And in nearly every case, it helps both the insurer and the patient to deal with a detached third party.

FORBES: Hired Guns

And in nearly every case, as with Alcoa, the common stock looks expensive, but the preferreds look decidedly reasonable.

FORBES: Forget The Dogs, For Rich Income Look To Dow Preferreds

In nearly every case, they have handed over their campaigning machinery to him: they are honorary chairmen of the Bush 2000 campaign in their states and their supporters are his foot soldiers.

ECONOMIST: A praline kind of party