In another life, before taking the veil of journalistic purity, I practiced the black arts of a political operative, including 'debate prep.'

There is no such thing as political science, but there are tenancies so strong that they might as well be called laws of nature.

There is something discordant about a team of speechwriters and political operatives hammering away to create an image of the 'real, inner' candidate. And, to be blunt, there is no necessary connection between a moving life experience and the skills necessary for leadership.

One of the litmus tests for judicial conservatism is the idea of judicial restraint - that courts should give substantial deference to the decisions of the political process. When Congress and the president enact a law, conservatives generally say, judges should avoid 'legislating from the bench.'

I really have never heard an acceptance speech where 20 years of a guy's life in the U.S. Senate is kissed off in three sentences.

I'm not a policy wonk, and I don't dream of being a political operative.