He's a very intelligent kid with off-the-chart makeup. He's very tough mentally, loves challenges, works very hard and is always optimistic.

I think it's a good scouting thing to know that he had that kind of makeup. It's tough to get through something like that. I don't know if I could have done it. It was pretty admirable.

They pour a whole lot of concrete here ... for boondoggles and white elephants.

They've run a very poor campaign. They haven't offered a really clear vision of how they're different. They've been tarred with the brush of being against reform, which is not actually true.

I believe Koizumi when he reaffirmed his intention to stand down next September and also believe he will change his mind. There have already been calls for him to extend his term, not only to take care of the unfinished business on his reform agenda but also to lead the LDP into the Upper House elections in July 2007.

They pour a whole lot of concrete here ... for boondoggles and white elephants,