I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write, and there are very few of them.

Choose the kids. There will be plenty of time later to choose work.

When hot dogs like Mr. D'Amato or the Republican apologist Roger Ailes say that Whitewater is worse than Watergate, it's because they're suffering from a disease. It's called bull-imia, and it's the regurgitation of patent hyperbole.

Look back, to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts.

On the other hand, I think that Governor Romney has to worry that his turnout is going to be low, that he is not going to bring out the evangelicals, that he is not going to bring out the Tea Party stalwarts. If he does not, then it's pretty clear that he will lose the election. So I think turnout in key groups is going to be really, really key on Election Day.

the separation of church and state grew out of a desire, not so much to protect government from religion, but to protect religion from government.

You want to have fun with your kids, and no one has fun with someone who runs roughshod.