Briefing

THE WEEK

WE SAW THE IRS LINE DANCE

‘This is not about principled opposition. This is about political obstruction.’

PRESIDENT OBAMA, nominating three candidates to a federal appeals court; Senate Republicans twice filibustered Obama’s earlier nominee

$95

The Magic Kingdom’s new one-day-ticket price, $5 more than it costs to visit Disney World’s other parks

‘For all of you who are bored of the governor’s race, I have solved your problem.’

CHRIS CHRISTIE, Republican governor of New Jersey, announcing a special election in the fall to fill the late Frank Lautenberg’s U.S. Senate seat

63

Number of letters in Rindfleischetikettierungs- überwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz, a beef-labeling law and the longest word in German until new regulations made it obsolete

Scott Cowen

Tulane president announces retirement after seeing the school through Hurricane Katrina

GOOD WEEK

BAD WEEK

Gordon Gee

Ohio State president announces retirement after controversial remarks about Catholics

‘I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT MONEY DOESN’T MATTER, BECAUSE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE ME ANYWAY.’

BEN BERNANKE, Federal Reserve chairman, speaking to the graduating class at Princeton University

$272,000

Signing bonus for new Army psychiatrists willing to serve in uniform for four years

‘That stuff is so dry, it just breaks in your hands. It lights off like a Roman candle.’

CHUCK TOBIAS, Fresno fire-department spokesman, describing the chaparral fueling wildfires that have consumed more than 30,000 acres in Southern California

‘I think 26,000 sexual assaults is going too far.’

BARBARA MIKULSKI, Democratic Senator from Maryland, refuting criticism that legislation overhauling the military justice system to remove commanders from decisions on whether to prosecute sexual crimes goes “too far”

Sources: Reuters; Princeton University; Buzzfeed; Los Angeles Times; AP