The legions of reporters who cover politics don't want to quit the clash and thunder of electoral combat for the dry duty of analyzing the federal budget. As a consequence we have created the perpetual presidential campaign.

People not just reporters are more interested in politics than in government so the actual issues wouldn't be something that interested them.

A wise nation should cultivate a political spirit that allows opponents to cooperate without fearing an automatic execution from their core supporters. Who knew that the real rogues in American politics would be the ones who dare to get along?

Reporters thrive on the world's misfortune. For this reason they often take an indecent pleasure in events that dismay the rest of humanity.

True enough nature has endowed me with a fair measure of patience and composure yet I should be lying if I told you that having seen the reporter off on his way to make his deadline I fell peacefully asleep.

When I was a little boy I used to borrow my father's hat and make a press card to stick in the hat band. That was the way reporters were always portrayed in the movies.

They put me on the shift where they thought I could do the least harm midnight to eight in the morning. Although the hours were lousy they were perfect for an apprentice reporter.

The reporting I did was mostly entertainment or lifestyle. I took a very different approach than most reporters. I approached it more casually than you would think a reporter would. Now I'm a morning radio personality and radio is really casual.

It's interesting to wake up at 3 in the morning by someone saying they're a reporter and they want to know how you feel. I felt fine but I said 'Well why do you ask?'

A basic rule of life for reporters is that you should spend your time talking with and learning about people who are not sending you press releases rather than those who are.