Palin was a political Hail Mary, a long bomb in the closing minutes of a game that John McCain and Co. were certain to lose. They didn't care if she had the policy or political or emotional capacity to serve as vice president, let alone president. They were willing to drive the country off a cliff, if that's what it took to win.

Barack Obama is the most famous living person in the history of the world.

I am encouraged to see women are being elected in Chile, Argentina, Liberia, Ireland. More is more.

There is an institutional cynicism that causes reporters to question everything the President says, and the motives of everything the President and his Administration try to accomplish.

Trying to negotiate getting a couple of kids to watch the same TV show requires serious diplomacy.

Campaigns often make standing on principle the highest of virtues - and listening to your opponents a sure sign of weakness. It's the virtual opposite of what it takes to succeed in office. Squaring the circle takes a powerful combination of skills. But presidents who can campaign and compromise are generally the most successful.

Clinton's resilience became sort of the secret weapon of the campaign. He was never going to just give up and get out.