It was the sort of remark liberal critics often point to as evidence Norquist is a conservative puppet master with near-limitless power.

CNN: Norquist's no-tax pledge has survived challenges before

He is the puppet-master, the gatekeeper that anyone who wants to do business with the fund must pass.

FORBES: International Campaign to Eliminate Pension Consultant Abuses (November 2, 2004 )

That is certainly how the opposition have tried to portray him: as the de facto deputy prime minister or Julia Gillard's puppet-master.

BBC: Greens enjoy taste of power in Australia's parliament

Tiny Rwanda - repeatedly identified by UN experts as the puppet-master behind this and previous rebellions - can surely no longer hide behind its familiar denials of involvement.

BBC: Is DR Congo's cycle of chaos unbreakable?

The sock puppet was a master salesthing from the get-go.

FORBES: Sock, We're Gonna Make You a Star

In the first, the Jedi Master Yoda--originally a puppet capable of conveying lifelike emotion but not lifelike movement-- becomes a swordsman of amazing speed and power.

FORBES