The hearing was notable not only for the tough questions tossed at Stephenson and Humm, but for the lack of tough questions posed by those who would normally be forthright in defense of the merger.
"We have the character of an island nation — independent, forthright, passionate in defense of our sovereignty," he said as he promised a referendum within five years on membership in the European Union if he is re-elected in 2015.
Polls have shown that voters who support the Tea Party are actually less likely to support Paul — some have gone for Newt Gingrich, whose denunciations of Obama are pithier, or for Rick Santorum, who is more forthright in his defense of "traditional American values".
Instead of being more forthright in his defense of Bain's activities — a strategy that seemed to be roughly achieving a draw in the public's eyes — he has been in damage-control mode, and has not necessarily been adroit at it.
"We will be more forthright in the defense of our values, not least because a world of greater freedom is a fundamental part of how we keep our own people safe".
Mr. Dalli has been similarly forthright in his own defense.
A click away on the same home page, Mr Blatter was equally forthright in his own defense.
The book was long-listed for the Lionel Gelber Prize, a literary prize awarded by the University of Toronto for the best nonfiction book in English that seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues, and praised by The Financial Times as "a forthright and elegant Muslim defense of freedom".
Yet he never rose to those leaders' defense by having a forthright conversation with the president to call out this conduct.
"Those who have had direct dealings with law enforcement often have a very different attitude about whether police officers are likely to be forthright," said Roland Riopelle, a former federal prosecutor who now heads a criminal defense firm.
