Word: clouts
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...showed the state - which may pass New York in the next census as the nation's third most populous state - what a potential bellwether and kingmaker it had become. As a result, Florida's leaders have been clamoring for a primary position that lets it flex its new electoral clout. "More and more," says new Florida Governor Charlie Crist, "the nation is looking to Florida...
...Back then, state and municipal censor boards still could demand the cutting or banning of films. Valenti in effect said, Don't trust them; trust me. Such was his clout with national lawmakers that they agreed to his scheme of a "voluntary" ratings system: G indicating films suitable for all ages, PG for those requiring parental guidance, R for films off limits to unaccompanied youngsters, and X for anything goes. The MPAA would rate the films; the theaters would theoretically enforce the ratings...
...Weakening loyalty between employer and employee, the growing clout of Tokyo at the expense of outlying areas-these are trends most Japanese are experiencing. But just as the salaryman is far from an endangered species, the gangs aren't likely to disappear. Yukio Yamanouchi, an Osaka-based lawyer who represents Yamaguchi-gumi, says the yakuza "provide the services that Japanese society requires." As long as there's a market, the yakuza will exist. It's just good business...
...harmony." As evidence, Frank points to the composition of the new policymaking Security Council announced recently in Moscow. In addition to the President, its members are Vice President Gennadi Yanayev and Prime Minister Pavlov, both hidebound bureaucrats; Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh, a professional diplomat with little political clout; Interior Minister Boris Pugo, Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov and KGB chief Vladimir Kryuchkov, all hard-liners; and two token moderates, former Interior Minister Vadim Bakatin and Yevgeni Primakov, a Gorbachev adviser...
...Mahdi Army is also able to use its political clout to insulate it from the worst effects of the troop surge, by pressuring the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to limit how and where American troops operate in Shi'ite areas. When they feel the heat from the Americans, they are able to make life difficult for al-Maliki by precipitating political crises - as they did this week by announcing the withdrawal of their ministers from his cabinet in protest at his failure to demand a timetable for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq...