On the security front, the United States must continue to play a leadership role. There simply is not another country in the world that commands the respect or has the capabilities that we do, and we must not shrink from our responsibilities.

I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.

Abortion is not an issue with the American people. It is a figment of your imagination if you think that this is an issue that is talked about a lot.

We do, in former chairman Lee Atwater's words, offer the party as a big tent, and therefore that message has to be clear. How we do that within the platform, the preamble to the platform or whatnot, that remains to be seen. But that message will have to be articulated with great clarity.

We shouldn't have to be burdened with all the technicalities that come up from time to time with shrewd, smart lawyers interpreting what the laws or what the Constitution may or may not say.

The destruction, it is just very heart-rendering.

I couldn't help but be impressed by the magnitude of the earthquake.