1.   But labor leaders countered that they had demonstrated their clout and pushed the debate to the center.

2.   Democratic congressional leaders countered that in only eight months in office, Bush had squandered the rich economic legacy of the Clinton administration on a risky tax cut.

3.   GOP leaders countered that it was Clinton who has yet to get serious about the budget.

4.   Government and business leaders counter that in the long run APEC will make economies more competitive, create more jobs and lift everyone with the rising tide of prosperity.

5.   Industry leaders counter that they will use technology to defeat technology.

6.   Indian leaders counter that he has it all backward.

7.   Industry leaders counter that they are sending experts to Third World countries to educate workers about safety.

8.   Republican leaders counter, for the most part accurately, that they would have carried out their program but for Democratic obstruction and vetoes.

9.   Republican leaders counter that the Democrats are playing the race card by impugning the motives of their GOP colleagues.

10.   Republican leaders countered that it was Clinton who was trying to spend the surplus, not on a tax cut but on government programs.