More things in politics happen by accident or exhaustion than happen by conspiracy.

After immersing myself in the mysteries of the Electoral College for a novel I wrote in the '90s, I came away believing that the case for scrapping it is less obvious than I originally thought.

The niftiest turn of phrase, the most elegant flight of rhetorical fancy, isn't worth beans next to a clear thought clearly expressed.

Somebody is going to have to do fancy footwork to make sure Elizabeth and John Edwards get their prime-time shot .

Something about her eyes or voice has always suggested the hint of a free spirit, trapped in a Peck and Peck cage, dreaming of making rude noises at public gatherings of Republicans.

In every debate, whatever the format, whatever the questions, there is one and only one way to identify the winner: Who commands the room? Who drives the narrative? Who is in charge?

History doesn't turn on a dime; it turns on a plugged nickel.

F.D.R. had to deal with Southern segregationists - and outright racists - who held power in Congress, so he had to yield to that power in order to get his New Deal legislation passed.

In politics, Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck. Daffy's always going berserk, jumping up and down, yelling. Bugs's got that sly smile, like he always knows what's up, like nothing can ruffle him.

In another life, before taking the veil of journalistic purity, I practiced the black arts of a political operative, including 'debate prep.

Television is one of the most fickle businesses that there are, you are in favour one minute and out the next.

Truth must be found in reality, not systems.

Trust" are the eyes you need in the shadow of death.

Claude Jade is a brave nice young lady. But I don't give any guarantee what she will do on a taxi's back seat.

He [John McCain] is a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured.

Many composers today don't know what the human throat is.

San Franciscans know we live in the most beautiful city in the world, a jewel on the edge of the Golden Gate

Then you should have died! Died, rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!

My eating habits were so bad for many years that I didn't actually know the intricacies of making a salad.

I was quite the quiet teenager. I was a bit of a loner, a little bit of an outsider.

You’re not supposed to animate drawings. You’re supposed to animate feelings.