22 Quotes by Whit Ayres

Well before this happened, I was glad the '06 elections weren't being held this summer. The country's in a funk, and it was in a funk before Katrina. But there's a great deal of time for that mood to change.

Most people have made up their minds about him one way or the other, but there's still a persuadable group in the middle who can be convinced that he's doing a good job, who are not at this point convinced.

to elevate Roberts, Ayres said. ''It makes a whole lot of sense to switch Judge Roberts over to the chief justice position.

History suggests that all presidents go through times like this. For presidents, it is not a matter of if you will run into a period like this. It is how you react to them.

Just as a number of factors drove the polls down, several different factors are driving them up. The more specific and more measured discussion of Iraq is a factor, the continuing good news on the economy is a factor, and declining gas prices is a factor.

People on either extreme would not be thrilled. But the vast majority would be extremely pleased if the president could find another Judge Roberts out there. Somebody of superb and unquestioned legal qualifications, devoted more to the law than promoting a particular agenda.

First, there's general concern about globalization and its effect on American manufacturing jobs. We see low unemployment, but the headlines are dominated by the thousands being laid off by General Motors and Ford.

There's obviously a lot of confusion at the start of any major new program, but the real test will come in 9 or 10 months when seniors have made the selection of a plan and some of the initial kinks have been worked out.

Public opinion on Iraq is overwhelmingly driven by events on the ground,