Shock, confusion, fear, anger, grief, and defiance. On Sept. 11, 2001, and for the three days following the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, President George W. Bush led with raw emotion that reflected the public's whipsawing stages of acceptance.

Election night is the easiest time to act like a grownup.

If Mitt Romney is vanilla, Chris Christie is three hefty scoops of Rocky Road topped with whipped cream, Red Bull, and gravel.

Palin seems to have forgotten that her poll ratings have plummeted since the summer of 2011.

It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.

In times of tumult, voters are likely to forgive a president, if not reward him, for compromises made in service of solutions.

Don't underestimate questions from the crowd; technology has made voters more informed than ever.