As two old peasant women sweep snow from the steps of the Hall of the Soviets in the Kremlin, earnestly debating Marxist dialectics, two tired party chiefs inside the hall sip tea and discuss the passing of the old order.

As Washington struggled to regain a sense of equilibrium, with warplanes and heavily armed helicopters crossing overhead, past and present national security officials earnestly debated the possibility of a Congressional declaration of war - but against precisely whom, and in what exact circumstances?

They earnestly debated the opening of themed restaurants, and the demise of experimental opera productions, as if they were matters of millennial import.

He is the everlasting secretary of the students union labsoc, earnestly debating into the wee small hours with like minded over educated mates.

While the grown-ups are earnestly debating the difference between surplus value and profit, meanwhile, Stefan and Tet are playing "torture" and arguing over who gets to be Pinochet.

These were the questions that troubled them and that they debated earnestly.

Defining 'New Democrats' Right now, they are all earnestly debating what it means to have a President who is a "new Democrat."

There, in chin-stroking discussion, an official from the Straphangers Campaign; a former city transportation commissioner; and a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board were earnestly debating the strike's political ramifications.

Under the leadership of the new Finance Minister, Hans Eichel, the German Parliament is not just earnestly debating significant spending reductions, but also agreeing on sensible tax cuts.

Enkidu would have been happy to stand for a long time debating earnestly with the wide-eyed man, but I was growing impatient, and we moved on.