People prefer to be with people like themselves. For all the celebration of "diversity," it's sameness that dominates. Most people favor friendships with those who share similar backgrounds, interests and values. It makes for more shared experiences, easier conversations and more comfortable silences. Despite many exceptions, the urge is nearly universal. It's human nature.

The tendency for politicians to claim credit for favorable news is as natural as flatulence in cows.

In politics, there's a fine line between too much conviction and too little.

We have arrived at socialized medicine in America. I do not report this as either a good or bad event but simply as something that has happened with hardly anyone realizing it. This is the first result - and probably the most important - of the national health care debate launched last week by President Clinton. Our politics and economy will never again be the same.

I believe we should build a wall - it might or might not slow immigration but it's worth a try and certainly that would provide political cover for the right when they compromise on other approaches to immigration. On the other hand, I believe there should be a path to citizenship for people who have been law-abiding except for having coming to the U.S. illegally.

When you become 70, you can't deny that you're on the downhill. But I keep doing what I've been doing. If I retired, what would I do? I'd brood about my kids and I'd play around with my investments, which would probably cost me.

People prefer to be with people like themselves. For all the celebration of "diversity," it's sameness that dominates. Most people favor friendships with those who share similar backgrounds, interests and values. It makes for more shared experiences, easier conversations and more comfortable silences. Despite many exceptions, the urge is nearly universal. It's human nature.