Norquist may have had influence over the direction of super PAC funding, but he didn't hold the purse strings.

CNN: Norquist's no-tax pledge has survived challenges before

More importantly, as Aileen Lee points out on TechCrunch, not only do women dominate almost all social media channels, they also hold the purse strings.

FORBES: Why Women Will Help Shape the Future of Work

They hold the purse strings.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Speaks on Investing in Our Infrastructure

In addition, ministries control special funds of their own, so the cabinet's hold over the national purse strings is weak.

ECONOMIST: The DPJ lays out its credentials for governing

If the huge rover performs as advertised, it could generate excitement among the American public and, perhaps, the politicians who hold NASA's purse strings.

MSN: Is huge Mars rover NASA's last big mission to Red Planet?

The Mittelstand's trade association complains that even the friendliest savings banks are tightening their purse strings as a result of the Basel 2 accords on bank capital, which compel them to hold extra reserves against loans to small firms.

ECONOMIST: The fabled Mittelstand is feeling the pinch more than most