Dennis Cardoza is not one of Washington's hotheads. He doesn't call people names, indulge in exchanges of vitriol or get overly exercised in a crisis. That might explain why he's risen through the ranks to sit on the Rules committee and is a leader among the centrist Blue Dog Democrats.

Ed Alves has twice been mayor of Escalon (the job rotates), and currently serves on the City Council. But I don't think he expected this question: "Were you on Senator McCain's short list?"