It could almost be a relief to (Senate Majority leader) Trent Lott (R-Miss.). The rules really favor the minority if they've got their act together.

That will probably be more important for its passing than for its result.

The Democrats have every incentive, knowing there will be rolling blackouts in California this summer, to try to get a bill to put price caps on utilities. It's good politics to blame the energy companies for high prices.

Trade is a nice, battering ram topic in an election year.

A year ago, people were making lists of Bush stocks and Gore stocks. Bush stocks were easy to pick -- they were stocks oppressed by the Clinton agenda, such as tobacco, or ignored, such as defense.

Down Boys! We believe predictions of 2002 budget plus-ups have gotten out of hand.

I think there's a limit to how far the Bush administration will fight on any of these topics. Karl Rove, the President's political advisor, is a realist.