I don't know if they were just [talking], telling jokes, not paying attention. Not realizing what the situation was. I don't know what he was doing. Probably just introducing himself.

[Koechley has paid attention to many of the speeches, being particularly impressed with Barack Obama's .] A lot of the jokes that make The Onion challenge the frames of reference on issues, ... Obama articulated every issue perfectly. He took every tired line and made it fresh.

His mom was everything. No matter where he was or what he was doing, if his mom called him he would drop and run.

I know most of the money that he made he didn't put in his pocket.

The most beat-up truck you've ever seen. I don't think there's a body surface that isn't dented.

kept on talking and talking, you couldn't contain him, an avalanche of friendly phrases and jokes. I finally felt an almost physical consolation, warmth that I had forgotten for some time.