I was beginning to detect in Minns a pattern: tough rhetoric combined with pragmatic action.

Their analysis disclosed the church's balancing act: tough rhetoric in the short term and gradual accommodation over the long run.

However, there was some optimism as the tough rhetoric appeared largely to be a war of words.

The Mayor's critics contend that his tough racial rhetoric has kept whites from moving back to the city, but he dismisses the notion.

Mr. Aziz's airport arrival statement contained some positive signals, but also a great deal of tough rhetoric.

Mr. Bush's gibe about "no controlling legal authority" gave a hint of the tough rhetoric to come.

If tough rhetoric and penalties worked, we would not have a drug problem.

The risk for Obama is that tougher rhetoric against big business could turn off some of the centrist voters he needs to win re-election.

"Rather, his tough rhetoric of a year ago is now standard copy for just about all of the candidates."

And I think it's a shame that President Clinton's weak action today did not match his tough rhetoric.