Word: burnisher
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...complicate matters, an intense power struggle divides his staff. A conservative faction of aides, including Schwarzenegger's chief of staff, is at war with a liberal one led by Arnold's wife Maria Shriver, who has taken a newly aggressive role in trying to burnish his image. "Nobody really knows who is in charge," says Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican strategist in Los Angeles. "His followers want to rally around the flag, but they can't find the flagpole." The Governor's spokesman, Rob Stutzman, says the press has been "mischaracterizing robust discussion as a split...
...which was first discussed in the halls of Congress late last year. At a time when G.O.P. leaders in Congress have been unable to gain much traction on issues like abortion and gay rights--which are near and dear to Christian conservatives--this was a no-lose opportunity to burnish their credentials with their most demanding and important supporters. Still, many Republicans reject the notion that anything but deep moral conviction motivated the extraordinary legislative measure. "It's hard to say it's politics when you get that kind of consensus in a divided U.S. Senate," says Republican Senator Chuck...
...Today, in Shanghai, few in government seem eager to acknowledge this massive suburban undertaking. Over the past two months, three municipal departments declined to comment on the project, a curious silence in a city that is usually keen to burnish its international reputation with its latest, hippest urban scheme. Local papers, which tend to give property developments breathless coverage, have also been remarkably muted in recent months. Ironically, the developers of those foreign-styled suburbs that are already finished report high sales rates for what are, after all, some of Shanghai's most comfortable neighborhoods, even if some of them...
...Beijing these days, the key question is whether the chill in the air represents Hu's genuine convictions or just a tactical effort to burnish his hard-line credentials among political factions that do not completely support him. Before relinquishing the helm, Jiang installed important allies in the Party's bureaucracy who continue to be loyal to him and his powerful Politburo acolyte, Vice President Zeng Qinghong. The Party's General Office, for instance, which controls the daily flow of memos and intelligence, remains in the grip of Jiang appointee Wang Gang. Until Hu maneuvers more of his own people...
...Altogether, 201 nations, territories and city-states?plus the island of Taiwan, which competes under the nebulous title of "Chinese Taipei"?joined the parade of athletes in last Friday's Opening Ceremony of the 28th Olympiad. Some, including the Americans, Russians and Chinese, are hoping to burnish their countries' reputations with bulging medal counts. Others, including Bhutan and East Timor, which is competing for the first time, are simply happy to wave their flags. Unlike high-profile gold-medal hopefuls, many of whom travel with their own personal trainers and a fridge full of optimal training food, athletes from these...