William Tate

Reports that Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu sold her vote to bring the Senate health scare bill to the floor for $300 million are reminiscent of an apocryphal tale told of Winston Churchill and Lady Astor.

"Would you sleep with me for a million dollars," Churchill asks.

"A million dollars?" says Lady Astor. "Why, sure."

"How about a dollar?"

"Why I never," Lady Astor huffs. "What do you take me for?"

"That, my dear," says Sir Winston, "has been established. We are just negotiating price."

Senator Landrieu’s honor has been established. Obama, Reid and Pelosi just had to haggle over the price.