While the wiser strategy would have been to ignore Carville, the Republican high command took the bait, engaging in several days of name calling that once again focused attention on Gingrich and the question of whether the country's most unpopular elected official is calling the shots for Judiciary chairman Hyde.
Barclays' board cannot think of many other potential candidates who would both have the reforming zeal and would be able to command the respect of the bank's serving investment bankers (Richard Meddings of Standard Chartered is someone whose name is also under consideration).