There was a lot of hue and cry, a lot of fulminating and hand-wringing, but nothing actually happened.

WHITEHOUSE: America��s Energy Security

An American publication that stepped into this a few years ago had mathematics professors fulminating at each other for months.

ECONOMIST: Free-trader Barshefsky

For days now conservative bloggers have been fulminating that Mitt Romney doesn't get a fair deal, that the media doesn't give him a chance, and is out to get him.

BBC: Mitt Romney scorns Obama voters

What has this fussing, fiddling and fulminating achieved?

ECONOMIST: Ah, there's the brake pedal