At the end of the day, the Washington establishment is going to go where they're going to go.

I'm a maniac, and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly. And Ben [Carson] you're a terrible surgeon.

As president, I wouldn't be making the day-to-day combat decisions. The job of the commander-in-chief is to lay the objective out and then you rely upon the generals and admirals and commanders to give you their expert advice on the tools needed to carry out that objective.

My focus is not on any one particular election or any one particular candidate. My focus is on the issues and policy that will make a difference expanding opportunity.

What I think is at stake in 2012, is whether the five or six strong conservatives elected to the Senate in 2010 become 10 or 12. And if that happens, it will fundamentally shift the character of the Senate. It will shift the balance.

Carli Fiorina thinks the answer for Social Security and Medicare is...zero-based budgeting! Christ. People of a certain age are all banging their heads on the table right now.

I am perfectly happy to compromise and work with anybody. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians. I’ll work with Martians. If — and the if is critical — they're willing to cut spending and reduce the debt.