Word: popularization
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...running all three rings of the governmental circus, and a clown act has appeared in one of the rings," says Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. "This is a moment when Democrats had hoped that they could keep the public's focus on their popular new President and the expansive agenda to get the economy back on track. But these human dramas are more interesting to most people...
...fact, probably the most popular reason to propose a resolution appears to be making every day on the national calendar feel extra special. Holidaymaking is an old pastime for legislators. It was the nation's First Congress that kicked off that tradition; in 1789, New Jersey Congressman Elias Boudinot introduced a resolution asking President George Washington to proclaim a national day of giving thanks - which he did, and the holiday stuck. But today's Americans may find some more recent observances to be slightly less universally appealing: Among the red-letter days proclaimed by the past few Congresses are Funeral...
...subjects are beneath the notice of a Congressional resolution. Soil, for instance, might be celebrated, as it was in 2008. Or watermelon. Athletes are popular, too. Nothing pleases constituents quite like Congressmen and Senators giving agreeable shout-outs to local sports heroes. Last year, the 110th Congress praised superstar Olympian Michael Phelps; it also celebrated Wichita State University's championship women's bowling team. Legislators, it seems, aren't very picky. Unless of course they are passing actual laws...
...similar strike had killed Hamas' founder, the paraplegic, blind Ahmed Yassin. The assassinations of its two top men were meant to break the back of Hamas' leadership. But Rantissi was right: he and Yassin were replaced in short order, and Hamas actually grew stronger, more radical and more popular...
...Cyril, who has been fulfilling the duties of Patriarch in the weeks since Alexy's death, is a well-known figure among ordinary Russians, with his own radio and television programs. Still, both Kremlinologists and Vaticanisti can agree that there are other factors that may be more important than popular appeal. For one thing, Cyril is on excellent terms with both Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev...