"The failure of the White House and Congress to seriously address the nation's fiscal situation is certain to broaden the belief among many voters that the U.S. political system is broken."

"You can almost see voters nodding their heads at home: The public's faith in politicians and political institutions has been on a steep and dangerous decline for decades, because elected leaders fail to deliver."

"If acknowledging that racial misgivings and misunderstandings are still a part of politics and life in America, I plead guilty."

"By nominating Chuck Hagel to be his Defense secretary, President Obama is putting forward an aloof contrarian who doesn't suffer fools - a striving politician who considers himself above politics."

"To walk the path of enlightenment means a single moment of clarity can change a lifetime."

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

"Well I do think there are people who are habitually negative and depressed and take the opposite approach because they imagine the worst, and their minds become dominated by that. They let their own emotions and expectations transform their perceptions of the world."

"Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change."