The doubters still suspect Mr Netanyahu of making the right noises now only in order more plausibly to put the blame on the Palestinians if the talks fizzle out.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Palestine: Keep on fudging | The

Still, Mr Sharif is making the right noises.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan

"I don't think I'll ever be able to leave hip hop entirely, I just feel like this is something that's necessary for right now for me to get my message across in the music that I'm making right now, " Mr. Broadus says.

WSJ: Snoop Bounces to Different Beat With 'Reincarnated' Projects

His saving grace, however, is that he came to national attention in the 1990s as the scourge of Mr Clinton, making him a hero to the right.

ECONOMIST: The Republican nomination

Mr Hollande is right that growth would transform Europe's prospects, by making debt more manageable, restoring banks and curtailing unemployment.

ECONOMIST: The euro crisis: Europe��s Achilles heel | The

In Mr Bauer's dogged campaign, America could be witnessing the making of a Jesse Jackson of the right.

ECONOMIST: Gary Bauer��s glass door

So much the better if they're right, but Mr. Romney is still entitled to some head-shaking about deal-making and political double standards.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Warren Romney