41.   As a practical matter, the agreements are less important as fiscal documents than as political symbols.

42.   As a practical matter, the budget maneuvers are more a political exercise than a fiscal one.

43.   As a practical matter, the Catholic Church has no real authority to restrict the movements of its priests.

44.   As a practical matter, the political debate better not come down to such a stark choice.

45.   As a practical matter, the Seven Member Rule benefits the minority party in Congress.

46.   As a practical matter, their countries will immediately subordinate individual monetary policies in favor of a common European policy.

47.   As a practical matter, there is nothing surprising about the date Selig has selected.

48.   As a practical matter, though, Bell Atlantic and Nynex can cut only so many jobs.

49.   As a practical matter, turning over major policy decisions to prominent Republicans accustomed to pursuing their own agenda could cause considerable trouble down the road.

50.   As a practical matter, Weiss notes, the IDB fund is unlikely to invest in those countries in the foreseeable future.