that may be true, but next week we'll test that theory after the departure of my chief of staff lisa walski. lisa has been on my whip staff since january of 20036789 she started as tax counsel in my personal office because i serve on the finance committee and then moved to the whip office in late-2007. she's more than -- you know, we refer to people around here as staffers. that name doesn't begin to encapsulate what we think of those people who work with us every day and provide us with all of the thanks we need to try to be successful, and that certainly is lisa walski. she is and always has been one of my most trusted advisors. she is the gold standard of expertise and professionalism. everything i've asked her to do she's done and done well. but, more importantly, she brings to me the things that she thinks that i should be thinking about and more often than not that's exactly what i end up doing. she knows what she's talking b she knows what i want and what i need. those who work with her know she's smart. she's articulate. and through her mastery of complex policies and political savv