writing in the "financial times" last week, the conservative journalist christopher caldwell describes the norquist pledge as a "partisan document," "a ratchet driving taxes down to unsustainable levels," and it "symbolizes a political system short on legitimacy." norquist claims the pledge is something politicians make to their constituents, not to him. but caldwell wonders "who authorized him to collect politicians' signatures on their constituents' behalf." even this misses the main point. norquist's efforts -- keep taxes low for his donor base, billionaires like the koch brothers and the plutocrats secretly clustered around norquist's comrade, karl rove. this past election, norquist's group, americans for tax reform, spent nearly $16 million to support his favored candidates -- that's according to the center for responsive politics. where did that money come from, and what did it buy? back in the 1990s it was the tobacco industry backing norquist's fight against cigarette taxes. now, it's the pharmaceutical companies, among others. not long ago, this same grover norquist was using