Unlike Mr Estrada, who served as a mayor, senator and vice-president before his presidential bid, Mr Poe, a high-school drop-out, had never run for office before.

ECONOMIST: The Philippines' election

On the eve of his departure, Isaac gets together with his best friend Billy Poe, a former high-school football star who has also failed to heed the edict that at 18 you should flee the rust belt altogether.

ECONOMIST: New fiction

"It's a shame on Congress that we are going in recess when we have to deal and have not dealt with the issue of high energy prices, " said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, on Thursday.

CNN: GOP lawmakers want special session on energy crisis