“Republicans know well that a change of rhetorical pace is necessary. But efforts by their leaders to damp down the bellicosity of newly elected Tea Party types is running into the fact that the Tea Partiers have only the high volume setting on their amplifiers, just like Palin. They're like a couple having a fight at a funeral; politely sotto voce, then suddenly bursting out fortissimo with their plaints and accusations.”

“Journalists are notoriously prone to exaggerate the beneficial impact of elections and to ignore more complex developments.”

“All these years of thinking, ending up like this: In front of all this beauty, understanding nothing.”

“The telling of a story, like virtually everything in this life, was always made all the easier by a cup of tea.”

“Everybody wants to see justice done, to somebody else.”

“Got to kick at the darkness 'till it bleeds daylight”

“I, my own damn self, am not a Tea Party supporter. I disagree with them on social liberties, our overseas wars, Obama's birthplace, Sarah Palin, and the conspicuous absence of tea at their rallies.”