 5 Best Governors in the United States. One hallmark of Janet’s tenure has been her concern for people. All day kindergarten to give a break to working mothers, prescription drug plans for seniors, and a host of innovative education programs to better our schools are among the many things she has supported. Go Janet Go, Bring on the Neo-cons…. Click here to see the article.

Republicans are “outraged” that someone told the media that the CIA has leased (with long term renewal options, no doubt) former Russian and Eastern European prisons for the purpose of holding and “interorgating” secret prisoners.  Access to the sites by human rights organizations and the Red Cross has been summarily refused.

No one seems to know who or how many people are being held in foreign detention centers.  But is certain seems obvious that “foreign” prisons have been created to avoid the possibility that an American judge could declare these efforts as “criminal” or “illegal.”

Torture? W (worst ever) says “We don’t torture!”  But few people believe him.  We are only a step away from tyranny.  How long before the definition of “enemy combatants” simply becomes “enemies of the state?”  Click here for the Chrisitan Science Monitor article.  Click Here for coverage from The BBC World News service.

Television evangelist and former Republican Candidate for President, Pat Robertson was obviously disapointed by the school board vote in Pennsylvania.  Click here to read this incredible story. (M Griffith)

Yesterday, some brave House of Representatives Republicans together with almost the entire Democratic delegation voted to maintain restrictions on oil exploration in Alaska and offshore of the east and west coasts of the United States.  One assumes they reasoned that Exxon didn’t need more tax writeoffs and profits.  Today, the revolt is about massive cuts to federal spending.  The neo-cons want to cut federal spending on medicare, education and other social programs by $54 billion while further increasing spending on weapons and the Iraq War. Click here to see the latest story.  Seems like W (worst ever) is not getting his message through!

Today, Tony Blair suffered his biggest ever defeat in the British House of Parliment.  Blair had been sponsoring legislation to allow police to arrest and hold prisoners for extended periods without charge or publicity.  Members of his own party joined the opposition in turning back the effort.  Mr. Blair had campaigned vigorously for the legislation, pulling out all the stops including the re-call of ministers from foreign trips.  The margin of victory for human rights champions was about 45 votes.  Nevertheless, this vote may well be a turning point is his administration.  For more details click here.

Karin Uhlich and Nina Trasoff easily defeated their opponents in city council elections yesterday.  Click here for the full story in the Arizona Star

By a three to one margin, Pinal County approved the continuation of the half cent road improvement excise tax.  The November 8th elections approved the tax by a 76% to 24% margin with about thirteen percent of voters participating.  Click here for the full story in the Arizona Star

Govenor Arnold Schwartzenegger of California appears to be losing his high-stakes battle to further cut services and spending in the state.  Schwartzenegger want to deny unions from participating in public debate even while corporations spend more and more.  Having said that his personal reputation was at stake, the latest polls suggest that all four of the initiatives which he backed will fail.  Voters are at the polls today in California in other states around the country.  It will be interesting to see if there is a back lash from voters tired of the Iraq War, worried about deteriorating economic conditions and soaring gas prices.  While all of these seem to stem from the disasterous policies of W (Worst Ever), Arnold seems to be carrying his own baggage.  Nurses, teachers and firefighters in California have been dogging his steps around the state as he campaigned for the spending cuts.  Another high stakes vote will regard abortion and a requirement that partents be notified prior to the procedure.