Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests. The right reason is to challenge the status quo to serve the common good and to leave this nation better than we found it.

When times are tough constant conflict may be good politics but in the real world cooperation works better. After all nobody's right all the time and a broken clock is right twice a day.

And yet there are still people in American politics who for some reason cling to this belief that America is better off adopting the economic policies of nations whose people who immigrate here from there.

One lesson you better learn if you want to be in politics is that you never go out on a golf course and beat the President.

Half a truth is better than no politics.

You better take advantage of the good cigars. You don't get much else in that job.

It is better to be violent if there is violence in our hearts than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.

I don't know a better preparation for life than a love of poetry and a good digestion.

Poetry had far better imply things than preach them directly... in the open pulpit her voice grows hoarse and fails.

If I do a poetry reading I want people to walk out and say they feel better for having been there - not because you've done a comedy performance but because you're talking about your father dying or having young children things that touch your soul.