If you make a mistake, clean it up quicker rather than later.

But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.

Many Democrats have a pre-9/11 worldview.

To be able to compete, we've got to improve our education system, our litigation environment, our tax code, our health system and our trading policies if we're going to be as strong economically in the years ahead.

I would have strong opinions and be prepared to argue my case, but if you talk to my colleagues, I think you'd find they consider me the jokester, the informal mayor of the West Wing.

You may be right that people say: You know what, we had Obama. He was inexperienced. The guy had great rhetoric, sounded good, looked good, but has turned out to be an utter disaster. I want someone where I have confidence and credibility that they're up to the job and that I can trust what they tell me.

Ronald Reagan wasn't in the establishment of the Republican Party either, nor was Richard Nixon.