I don't think I'm really open to having Washington change me.

Washington is still very much a male-oriented culture. Being from Los Angeles I think it is less so there - there is less attachment to tradition perhaps there is more flexibility more acceptance of change generally. That is partly because of Hollywood.

I ran for president in order to be able to try to change Washington D.C. from the inside. Our federal government is broken.

I got all the respect in the world for the front-runners in this race but ask yourself: If we replace a Democratic insider with a Republican insider you think we're really going to change Washington D.C.? You don't have to settle for Washington and Wall Street insiders who supported the Wall Street bailout and the Obamacare individual mandate.

These songs are old friends I have entertained myself with when I'm washing the dishes driving to the store and walking down the aisles. The ones that you sing when you're driving in the car and as a singer you always go back to them.

The New Dealers have all left Washington to make way for the car dealers.

If you or me go to the gas station to fill up our car and it costs us much more than we expected it will zap our discretionary income. We won't have the extra money to buy that washing machine or new winter coat-all big ticket items that are important to economic growth.

Mayors could never get away with the kind of nonsense that goes on in Washington. In our world you either picked up the trash or you didn't. You either moved an abandoned car or you didn't. You either filled a pothole or you didn't. That's what we do every day. And we know how to get this stuff done.

I started out mopping floors waiting tables and tending bar at my dad's tavern. I put myself through school working odd jobs and night shifts. I poured my heart and soul into a small business. And when I saw how out-of-touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation I put my name forward and ran for office.

Washington has to become an ally of business not the opposition of business.