Fear rules almost every newsroom in the country.

One finds oneself saying: 'I know the right question, but ... this is not exactly the right time to ask it.'

Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.

President Bush insisted today that he was not caving in to big-money contributors, big-time lobbyists, and overall industry pressure when he broke a campaign promise to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. But the air was thick today with accusations from people who believe that's exactly what happened.

The great lesson my mother and father gave me was almost invisible. It was a strong sense of being rooted.

Writing is the rock on which everything is built.

Have you ever had any anger about President Bush - who spent his time during the Vietnam War in the National Guard - running, in effect, a campaign that does its best to diminish your service in Vietnam? You have to be at least irritated by that, or have you been?