It's a little like the Mafia. A friend of mine is a friend of yours.

If you're writing a gossip column, it's just different and shouldn't be held to the same standards as reporting on the war in Iraq.

He was going to get a connection — a friend who would give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's not easy to accomplish, but he certainly has the means to do so. I have a plan I'd like to discuss.

It was a solid punch. It was no picnic.

They were probably so thrilled to beat up on the Post that they weren't too careful about what his motives were.

He set it up through a middle man. He initiated discussions in a potential investment in my clothing company. That's where the whole money issue originated. He was the first one to bring up any question of payment for press coverage.

I'm sure for a little while everybody's going to watch their step and then it will be back to business as usual. And that's not really that bad.

Um, $100,000 to get going and then you could get it to me on a month-to-month, maybe like $10,000.