There’s a famous legal maxim that says, “When the facts are against you, argue the law; when the law is against you, argue the facts; when both the facts and the law are against you, pound on the table.”

When Rep. Ernest Istook Jr. was caught inserting a provision into the omnibus appropriations bill allowing the Congressional appropriations committees to have access to anyone’s tax return, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (an attorney) apparently remembered the advice he was given in law school:

Pounding on his desk, Stevens said he had given his word and so had Young that neither would use the authority to require the IRS to turn over individual or corporate tax returns to them. “I would hope that the Senate would take my word. I don’t think I have ever broken my word to any member of the Senate.”

“… Do I have to get down on my knees and beg?” he said.”