It was a time of sweeping political declarations - remember Newt Gingrich and his Contract With America?

The majority opinion included a sweeping declaration of liberty for homosexual men and women far beyond simply overturning the law.

"We are not engaged in these proceedings in consideration to some broad, sweeping rhetorical declaration of international intent," he said.

On the Democratic side, the lawyers also preferred sweeping declarations of principle to specific legal analysis.

Marshall is still hungover after Punchy's wedding, and makes a "sweeping declaration" that he will henceforth permanently stay sober.

Future Ted says that Marshall's "sweeping declarations" typically don't work.

On Nov. 8, the day after he won his landslide victory, he made a more sweeping declaration: "I've ruled out a tax increase."

The Government welcomed Mr. Bush's initiative but cautioned that sweeping declarations should be followed by concrete measures.

Between those extremes lie an array of apartment submarkets in which contradictions can be found to any sweeping declarations about market conditions.

Japan has never made sweeping declarations of responsibility for World War II comparable to those made by German leaders.