Edwards responded, "We have a plan to clean up this mess we're in, in Iraq, " which drew applause from the program's New York audience.

CNN: A season of TV stumping

"It's on me to clean up this mess, " Ruff said Thursday.

WSJ: Ruff takes blame for Sabres' sputtering start

And while the Nikkei stock average has picked up 8% this year amid signs the government is pressing banks harder to clean up their loan mess, share prices are languishing at levels they first hit in the mid-1980s.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

We didn't create this mess, but we are here to help clean it up.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Takes Questions at GOP House Issues Conference | The White House