By legal trickery, often of the most venal sort, some of the hardest-working men and women of America had their land stolen from them.

There was widespread agreement that only the most venal would opt for duplication.

"This case involves political corruption at its most venal and brazen," said Mr. Rabner, a former federal prosecutor who became attorney general in September.

It means using our power to influence our closest allies and our most venal of enemies.

(Of course, anyone familiar with Ibbotson will know that even the most venal may be allowed a redemptive moment.)

The alternative is the next couple of McGwire homers flying into humankind, setting off the most venal scramble in sports history.

What's ridiculous is watching people apologise for the most venal, incompetent government this country has seen for a century.

"Pat Robertson is a fundamentalist Boss Tweed, preaching morality at Americans while running one of the most venal political machines in history."

No, the most venal rag in the city.

While that scam may be the most venal exploitation of "faith" voters by Washington operatives, it's all too typical.