Barack Obama

Born: August 4, 1961
Birthplace: Honolulu, HI
Political party: Democratic
Position: U.S. Senator (Illinois)

This delightful tropical hottie is a relative newcomer to government, sworn into office in January 2005. Barack is a proud father of two daughters; Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6. Being a family man, Barack feels compassion for the elderly as well as youth of the United States.

He currently serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees, which oversee our nation's health care, schools, employment, and retirement programs.

Not only has he shown an interest in the people of the U.S., but he is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, which plays a vital role in shaping American policy around the world, including our policy in Iraq. Although Barack feels sympathy and compassion for our troops in Iraq, he was never a supporter of the war. He wants the troops pulled out and reunited with their families by March 31, 2008.
Barack has a soft spot for war heroes, and serves on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He provides our brave veterans with the care and services they deserve.

The handsome scholar went to Columbia University 1983. In 1985 he decided it was time for a change and moved to Chicago. There, darling Barack got in touch with his sensitive side and decided to work for a church-based group with the intent to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods with massive crime and unemployment levels. Afterward, this smarty pants attended Harvard Law School in 1991 where, impressively, he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Barack's views on abortion and gay marriage will be a substantial issue as the 2008 election draws near; he supports all abortion rights and opposes any ban on gay marriage. What a sweetheart!

Fun Fact: Those with a weak stomach for revolution need not apply. Obama set off quite the controversy in a June 2007 speech, in which he discussed so-called "quiet riots", or unspoken problems the American people have with how the current administration has done things. To add fuel to the fire, Obama mentioned Hurricane Katrina as an example, immediately causing people to wonder if his speech had a racial slant to it.

Belinda Hinckley, '10

Staff Writer

John Edwards

Born: June 20, 1953
Birthplace: Seneca, South Carolina
Political party: Democratic
Position: Former U.S. Senator (North Carolina)

This southern gentleman is no stranger to the United States government. Not only was little Johnny Reid Edwards a U.S. Senator from 1999-2005, but he was also John Kerry's running mate in the 2005 presidential race. If you want a president that's sharp as a whit, this man would be the right choice for you.

Edwards attended North Carolina State University and then earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1977. He spent the next two decades as a trial lawyer who defended "the little guy" in the lawsuits against big businesses, often winning massive cash awards for his clients.

True to his southern charm, John is a family man. His lovely wife Elizabeth graduated from UNC's law school the same year as he did. He had four children with Elizabeth: Wade, Cate, Emma Claire and Jack.

Sadly, 16-year-old Wade was killed in a car accident in 1996. Soon after the accident, John figured it was time for a change and decided to enter politics, running for senator the next year.

The South Carolina cutie, who is often mistaken (in name, not face) for the psychic John Edward, takes the democratic stance on abortion. In an interview he was reported as saying, "I support a woman's right to choose and believe that this right is constitutionally protected."

Aww, what a sweetheart!
John's opinions on the Iraq war have changed drastically. He has said countless times that he's ashamed of the fact that he voted for this war. "We need to bring this war to an end,” said Edwards. “ I voted for this war, I was wrong to vote for this war, I take responsibility for that; I will have to live with that."

So what do you say, ladies? Do you forgive him?

Fun Fact: Edwards is an amateur video star! A video clip on YouTube.com shows Edwards meticulously combing and preening over his hair prior to a television appearance. The video goes on for about three minutes and is accompanied by "I Feel Pretty" playing in the background. Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it!

Belinda Hinckley, '10

Staff Writer

Hillary Clinton

Mitt Romney

Born: March 12, 1947
Birthplace: Detroit, MI
Political party: Republican
Position: Former Governor (Massachusetts)

The 2008 election promises to be full of dreamy heartthrobs, but if you happen to be looking for a superhero, look no further than Mitt Romney.

This reformist fox has governing in his blood; his own father was a highly-esteemed three-term governor of Michigan.

In 2004, our dreamboat started thinking education. He established the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which gives a “free ride” to the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school students. And not just any free ride, but a free ride to any public college or university in Massachusetts. My hero!

Somehow, in between championing workers' causes as well as those of students, Romney found time to save the 2002 Winter Olympics, which was facing a financial meltdown before Mitt took over as president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. After three years, Mitt erased a $379 million operating deficit and rallied volunteer workers to boot. Kryptonite has nothing on this man of steel!

Since Mitt has such a tender spot for education, it makes sense that he graduated from Brigham Young in 1971 with a BA and Highest Honors. He went on to receive his MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar. Who doesn't like a smarty-pants?

Mitt has recently converted to pro-life and is a supporter of the war in Iraq and of the troop surge, but he thinks the war in general has been mismanaged. As a right-wing Romeo, Mitt opposes gay marriage and is pro-death penalty for deadly acts of terrorism or for the killing of law enforcement officers. How like a superhero, to look out for the local police forces! Mitt opposes embryonic stem cell research using cloned embryos, but supports the use of left-over embryos from fertility treatments.

Fun Fact: Look out, FDR... Mitt thinks your United Nations idea bites the big one! Mitt called the UN, an institution that has been in place since 1942, an “extraordinary failure of late." Mitt went on to advocate a coalition of "free nations" to take the place of the UN. Mitt has no fear! Superhero material? Naturally!

Kasey Brooks, '10

Editorial Page Editor

 Rudolph Giuliani

Viva Italia! Rudolph Giuliani- or “Rudy” if you're that special someone-attended Manhattan College and received his master's degree from New York University Law School.

He first ran for mayor of New York City in 1989, losing by a notably close margin. But this Italian stallion is anything but a quitter! He ran again and was elected in 1997, and since then he has helped decrease crime in the city by 57 percent.

He has also been credited with helping 640,000 government dependents out of welfare and into independent jobs. What a guy!
By the way, ladies, if you happen to be searching for a pro-choice champion, Rudy is your man. He believes certain restrictions should be placed upon abortion, mainly partial-birth abortions, but he has spoken out in favor of a woman's right to choose.

Rudy is also an advocate of the war in Iraq, blaming the media for painting a negative picture of the war and affecting the morale of the troops.

As a conservative cutie, Rudy opposes gay marriage, but is in favor of civil unions. He has expressed on many occasions his desire to continue cutting taxes-he has made 23 cuts for New York City as mayor.

But watch out! Rudy also supports the death penalty, especially in treason cases. As for foreign policy, Rudy makes no mystery about that, saying, "We will not allow a nuclear Iran. Period."

Fun Fact: Rudy supports his advisor, Peter King, amid overwhelming controversy following King's remark about having "unfortunately, too many mosques in this country."
Rudy responded to the discriminatory remark by saying, "I know exactly what Pete meant…What he means was that there are mosques in which violence is preached. I know that from my own investigations of Islamic terrorism. I also know that there are many mosques in which it isn't." Well, at least he stands by his friends, right?

Kasey Brooks, '10

Editorial Page Editor

John McCain

Born: August 29, 1936
Birthplace: Panama Canal area
Political party: Republican
Position: U.S Senator (Arizona)

A prisoner of war during Vietnam, this hunky military man was a naval officer for many years. After graduating the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, this Casanova started working as a naval aviator.

Our boy has been a senator since 1986, when he was elected to replace Barry Goldwater. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, John has challenged his republican counterparts while still standing for what he believes in. In 1983, this forward-thinking heartthrob called for the withdrawal of U.S. Marines from Lebanon.

In 2000, John began his love/hate relationship with the White House, running unsuccessfully for the presidential seat. According to mccain.senate.gov, this senate sweetie is currently the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

John has been a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq. He feels that we must succeed. A father of seven, his pro-life views are not uncommon within the republican party.

As for the death penalty, Johnny is a supporter, and feels it is especially important in cases of terrorism. He's protecting our country by encouraging the crack-down on border security and immigration reform.

Clearly another conservative cutie, John also opposes same-sex marriage and stem-cell research. Our John has also worked to support tobacco legislation and has proved to be, according to biography.com, "more complex than merely a straight-ahead conservative."

Fun Fact: This naughty boy underwent a federal investigation as a member of the "Keating Five," a group of senators who were accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators on behalf of Charles H. Keating Jr., a bank chairman whose Lincoln Savings & Loan Association eventually became one of the biggest failures in the savings and loan disasters of the late 1980s.
He was eventually cleared of the charges, although investigators declared that he had exercised "poor judgment" by meeting with the regulators. Can he still be trusted with your heart?