Palin is smart, politically skilled, courageous and likable. Her convention and debate performances were impressive.

People generally overestimate how distinct their lives are, so the commonalities seemed to them like a series of miracles.

This is how life works. Deciding whom to love is not an alien form of decision-making , a romantic interlude in the midst of normal life. Instead, decisions about whom to love are more intense versions of the sorts of decisions we make throughout the course of our existence, from what kind of gelato to order to what career to pursue. Living is an inherently emotional business.

Highly educated young people are tutored, taught and monitored in all aspects of their lives, except the most important, which is character building. When it comes to this, most universities leave them alone.

I do think creating an open free-trade economy but with strong social support is the way to go.

If you're cutting deals with one company or another, eventually, there's going to be a quid pro quo. There's going to be a bribe. There's going to be something.

I'm of course nostalgic for Barack Obama all of a sudden.