21.   The governor, a Democrat, has already said that his Republican predecessor and the previous Legislature spent too much money.

22.   The man who relishes comparisons to the way his ruthless Republican predecessor Speaker Joe Cannon wielded power said the House was running better than he expected.

23.   Walter E. Dellinger, the assistant attorney general handling constitutional issues, says Clinton is as adamant about protecting executive authority as his Republican predecessors.

24.   Bill Clinton, for one, has kicked it harder than his two immediate Republican predecessors ever did.

25.   But Clinton and his Republican predecessors have insisted that as commander-in-chief they have the authority to deploy troops in peacekeeping missions.

26.   But he signed a number of other bills that had been vetoed again and again by his Republican predecessors.

27.   But her Republican predecessor, Gov. Steve Merrill, also fought to name the holiday after the slain civil rights leader.

28.   But here Republican predecessor, Gov. Steve Merrill, also fought to name the holiday after the slain civil rights leader.

29.   Clinton, in his weekly radio address, reminded Republicans that it was his Republican predecessor, George Bush, who approved the last minimum-wage increase.

30.   He offered some credit for the good economy to his two Republican predecessors, who he said were responsible for open markets and expanding trade.