His leadership team stretches from moderates like John Breaux to liberals like Barbara Boxer, and he has resolutely refused to takerevengeon renegades like Zell Miller, who has voted with the Republicans more frequently than with the Democrats.
When a small team of hackers launched a 24-hour assault on software security firm HBGary Federal last month, they did so to takerevengeon its CEO, who had sought to penetrate the global collective they aligned themselves with known as Anonymous.
Shah had a century in his sights when lofting Harbhajan into the stands at long-on, but the bowler had his revenge in his following over when Dravid dived to take a fine catch at slip.
Some privy to the process suspect that Lord Irvine is now reluctant to take the lead on the government's plans to reform the House of Lords, for fear of the revenge other ministers would take once he is the one with concrete proposals to defend.