I believe that ignorance is the root of all evil. And that no one knows the truth.

You look at the large problems that we face - that would be overpopulation, water shortages, global warming and AIDS, I suppose - all of that needs international cooperation to be solved.

All my life, I've been sort of a professional optimist, full of good cheer about matters political and journalistic. I always thought I'd get older and become an unnaturally cheerful old fart. But it's not happening.

Right before the Bush inauguration, many women were greatly reassured when Laura said of Roe v. Wade on the 'Today' show, 'No, I don't think it should be overturned.' Three days later, her husband reimposed the 'global gag rule' on groups abroad that receive U.S. funding for family planning.

How come trying to explode myths about Texas always winds up reinforcing them?

We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. I don't think it's that hard. It doesn't take rocket science. We've done it before successfully at the presidential level and tried it several places at the state level.

There is never anyone quite so wonderful as the people who were seniors when you were a freshman.

You can't ignore politics, no matter how much you'd like to.

It's a monstrous idea to put people in prison and keep them there.

Being slightly paranoid is like being slightly pregnant - it tends to get worse.

If Democrats in Washington haven't got enough sense to own the issue of political reform, I give up on them entirely.

We should all laugh more at our elected officials - it's good for us and good for them.

The Kurds will not be allowed to have an independent country because Turkey wouldn't stand for it; they have their own Kurdish population.

When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel - it's vulgar.

Even I felt sorry for Richard Nixon when he left; there's nothing you can do about being born liberal - fish gotta swim, and hearts gotta bleed.

Should a girl like me, in whom the milk of human kindness flows copiously for everyone, from protein-shy Hottentots to the glandular obese, actually aim a few swift boots at the prone form of Sen. Phil Gramm? Nah. But it's tempting.

The most unusual thing about Clinton as a pol is that he listens. Listens and remembers. If he does dance with them that brung him, not them that gave him big money, we will have a populist on our hands.

All anyone needs to enjoy the state legislature is a strong stomach and a complete insensitivity to the needs of the people. As long as you don't think about what that peculiar body should be doing and what it actually is doing to the quality of life in Texas, then it's all marvelous fun.

I really think the single most important thing to remember about trying to fix the schools is that there is no such thing as an instant result.

The reason I take Rush Limbaugh seriously is not because he's offensive or right-wing, but because he is one of the few people addressing a large group of disaffected people in this country. And despite his frequent denials, Limbaugh does indeed have a somewhat cult-like effect on his ditto heads.

Truth is, I've spent much of my life trying, unsuccessfully, to explode the myths about Texas.

The danger of the blogosphere is reading only those you agree with. While there are right-wing blogs that are entertaining freak shows, it's hard to find substantial journalism there.

It really is possible to disagree with someone's policies without hating them. Grown-ups can do that.

And the funny thing is, I've always been an optimist - it's practically a congenital disorder with me.