" Balancing your checkbook is to balancing the budget as driving to the supermarket is to landing on the moon. "

What is "in exchange for tax increases"? All I've heard from republicans is no more taxes, not ever. Kind of hard to negotiate for nothing in return.

Lily Bart, FTW! Wharton's fantastic. Even though the teenager I was when I read that wanted a happier (read: romantic) ending, I've come to appreciate the actual ending a lot more over the years.