"It may not be until maybe a year, or two years from now before we fully understand the impact of the deal-making that was done, in order to secure these voting blocs in places like Qandahar,Helmand, where the insurgency has really taken control, and where the government is the weakest and it has the weakest bargaining position."

VOA: standard.2009.08.03

The Republicans could equally be accused of playing a cynical game, voting against a package they know will pass in order to appear thrifty yet not risk being accused of sabotage.

ECONOMIST: The first ten days

But as a relatively junior member of a minority party in Congress, he may have years ahead of him asking questions in committees, burnishing his voting record, climbing up the pecking order, and hoping for a political swing that will put his party in the majority.

ECONOMIST: Everybody suddenly wants to clean up New Jersey