It is hard to say exactly what the impact of such a speech can have on the development of merger negotiations.

It doesn't amount to very much. This is a small foothold and they would expect to be a significant player over time.

They're both seeing improvement in their existing businesses.

I thought the Middle Eastern part [of President Bush's State of the Union speech] was grossly exaggerated, given the percentage they supply. It's hard to pick out one part of the world as being more unstable than another part, especially if you're projecting 20, 25 years out.

You hear about constitutional rights, free speech and the free press. Every time I hear these words I say to myself, 'That man is a Red, that man is a Communist!' You never hear a real American talk like that.

[But doctors don't know whether he'll ever be able to walk on his own or improve his speech.] Right now he's at 50 to 60 percent, ... I don't think he'll ever make 100 percent. But he's going to grow and develop.