Beginning each January, governors summarize accomplishments, present challenges, and propose solutions. As one might expect, a certain amount of rhetoric accompanies the listing of accomplishments. But when that rhetoric is stripped away, patterns of gubernatorial focus can be seen. Some of these patterns might be linked to common state conditions, such as economic downturns, taxation issues, or even court-mandated school finance fixes. Others might have bubbled up from such organizations as the National Governors Association or the Education Commission of the States--organizations that enable governors to focus on pressing issues and to network with their peers.