Blunt is an insider. He is soft-spoken, but a hardcore right-winger who has very close relations with the business community and ideological conservatives. He's not as much of a lightning rod as DeLay.

Boehner should not start putting pictures on the wall and hanging drapes. This could be a very temporary job if the Republicans lose in November.

Usually, a candidate has to nail down the base and move to the centre after the nomination, ... She has the flexibility because she has so much affection from the base.

The groups want certain questions asked of Roberts to lay a predicate for future nominees. Unless there's a revelation we can't fathom, this will be the meat of the hearings.

It's almost like Bush is running for reelection with peace and prosperity.

[In Bush's case,] the change is more in aesthetics and less in substance, ... Perhaps [Bush] accepts a larger role for government than some conservatives, but that has been a transformation within conservative circles as well.