"This is the best of times for lobbyists," Mr. Light said.

"They've been talking about this for 18 months, so it's not really a new initiative," Mr. Light said.

"This was never meant to be an agency competition," Mr. Light said.

Nothing is being barred from consideration at the meeting, Mr. Light promised.

Mr. Light shared what he called "the best news of all: the consumer is on our side."

As Mr. Light notes, this is not to say that most became radicals in specific political terms.

It is this kind of development that Mr. Light often neglects.

Mr. Light said in government, as in business, it is difficult to ask people to give up one identity and culture for another.

Mr. Light doesn't see anything puzzling at all in the devotion to the drive-in.

"We think our position has been vindicated at yet another level," Mr. Light said.