That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.

Nothing raises the national temperature more than a VACANCY sign hanging from the colonnaded front of the Supreme Court.

That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.

I looked at Mum and realized -- twang! -- that she was telling an untruth. A big untruth. And I remember thinking in that instant how thrilling and grown-up it must be to say something so completely untrue, as opposed to the little amateur fibs I was already practiced at -- horrid little apprentice sinner that I was --like the ones about you'd already said your prayers or washed under the fingernails. Yes, I was impressed. I too must learn to say these gorgeous untruths. Imaginary kings and queens would be my houseguests when I was older.

How many times had those awful words - "I know what I'm doing" - been uttered throughout history as prelude to disaster?

I'm a Republican, but I find Nancy Pelosi very attractive. She hasn't done a single thing as congressman or Speaker of the House that has turned me on, but I find her quite okay.

One realization does dawn upon the death of the second parent, namely that you've now moved into the green room to the River Styx. You're next.