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Representative William Jefferson Watch: House Democrats Vote To Remove Jefferson From Ways and Means Committee
U.S. Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) speaks to reporters after arriving back at Reagan National Airport in Washington in this May 22, 2006 file photo. House Democrats voted on June 15, 2006 to remove Rep. Jefferson from the powerful Ways and Means Committee while federal investigators weigh possible bribery charges against the Louisiana Democrat. Jefferson will not be forced off the tax-writing committee unless the entire House of Representatives votes to do so.
ASSociated Press: House Dems strip Jefferson of assignment
House Democrats, determined to make an election-year point about ethics, voted 99-58 on Thursday night to strip Rep. William Jefferson of his committee assignment while a federal bribery investigation runs its course.
The rank and file acted despite a last-minute plea by the embattled Louisiana lawmaker and persistent complaints from the Congressional Black Caucus that there was neither rule nor precedent for the action.
Jefferson has not been indicted and maintains his innocence. In remarks to reporters, he conceded that “serious allegations” swirl around him.
After weeks of defiance, he also left open the possibility that he might at last surrender the seat voluntarily before the issue reaches the House floor for final action. “I don’t want to speculate,” he said.
Within an hour of the vote, Jefferson disclosed he had offered on Wednesday to step aside on the condition that the caucus establish a rule covering cases like his and that his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee go temporarily to a fellow Louisiana Democrat, Rep. Charles Melancon.
“Ms. Pelosi politely declined my offer,” he said in a written statement, referring to Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader. Pelosi’s office confirmed the exchange.
The three-hour closed door meeting marked the culmination of a drive by Pelosi to take action. “This isn’t about proof in a court of law. This is about an ethical standard,” she told reporters.
Duhhhh it is about ethical standards. The FBI has the Congressman on tape accepting a bribe and they found $90,000 in cold hard cash in his home freezer.
Say Good Night Gracie……..
But, the Congressional Black Caucus is still fighting leader Pelosi:
CNN: Rep. Jefferson loses Democratic caucus vote
With members of the Congressional Black Caucus crying double standard, House Democrats met behind closed doors Thursday and voted to strip Rep. William Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee.
Rep. Mel Watt, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, called the decision “unprecedented” and concurred with Jefferson in comments to reporters after the vote.
House rules state that a legislator must be convicted before being removed from a committee, and Democratic Caucus rules state that heads or ranking members of committees must be indicted or be presented with formal charges before being removed.
Jefferson has not been charged with a crime.
“What we’ve done today is set a standard for regular members that’s actually lower — or higher, depending on how you look at it — than the standard we set for our chairs or ranking members,” Watt said. “We’ve set a standard that’s higher than the House rules require, and that would be fine if we knew what the rule is going forward.”
Asked if he thought race was a factor in Pelosi’s decision, Jefferson replied before the vote, “It’s not happened before. The first time it’s happening, it’s happening to an African-American.”
The assertion that race is a factor has already been floated by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Watt, who question why Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, a white Democrat who also is under investigation, was allowed to keep his seat on the equally powerful Appropriations Committee.
Mollohan, whose personal finances are being investigated after a complaint filed by a conservative group, stepped down voluntarily from his post on the Ethics Committee, pending resolution of the inquiry.
Watt warned last week that singling out Jefferson would not be received well by black voters.
Thursday, he said, “Our constituents will import their own interpretation into this, and a number of them will import that there’s a different standard in our caucus based on race.”
Jefferson also raised race in his letter to Pelosi.
“When an African American member of an exclusive committee is asked to resign his committee because of news reports or allegations of wrongdoing, it gives the appearance of unfairness and even racial discrimination if another member continues serving on an exclusive committee under Justice Department investigation as well, particularly if the other member is white, and is not subject to the same treatment,” he wrote.
Clyburn, who is a former chairman of the black caucus, said he bears no hard feelings for Pelosi.
“Ms. Pelosi has a right and I think the responsibility to make political decisions in the best interest of this caucus,” he said. “These things come with the territory. You have to do what you have to do.”
Ahhhhh the old RACE CARD……Man, it is played alot in the United States House of Representatives – ask Cynthia McKinney
Congressman, you are a disgrace to your office.
Now, do the right thing, develop some class and resign.
Stay tuned for the vote when the GOP majority will indulge the Democrats and throw Jefferson out of the House.
Michelle Malkin has DEMS CALL DEMS RACISTÂ
Don’t worry. They’ll all find a way to blame Bush somehow.
Previous:
Representative William Jefferson Watch: “Trying to Protect Their Ownâ€
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Jefferson Refuses to Quit Ways and Means Committee
Representative William Jefferson Watch: GOP Challenges FBI Raid of Jefferson’s Office
Representative William Jefferson Watch: “There are Two Sides to Every Storyâ€
Representative William Jefferson Watch: FBI has BRIBES on Tape
Technorati Tags: WilliamJefferson
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Methamphetamine Watch: Avoid Dentists in Fact Finding?
Slate: A Meth Test for the Press
Jack Shafer goes off on his bimonthly bipolar/OCD rant on the Unnecessary Epidemic of Methamphetamine abuse and asks reporters and policy analysts to avoid dentists in their fact-finding tours on the methamphetamine public health crisis.
As the most reasonable guy at the party, I find wisdom in both King and Rawson, although I beg reporters and policy analysts to avoid dentists in their fact-finding tours. Most of them seem to think “acids” and “chemicals” in meth directly cause meth mouth. Instead of talking to practitioners, most of whom are mere dental mechanics, reporters and policy analysts should consult a knowledgeable professor of dentistry. (If you need such a referral, drop me an e-mail‘);.)
What Shafer fails to realize or maybe he does and is just in denial (like the rest of his piece, but more on that later) is that clinical dentists are the ones who see first hand cases like this:
and
or
Now, Flap sees cases like this every few weeks and I am sure my teaching colleagues at USC and UCLA do likewise. Flap knows since he has taught at both dental schools.
And, surprisingly to Shafer we “mere dental mechanics” actually read scientific papers, journals, blogs and know how to work internet search engines and the National Library of Medicine.
Some of us, like Flap, are even “mere journalists.”
Flap will write more about Shafer’s cynical and destructive approach to the mephamphetamine crisis and media coverage thereof.
Damn! There is alot of material to debunk.
But, in the meantime, back to the drilling and extracting of teeth so afflicted with “Meth Mouth.”
Update:
And if you cannot wait for Flap to write many rebuttals to Jack Shafer’s pieces in Slate here is a good piece from Mark Kleiman (yes, a lefty policy wonk from UCLA) but he is RIGHT on this issue: Debunking the Debunking: The Meth Problem Is Real
H/T: Arbitrary and Capricious: Meth a myth, pundits tell grieving families
Previous:Methamphetamine Watch: Montana Meth Project – “Paint the Stateâ€
Methaphetamine Watch: Meth Has Become a “GLOBAL THREATâ€
Methamphetamine Watch: Ads Battle Methamphetamine in Montana
Technorati Tags: Methamphetamine, dentists, dentistry, MethMouth
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Would “Use Nuclear Defense” If Threatened
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, right, and his Syrian counterpart Hassan Turkmani exchange a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Teheran on Thursday.Jerusalem Post: Iran would ‘use nuclear defense’ if threatened
Iran’s defense minister on Thursday vowed that his country would “use nuclear defense as a potential” if “threatened by any power.”
Speaking following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Hassan Ali Turkmani in Teheran on Thursday, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar emphasized that Iran “should be ready for confronting all kinds of threats.”But, Iran has stated over and over that their uranium enrichment program is for the genration of electricity and other peaceful purposes.
Teheran has denied accusations by the US and its allies that Iran was seeking uranium enrichment technologies in order to develop nuclear weapons, saying its program was only meant to generate electricity.
Meanwhile, Turkmani told reporters that Syria and Iran’s “policy is the policy of strengthening resistance and tackling the threats of United States and Israel.”
He added that he wouldn’t give details of joint defense plans against Israel, although the plans were “not secret.”
Answering a question regarding a newly-developed Shahab 4 missile, Najjar said that research activities were underway. Iran would continue production of “different missiles and research,” Najjar declared.
The most recent Iranian missile was the Shahab 3, and Iran recently claimed to have followed it up with the development of the Shahab 4
No?
It has been obvious for many years what Iran’s true intent has been. They must not possess a nuclear weapon.
AND THEY WILL NOT!
Stay tuned……
Discuss this blog post and MORE…. at the FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blogs, My Dental Forum.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Sends Mixed Signals on Big 6 Proposal?Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Seeks Russian and Chinese Support for Iran Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: President Bush – “Iran Has Weeks NOT Monthsâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Comes Out Against Big 6 Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch Briefing : June 8, 2006
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States – Iran Must Suspend Uranium Enrichment During Negotiations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Western proposal ‘positive’
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Receives Big 6 Nuclear Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Sweetens the POT
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Threatens Oil Disruption
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad to Publish Big 6 Offer to Iran
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, MahmoudAhmadinejad
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Iraq War Watch: Senate Rejects United States Troop Withdrawl in Iraq
U.S. soldiers stand guard at the Abu Ghraib prison compound, shortly before 200 prisoners were freed under a national reconciliation plan announced by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki last week to free a total of 2,500 inmates, in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 15, 2006.ASSociated Press: Senate rejects U.S. troop pullout in Iraq
Congress plunged into divisive election-year debate on the Iraq war Thursday as the U.S. military death toll reached 2,500. The Senate soundly rejected a call to withdraw combat troops by year’s end, and House Republicans laid the groundwork for their own vote.
In a move Democrats criticized as gamesmanship, Senate Republicans brought up the withdrawal measure and quickly dispatched it — for now — on a 93-6 vote.
The proposal would have allowed “only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces” to remain in Iraq in 2007.
And guess who the Morons were that voted to require the withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq and urge the convening of an Iraq summit.
The same MORONS:
NAYs —6 Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)Wonder if the vote will be used by Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan against Hillary?
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: IraqWar, HillaryClinton
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Sends Mixed Signals on Big 6 Proposal?
Iran ‘s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic will not bend to international pressure over its controversial nuclear program. World powers were united at the UN atomic agency in urging Iran to suspend uranium enrichment to show it does not seek atomic weapons, with the United States warning of Security Council action if Tehran fails to comply, diplomats said.Associated Press: Iran sends mixed signals on response
Iran sent mixed signals Thursday on how it will respond to the world’s incentives to give up uranium enrichment, with its supreme leader vowing his country would never back down, while the president and chief envoy to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Tehran was prepared to negotiate.
The Iranians spoke as American and European officials in Vienna urged Tehran to freeze enrichment and stop withholding information about its nuclear program. The chief U.S. delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Gregory L. Schulte, warned that if Iran rejected the incentives, it could face “the weight of the Security Council.”
Iran’s Mullahs and President Ahmadinejad are playing with the Big 6 and the United Nations. Iran will NOT accept the offer.
But, Iran loves the drama…….
Stay tuned……
Allah has video of former Iranian Diplomat Mohammad Javad Larijani, Brother of Iran’s Top Nuclear Negotiator.
The Video is here: Iran rejects nuke proposal(?) (Update: Iranian DM threatens “nuclear defenseâ€)
Mohammad Javad Larijani: We have attained considerable knowledge
and industrial capabilities in the nuclear field. We are interested in
cooperating, within the framework of the law, with the countries that
are NPT members – especially with the Muslim countries among them.
What’s wrong with Egypt obtaining this capability? What’s wrong with
Saudi Arabia or Iraq obtaining this capability? What’s wrong with
Algeria obtaining this capability? We will be proud if the Islamic
world attains this knowledge and technology.
Is the blood of the French, the German, or the Japanese any redder than
that of the people of the Islamic world?And the answer from Iran is still NO on the Big 6 Proposal.
The United States and Europe urged Iran to suspend uranium enrichment
to show it does not seek atomic weapons, with Washington warning of
Security Council action if Tehran does not comply. Speaking at a
meeting in Vienna of the UN nuclear watchdog, US ambassador Gregory
Schulte, pictured here at the conference with IAEA Chief Mohammed
ElBaradei(L), said the goal was “to open negotiations for a long-term
agreement” on giving Iran benefits in return for guarantees its nuclear
program is peaceful.Discuss this blog post and MORE…. at the FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blogs, My Dental Forum.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Seeks Russian and Chinese Support for Iran Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: President Bush – “Iran Has Weeks NOT Monthsâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Comes Out Against Big 6 Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch Briefing : June 8, 2006
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States – Iran Must Suspend Uranium Enrichment During Negotiations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Western proposal ‘positive’
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Receives Big 6 Nuclear Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Sweetens the POT
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Threatens Oil Disruption
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad to Publish Big 6 Offer to Iran
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, MahmoudAhmadinejad
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Apple v. Does Confidential Sources in the Blogopshere Watch: Bloggers WIN – Redux – Bloggers are Journalists
Hugh Hewitt: Bloggers are Journalists (at least in California).For your convenience, a long excerpt from the opinion from California’s Sixth Appellate Court in O’Grady v. The Superior Court of Santa Clara County, holding that bloggers and their blogs are covered by California’s Reporter’s Shield Law:
Thanks to Hugh for bringing this to the forefront again.
But, thanks to the efforts of the Bear Flag League on May 26th California Bloggers officially became journalists.
Flap reprints his post of this day: Apple v. Does Confidential Sources in the Blogopshere Watch: Bloggers WIN
The Southern California Law Blog: Bloggers Win, Apple Loses in California Decision Over First Amendment Rights
Today, the California Court of Appeal issued its opinion
overturning the trial court’s discovery orders obtained by Apple
against a blogger. The EFF described the lawsuit by Apple as follows:In December 2004, Apple filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara
county against unnamed individuals who allegedly leaked information
about new Apple products to several online news sites, including AppleInsider and PowerPage. The articles at issue
concerned a FireWire audio interface for GarageBand, codenamed
“Asteroid†or “Q7.†In addition, Apple filed a separate trade secret
suit against Think Secret on January 4, 2004.Apple is seeking information from these news sites regarding the
identities of the sites’ sources, and has subpoenaed Nfox.com, the
email service provider for PowerPage, for email messages that may
identify the confidential source.The Bear Flag League in 2005 filed an amicus brief in support of Jackson O’Grady.
Congratulations to Justene Adamec and Jeff Lewis, attorneys extraordinaire, who represented the Bear Flag League and the Blogosphere so well.
The EFF has a webpage summarizing the lawsuit with links to all the legal documents here.
Flap’s blogpost from June 4, 2005: Apple v. Does: Confidential Sources in the Blogosphere.
May It Please the Court represented the Bear Flag League in oral argument. You can read his first hand account here.
Blogosphere/MSM:
Right on the Left Beach: Bear Flag League Scores an Assist
Bag and Baggage: Apple v. Does Decision Issued
If Apple opts to seek review by the California Supreme
Court, its petition should be due the first week of July (I get July
5). Review is rarely granted, generally only when necessary “to secure
uniformity of decision or to settle an important question of law.†(CRC 28(b)) This strikes me as a well-reasoned and thorough decision, and one where securing review poses a significant challenge.Though the media coverage of the opinion is bound to focus on the
shield law and constitutional protections here extended to online
journalists, in this era of ubiquitous use of email services
originating with third parties the portions of the decision applying
the Stored Communications Act might well have even broader impact.Previous:
Apple v. Does: Confidential Sources in the Blogosphere
Judge: Apple can pursue fan site sources
Bloggers Speak up about the Apple Case
Technorati Tags: Bloggers, Apple, O’Grady, BearFlagLeague, JusteneAdamec, JeffLewis, blogosphere
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Michael Ramriez on Iraq’s New Al Qaeda Leader
Technorati Tags: MichaelRamirez, AlQaeda
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Global War on Terror Watch: Al Qaeda – Divide and Conquer by Supporting USA – Iran War
A Jordanian boy holds a poster with pictures of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of al-Qaida in Iraq who was killed in a U.S. strike in Iraq, right, and Jordanian lawmaker of the Islamic Action front Mohammed Abu Fares, left, with the Arabic writing of ‘Two faces , one coin’ during a protest in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, June 15, 2006. against the visit of four lawmakers last week to the wake of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi. The lawmakers of the Islamic Action front were arrested Sunday and charged by the military prosecutor of causing sectarian strife and fueling national discord.
ASSociated Press: Documents: Al-Qaida sought U.S.-Iran war
A blueprint for trying to start a war between the United States and Iran was among a “huge treasure” of documents found in the hideout of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraqi officials said Thursday.
The document, purporting to reflect al-Qaida policy and its cooperation with groups loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein, also appear to show that the insurgency in Iraq was weakening.
According to the summary, insurgents were being weakened by operations against them and by their failure to attract recruits. To give new impetus to the insurgency, they would have to change tactics, it added.
“We mean specifically attempting to escalate the tension between America and Iran, and American and the Shiite in Iraq,” it quoted the documents as saying, especially among moderate followers of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential Shiite cleric in Iraq.
“Creating disputes between America and them could hinder the U.S. cooperation with them, and subsequently weaken this kind of alliance between Shiites and the Americans,” it said, adding that “the best solution is to get America involved in a war against another country and this would bring benefits.”
They included “opening a new front” for the U.S. military and releasing some of the “pressure exerted on the resistance.”
Condoleezza Rice’s successful Iran negotiating strategy has thwarted this Al Qaeda plot. And if Iran possessed nuclear weapons?
Look for the United States to pursue diplomacy and United Nations sanctions with Iran while the USA settles the Iraq War.
However, the United States will continue to press for the immediate suspension of Iran’s program of uranium enrichment.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: Iraq, Iran, GlobalWaronTerror, AlQaeda, al-Zarqawi
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei REJECTS Suspension of Uranium Enrichment
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, right, listens to address of Iran ‘s Atomic Energy Organization chief, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, during his visit with Iranian nuclear experts, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 15, 2006. Khamenei vowed Thursday to resist Western pressure over his country’s disputed nuclear program, as the U.S. warned continued defiance could result in tough measures by the U.N. Security Council .
AFP: Iran’s Khamenei implicitly rejects nuclear suspension
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said his country would not bow to pressure over its atomic program, implicitly rejecting international calls to suspend nuclear enrichment.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not bend to these pressures,” he said, referring to proposals drawn up by Britain, France and Germany, and backed by the United States, Russia and China, in a bid to defuse the nuclear crisis.
“The continuation of this scientific progress is its fundamental and basic right,” Khamenei said Thursday, quoted by state television in a meeting with staff of the Iranian Nuclear Energy Organization.
The answer from Iran on the Big 6 proposal is CLEAR: NO!
And what is new? Iran has made this statement over and over again.
Next stop is the the United Nations Security Council where Russia and China will block any meaningful sanctions. However, Condoleezza Rice’s successful gambit has gained the United States diplomatic cover for imposing Western sanctions against Iran.
Time to move ahead while Europe rings its hands over Iran’s answer………
Stay tuned…….
Discuss this blog post and MORE…. at the FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blogs, My Dental Forum.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Seeks Russian and Chinese Support for Iran Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: President Bush – “Iran Has Weeks NOT Monthsâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Comes Out Against Big 6 Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch Briefing : June 8, 2006
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States – Iran Must Suspend Uranium Enrichment During Negotiations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Western proposal ‘positive’
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Receives Big 6 Nuclear Initiative
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Sweetens the POT
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Threatens Oil Disruption
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad to Publish Big 6 Offer to Iran
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, MahmoudAhmadinejad -
President 2008 Watch: Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico Will Run for President?
Drudge Report Flash: MR PRESIDENT, FROM NEW MEXICO?
Officially, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) is focused on his November re-election race, even though it’s expected to be relatively easy. And as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Richardson also hopes to lead his party to a gain of at least a few more governorships. But ROLL CALL REPORTS: Some Democratic insiders insist that Richardson has more on his mind than that. They say he is telling friends and political allies that he has decided to run for president in 2008.
When I spoke with the governor recently, he would only say, “After November, I will reassess my plan.†But Richardson, 58, has long been mentioned for higher office as part of a Democratic national ticket, and I’d be flabbergasted if he didn’t take the presidential plunge for 2008.
Developing…
Actually, Governor Bill Richardson will run for Vice President.
Remember Flap’s handicap:
GOP Presidental Ticket: Rudy Giuliani and George Allen
Democrat Presidential Ticket: Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson
But…… is New Mexico a big enough state to help Hillary?
Wouldn’t Hillary be better to pick Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa or Illinois Senator Barack Obama?
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: BillRichardson, HillaryClinton, RudyGiuliani, GeorgeAllen, AntonioVillaraigosa, BarackObama, President2008