One of the great ironies of politics is that some of the people who shout the loudest, walk the longest distances, spend sleepless nights campaigning, defend the party in hostile environments, and sacrifice their time and resources are often not the ones who benefit most when victory finally arrives. In every political dispensation, there are individuals who never attended a rally, never mounted a platform, never distributed a flyer, and never engaged in political arguments. Yet when power changes hands, they somehow secure some of the biggest opportunities, appointments, contracts, and advantages.