In the wake of losing the 2008 Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Senate races, the state Republican Party seems more intent on knocking itself instead of its true opponents in the Democratic Party.  Said one of the candidates, former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer:  “Too many Republicans are interested in knocking Republicans over.”

Out of 1,200 potential voters, 59 percent said they would vote for Crist, compared to just 29 percent for Meek.  When asked about a competition between the two Miami men, Meek and Marco Rubio, 31 percent chose Rubio versus 30 for Meek with 39 percent of respondents still undecided.

The bill passed the State House 198-176 and the Senate approved it 14-10.

The new bill provides participation exemptions for churches and other religious organizations and church-related charities and educational organizations are not required to extend benefits to the spouses of same sex employees.

New Hampshire joins Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and Iowa as the only states in the union to approve of same sex marriage.

California briefly allowed the practice before a public vote passed Proposition Eight, and opponents of same sex marriage in Maine are trying to organize a similar public vote.

Rhode Island is currently the only state in New England to not allow same sex marriage.  Many bills have failed in the State Legislature, and a similar measure is expected to do so later this year.

Pawlenty served as Minnesota’s governor for two terms, was the Co-Chair of McCain for President, and was a likely Vice Presidential nominee, but was passed over for Governor Sarah Palin at the last minute.

A conservative Republican in a liberal state, Pawlenty caught the eye of the Republican Party years ago.

So far, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee have already traveled to Iowa, although they claim it had nothing to do with their future presidential aspirations.  Sarah Palin is also considered a candidate, as is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

Should Daniel Webster choose to run, McCullom’s popularity among social and religious conservatives will take a hit.  Although the two men harbor similar beliefs, Webster, a former State House Speaker and State Senator, would be in a better position to capture votes from this group.

Webster has declined to announce his intentions until after his work as Chairman of an Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority commission wraps up this month.

Paula Dockery, a moderate, is notable for her work on environmental and water legislation.  Recently, she struck down a piece of legislation that would appoint CSX to operate a central Florida commuter railway system after Lakeland residents voiced their concerns.

The legislation had the support of Gov’s Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist as well as the Republican leadership.

Meanwhile, the presumptive Deocratic nominee and current Florida State CFO, Alex Sink, appears to have just what the Republicans were hoping for:  An uncontested primary victory.  This is bad news for Republicans, who who questioned McCullom’s ability to beat her without a fight within his own party.

In New Jersey, Governor John Corzine grows less popular with each passing day as he battles a multi-billion dollar budget deficit.  His main opponent, Chris Christie, is set to comfortably win his primary battle.  He also leads the sitting Governor in the polls.

In Virginia, state law limits sitting governors to just one term, allowing Democrats Terry McAuliffe, Chris Moran, and Creigh Deeds to fight for a June 9 primary victory.  Bob McDonnell is running unopposed for the GOP and currently holds a lead in the polls over all three of his potential rivals.

Of those who have been critical, Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio stands out.  A Cuban-American, he, unlike many conservatives, can criticize the first Hispanic nominee to the Spreme Court without losing popularity among his heavily Hispanic constituency.

Others such as Senator Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American to be elected to the U.S. Senate, have been humbled.  In a statement, Martinez said, “I take great pride in seeing the nomination of a Hispanic person to serve in this high position — a historic first.”

With more experience than any Supreme Court nominee in the past 70 years, and given the comfortable Democratic majority in the Senate, it is unlikely that her confirmation will be lengthy or difficult.

Sotomayor will replace retiring Justice David Souter.

Former Prime Minister and current President Nambaryn Enkhbayar is seeking reelection.  He is the head of the formerly communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP).

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj is Enkhbayar’s biggest opponent and a member of the Democratic Party (DP).  He served as Prime Minister from August, 2004 to January, 2006 and again from April, 2008 to December, 2008. Elbegdorj was ousted as head of the DP amidst nationwide riots over a supposedly fraudulent parliamentary election.  He has since been reinstated as head of the party.

The major issue of the election is, undoubtedly, the state of Mongolia’s economy.  Currently, two thirds of it’s 2.9 million citizens live in poverty.

The Mongolian president is elected to a four year term by plurality vote.  Although the office is mostly ceremonial, he does have the power to veto legislation passed by the State Great Hural–the Mongolian legislature.  This veto can be overturned with a 2/3 majority vote by the State Great Hural.

In the last election, the Enkhbayar won heavily, capturing over half of the votes cast.  Mendsayhany Enkhsaikhan, the DP’s candidate and Enkhbayar’s closest competitor, captured slightly less than 20 percent.

The stated cause of death was head trauma.

Roh had recently been involved in a corruption scandal in which he reportedly took $6 million in bribes from a local businessman.  Roh maintained that the $1 million given to his wife was not a bribe and the $5 million given to another family relative was a business investment.

Roh’s hands were not the only ones dirtied in the ordeal.  The man who leant the money, Park Yeon-cha, has been indicted on charges of bribery and tax evasion.  Roh’s older brother has already been sentenced to four years in prison on separate bribery charges and Roh’s aides are being questioned as to their role in the bribery scandal.

Roh entered the world of poltiics in 1988 whenhe was elected to the National Assembly.  In a surprise 2002 victory, Roh became the new president.  During his tenure, he met with Kim Jong Il twice to establish better relations between the two nations.  He became the first South Korean President t0o be impeached in 2004, when he urged voters to support his Uri Party.  He was returned to his post a few months later.

Often known to be standoffish, Roh will best be remembered as a voice of the underprivaledged and a fighter against corruption.