David Gergen

We've had two presidents in a row now, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, come to Washington promise to change, make this our discourse, make it more civil. And it just gets worse.

This is very discouraging for people who want to see the democracy work.

This is putting democracy to a real test and leadership on both sides, leaders on both sides need to step up and put an end to these disruptive kind of brawling, physically violent sessions.

America is a country that cares about its own, that it will go to great lengths, a former president will fly around the world, in effect, to bring back two innocent, brave Americans, to reunite them with their families, and that…

The hope is, that this is a signal by North Korea that they would like to have a -- perhaps get back into serious conversations about their nuclear capacity.

To be honest with you, President Clinton spent three hours with Kim Jong-Il. He's only been -- had given a very brief reading out of the White House.

I think this sends a more important message to the world and that is that America is a country that it cares about its own, that it will go to great lengths.

The hope is that this is a signal by North Korea that they would like to have a -- perhaps get back into serious conversations about their nuclear capacity.

I think people ought to have a higher level of respect for him after this trip, and thank him for doing what he did.

Listen, the United States gave nothing away. Bill Clinton went in the -- in the capacity as a private citizen. That is why the emphasis on privacy is so important.

The White House does not want to be seen in a position of, we wanted -- in -- in exchange for the women, we will take a softer line on nuclear talks.

I think the White House and the secretary of state have been very carefully trying to describe this as a private mission, a humanitarian mission, not one undertaken at the request of President Obama.

I think that's nonsense and heartless. As much as I respect John Bolton for some of his views, I just sharply disagree here. Listen, the United States gave nothing away.

All indications are that the signals actually came from the North Koreans through the families that if Bill Clinton were to come that would be enough to trigger it.

Well, I think the White House and the Secretary of State have been very carefully trying to describe this as a private mission, a humanitarian mission.

I must say, we ought to take a moment here to say how exemplary Bill Clinton's behavior has been since his wife became Secretary of State. A lot of people thought he would be a loose cannon. He has been totally supportive.

When you're in the White House, you're going to get blamed for what goes wrong. It is totally understandable you try to take the credit for as much as you can when it goes right.

I think to raise taxes now, first of all, would be bad economics, with a recession still under way and high unemployment. But, secondly, I think the political price of doing that now would be just horrendous, and Democrats would lose badly…

If you spend a lot of money, as this administration wants to do, and as the Bush administration did, that combination of spending is going to force taxes to go up eventually.

Inevitably, this is -- the taxes are going to go up, and go up on the middle class.

His chances of getting a full health-care package done might be a big drama. It's still an uphill fight for him in the Congress.

This has been a very good day for the president. And having the House go out now, three committees considering health care. All three have voted health care out and recommended it to the full House.

President Obama is about to get there.

Indeed, fractious Democrats remain a problem for the President.

This has been a good day for the President. Having the House go out now where there were three committees considering health care; all three have voted health care out and recommended it to the full House.