Few doubted that such across-the-board tax-rate increases would further depress the economy, so Republicans gave the president his more-modest requested tax increases in the forlorn hope that the electorate would exhibit the Wisdom of Solomon in their judgment of the accord.

FORBES: Republicans must mark their budget territory

The fiction Barack Obama adopted when nominating Elena Kagan to replace Mr Stevens is that he chose his own solicitor-general and this former dean of the Harvard Law School because she happens to possess the wisdom of Solomon, not because of her politics.

ECONOMIST: Behind the civility, it��s war in the Supreme Court