As political leaders go, Tom Daschle is different. New and improved. With all the moral posturing on display in the nation's capital, it may surprise you to learn that American politicians still find it hard to turn the other cheek. Now that the crew of a U.S. spy plane has returned from 11 days in captivity in China, relations between the two countries are expected to return to normal. But normal, in this case, does not necessarily mean tranquil or friendly.
Few things are as artless as the art of compromise.
For years, some Democrats have been supporting campaign finance reform with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Critics say the budget can't afford them. The Internal Revenue Service is no longer the most hated agency in the federal government. The current contender for the title is the Health Care Financing Administration, which administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs. If it seems George W. Bush is crafting his presidency by the numbers, that's because he has decided to borrow virtually all of the successful strategies of recent presidents.