So I can think of no higher tribute or honor or title to confer upon Ronald Reagan than to simply say: He was an American.

CNN: Reagan praised for?'eternal faith in America'

But no one is obliged to go out and vote for one - and in so doing confer upon the process - and the winner - some democratic legitimacy.

BBC: Do the public want police and crime commissioners?

There is every reason to believe they will continue their jihad once they have been transported to U.S. soil where certain federal judges have signaled a willingness to confer upon them even more rights.

WSJ: Burlingame: Shoe Bomber Richard Reid Sues to Resume Jihad from Prison

Neither will it confer upon Moscow center a greater legitimacy among the genuine advocates of democracy and free market reform who know full well that Shevardnadze -- like Gorbachev -- is not one of them.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Those meetings confer legitimacy upon the groups as representatives of all Muslim Americans, despite research indicating that the community is far too diverse to have anyone represent its concerns.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Hezbollah-rally-in-Beirut-Photo-Reuters