1.   For Decades, politicians have been trying to gain power in Washington by separating themselves from Washington.

2.   Politicians try to dig up dirt on their opponents.

3.   Politicians are trying to appear tough on crime.

4.   An extended delay before an operation could intensify power struggles inside and outside the Kremlin, as Russian politicians try to position themselves as a potential successor.

5.   And politicians have been trying to address public angst over economic decline.

6.   And with entertainers moving into politics in greater numbers, professional politicians are frantically trying to become entertainers to keep up.

7.   Around the edges, other politicians tried either to speed the negotiations up or to slow them down.

8.   As politicians try to weigh the costs and benefits of opposing the trade pact, public opinion is hard to judge.

9.   Average politicians try to leave the issue to government specialists.

10.   After the attacks, I found myself wondering whether some politicians would try to exploit the horror to push their usual partisan agendas.