No politician likes to be the bearer of bad news.

Today's politicians do not like to talk in public about policy alternatives that involve pain.

It's one of those few times when a politician actually likes to lose.

No politician today likes to use that last word lightly.

"That's one the politicians might like to start," he said.

"No politician likes to hear about job cuts," he said at a news conference later in the day.

Certainly American politicians also like to advertise their common touch.

We could make the choice to let that happen, but the politicians and the banks certainly won't like it.

It just doesn't add up, much as politicians, seemingly ignorant of their younger days, would like to think.

But we do a lot more than that - and that is what the politicians don't like.