Even Republican policies that the delegates hold dear -- tax cuts, distrust of government, privatizing Social Security -- have scarcely received mention from the podium.
In Zurich, where he formally opened the congress Tuesday, Blatter told delegates: "Tomorrow, dear friends, when I open the congress agenda, I will speak of the danger lurking and I will tell you how we can fight this threat of danger, how our sport can play its role in bringing people together in the future.
If appropriate, add, "Archbishop of (name the diocese)." In the salutation of the letter write, "Your Eminence" or "Dear Cardinal (surname)." Address an envelope to an Apostolic Delegate as, "His Excellency The Most Reverend (first name) (surname), Archbishop of (name the diocese), The Apostolic Delegate.
"I invite you to observe a minute of silence in memory of our dear brother, Laurent Kabila," President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, the presiding official, told delegates assembled for a two-day summit meeting of mostly French-speaking African countries.
Delegates decide elections.7 56: In addition to your drinking games tonight, dear readers (and if you actually do have a drinking game designed for the Kentucky and Oregon primary results I owe you a dollar): Take a shot every time a candidate mentions his or her "dear friend" Ted Kennedy.7 52: Lisa Caputo, a Clinton spokesperson, just said the campaign won't continue through August.
As for the delegate from Samoa: "The fact is Congressman Faleomavaega has been a dear friend of mine for years and years," Nixon says.
When I pointed this out, another delegate on Twitter told me off for "trolling", the digital equivalent of David Cameron's "Calm down, dear".
Before Mr. Kerry even ascended the stage, his daughters had the thousands of delegates hungry to retake the White House in tears and giggles with warm stories not of a politician, but of dear old dad.
Dear oh dear Roger Moore.
