Each week, Mr. Robinson had to run the same gantlet as Motown's other writers.

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Three of these have at least reached the middle stage of the three-step gantlet of clinical trials needed to get a new medicine approved.

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And the preceding engagement, bachelor and bachelorette parties and showers will slash into your savings too, should you choose to run that gantlet.

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And every politician proposing new gun laws has to run the gantlet of the National Rifle Association and affiliated groups and face the fear of not getting re-elected.

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Now, Mr. Pitt is under no fewer than three different investigations not counting the congressional gantlet he will have to run next week in connection with yet another debacle.

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Getting the required permits and licenses to operate a deep-water fish farm in the U.S. would require running the gantlet of dozens of federal and state regulatory agencies, some with overlapping jurisdictions and none with a mandate to lead the process.

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