#v+
>>> "test".strip("t")
'es'
>>> import string
>>> print string.strip("test", "t")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in ?
TypeError: strip() takes exactly 1 argument (2 given)
>>>
#v-

*But* the Python documentation says that not only the
string *method* strip() will allow a second optional
argument, but also the strip function in the string
module.
(http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-string.html)

string.strip should be changed to accept the additional
 parameter.