In the
American system of
governance, the member of the majority in a chamber of the legislature (at the federal level, the
House of Representatives or the
Senate) who works to get his colleagues to
vote the party line. During the
impeachment votes, for example,
Tom DeLay, via all manner of threats, including the cutoff of all-important campaign-finance assistance, got wavering
Republicans to "do the right thing". Nice Guys rarely get the gig.
Also a fine dessert topping.