“Being a conservative at the New York Times is sort of like being the chief rabbi in Mecca.”

—Columnist David Brooks

“We both went to the University of Chicago. David evidently went the extra step and attended class.”

—Presidential adviser David Axelrod on David Brooks

“It doesn’t look good. It’s the Yankees, not the Nationals.”

—Sports executive Maury Brown on why it’s embarrassing that the Yankees’ choice seats in their new $1.3-billion stadium are still unsold

“You might be surprised to know I don’t know of every movement of Air Force One.”

—White House press secretary Robert Gibbs responding to a reporter’s question about the $325,000 publicity photo op over New York City by the President’s backup plane

This article first appeared in the June 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.