When the history of the 20th century Congress is written — post-World War I to the present — Tom DeLay will emerge, in the judgment of any honest historian, as one of the more influential leaders of the century. For him to pull back from the leadership will leave a vacuum.

It's no secret he has a major political challenge on his hands — he's aware of that. Everyone in that part of Texas is aware of it.

I think Bush is at his best when he is fully engaged in an almost campaign level of intensity on behalf of his agenda. When he doesn't fully engage on behalf of what he is trying to accomplish, that is when he suffers the most.

It's too early to tell. It could wind up being the New Deal on steroids.

This is hope for there being a more civil, dignified process to nominate and confirm justices to the court.

There is an awful lot of anxiety among Republicans as to what may happen in 2006. I think there is a sense among a growing number of members that they have lost their way. Tom DeLay may become a symbol of what ails them.

If people can agree that the last 40 years didn't help win the War on Poverty in New Orleans and the Gulf - and even hurt it - then the debate shifts into not replicating the last 40 years.

If you want to characterize them in a word that is very popular this week, [the budget cuts] are very mainstream. There is nothing radical about these cuts.

Normally, it's hard to put reforms in place when you have an existing structure. We don't have that now. This is a unique opportunity to give New Orleans and the Gulf Coast a better shake of it.