Online ad company DoubleClick, Abacus' former owner, scrapped plans to cross-reference data about consumers' purchasing behavior with their online habits in 2000, when privacy advocates howled.

FORBES: Consumer Spy

He flirted with supporting the assault-weapons ban, then backed down when congressional Republicans howled.

CNN: Elizabeth unplugged

America, which has filed more complaints with the World Trade Organisation than any other country and won every time, howled on losing in a spat over Japanese protectionism .

ECONOMIST: Retrenching