The lawyers agreed to arbitration because they knew that state politicians could never have honoured their contingency contracts, which would themselves have become the subject of prolonged litigation.

ECONOMIST: Lawyers and their fees: Knights in golden armour | The

Judge Marc Lubet conferenced with all the attorneys involved before Monday's hearing and said they all agreed that because of a witness list that includes more than 100 people, a June trial date was unlikely.

NPR: 12 Charged With Manslaughter In FAMU Death

Congress watchers like Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense said they all agreed to that promise that's because these spending bills are not loaded with earmarks, they'll be far less likely to be held up by the likes of Senator Tom Coburn.

NPR: Congress Unlikely to Complete Budget Duties

The Guardian newspaper wanted them published - and a freedom of information tribunal agreed that they should be - because there was a public interest in doing so, on grounds of transparency, better understanding of relations between government and the monarchy, and those allegations of inappropriate lobbying by the Prince on health, architecture and other policy.

BBC: Charles in charge?

Many of those are delighted by his fall from grace, not only because they disliked him (though they did), but also because they quietly agreed with William Hague, the Conservative leader, who said this week that the prime minister had become over-dependent on his prince of darkness.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

The only reason it's even being agreed upon now is because the wealthy and influential have realised that if they don't come to a consensus, their own wallets will suffer too.

BBC: US passes debt-limit bill: Your views

They heartily agreed with Secretary General Kofi Anan that such action was "illegal" because it ultimately was undertaken without the UN's blessing.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Bush v. Kerry II