[panthermom]

The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.

Yeah right. Painstaking backdoor negotiations=sipping Martini's and laughing at us sheeple is more like it.

[Apogee]

You may be correct.
I was in a little restaurant the other day, when in walked a bunch of people who just smelled like politicians (plus one contractor / possible lobbyist).
Overhearing their conversation, I discovered my assessment was correct.
One of the most ridiculous things that I overheard a member of this group of local pols say was, “sheep beget sheep, not shepherds.”
I could imagine some credible contexts for such a statement, this did not seem to be one of them.