>I prefer my elected officials do the jobs they were elected to do<

One of the first things that all politicians should seek to do is avoid any abuse of the patronage that comes with their position.

Most US citizens may understand that the plaudits handed out by Mayor Dremer,  Mayor  Hahn,  Governor Richardson  and  Governor Granholm are of little significance but that is not the way the the Rawat publicity machine uses those plaudits.

In Mumbai and Kuala Lumpar, even in Lisbon - these paper awards can sound as though they have substance. If US politicians don't understand how their good intentions are being manipulated,  then it is up to US citizens to put them right. (In my most humble opinon as a subject of Her Britannic Majesty,  Prisoner of Mother England,. etc.,  of course) LOL

Nik