Not long after embarking upon the subject of God and melancholy, for example, Mr. Burton veers into "A Digression of the Nature of Spirits, Bad Angels, or Devils, " which leads into an elaborate taxonomy of evil creatures, including the question of whether some devils "have excrements" or "feel pain if they are hurt, " and whether there can be both good and bad devils.

WSJ: Robert Burton | The Anatomy of Melancholy | Digressions on a Diagnosis | Masterpiece by Danny Heitman

Given the importance of the position, one would assume that some serious thought would have gone into the question of what training or experience prepares a person to be a credible investor protection advocate.

FORBES: SEC Commissioners Wanted: Plaintiffs Lawyers and Consumer Advocates Need Not Apply (Sept 10,2010 )

If you have a legal question, you may do some reading, ask your friends or use one of the many reliable online resources.

FORBES: DIY Investors: Don't Go It Alone

Another question FitzGerald wants studied: whether or not some patients have their pain relieved by one medicine, but not another--and why.

FORBES: What Was Wrong With Vioxx?

We have to look at the confrontation for office, the taste, the talents, the skill, the character, and not just the personality, not just the looks, not just the charm - or the way that the candidate purses his or her lips at an audience who have some of the easy question and says thank you for the question.

NPR: Roundtable: Rice Takes Heat, Graduation Gap

Mr. WILSON: Well, you know, you asked the question earlier about whether or not new prevention efforts have been pulled back in some populations, and with all due respect to Dr. Fenton, I will answer that question differently.

NPR: Advocates Want More Focus on Domestic AIDS Cases

And it is rather remarkable to hear some of the critics out there question Senator Hagel and whether or not he should have this position when you look back at what those very same members of the Senate said effusively in praise of Senator Hagel just a few years ago.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney,