To use an unfortunate metaphor, Iraq is a roadside bomb in American politics.

There is a thin line between politics and theatricals.

Katrina gets you to Iraq. It gets you to petroleum. It gets you to presidential politics. It has laid bare so many cracks and fissures in our system.

There is a lot of opportunistic crime in Iraq, but eventually, it all comes down to politics. The video and their demands for female Iraqi detainees showed they think they have something.

No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

You know the cliche that politics is Hollywood for ugly people, ... Political conventions are sort of showmanship for people whose idea of great entertainment is the Gridiron. If you think the Gridiron is equal to Radio City Music Hall in its heyday, then you'll probably find the conventions somewhat entertaining.