The Council also has a long tradition of dividing the political spoils among the five boroughs.

Because Republicans won control of the Senate - and expanded their hold on the House - they are entitled to collect political spoils through greater representation on committees.

A Bush-Powell ticket might even be considered a cynical exploitation of the war's political spoils and an implicit promise of a militaristic foreign policy.

But in Waterbury, a heavily ethnic, industrial city, hard-fought political politics have often led to charges of political spoils.

In recommending Ms. Irizarry, Governor Pataki is continuing his practice of treating judgeships as political spoils.

Nearly two years after the insurgency began, its political demands remain vague - beyond claims for a greater share of Sudan's economic and political spoils.

But those elections can't be considered democratic or legitimate if they merely allocate political spoils between guerrilla leaders and a foreign-imposed regime.

But Mr. Cuomo, who opposes the election of judges, accused the Assembly of simply wanting to share in the political spoils.

Until recently, the President appointed all mayors and state governors, and political spoils were formally divided between the two traditional parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives.

But there are consequences to be paid if the Republicans are allowed to feast too ravenously on the political spoils.