Both modes provide marvellous quotes, and I'll do my best to report the pick of Ainsley's utterings here at BRiSK.

In This White House:

"Lying's an awfully strong word... Yes, he's lying."

"Textbooks are important, if for no other reason than they accurately place the town of Kirkwood in California and not in Oregon."

"No, I don't kill my pets, I don't have any pets. I was thinking about getting a pet, but that doesn't matter..."

"This White House that feels that government is better for children than parents are. That looks at 40 years of degrading and humiliating free lunches, handed out in a spectacularly failed effort to level the playing field, and says 'Let's try 40 more'. This White House that says of anyone that points that out to them that they are cold and mean and racists, and then accuses the Republicans of using the politics of fear. This White House that loves the Bill of Rights, all of them - except the second one."

"You don't like people who do like guns. You don't like the people. Think about that the next time you make a joke about the South."

"It has to be this White House?"

"The people I have met have been extraordinarily qualified. Their intent is good. Their commitment is true. They are righteous, and they are patriots. And I'm their lawyer."

And It's Surely to Their Credit:

"I'm working in the Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue?"

"Is it so hard to believe, in this day and age, that someone would roll up their sleeves, set aside partisanship, and say, 'What can I do?' "

"Sam, do you think there's any chance that you could be rude to me tomorrow? Tomorrow is Saturday; I will be here. You can call me and be rude by phone or you can stop by and do it in person. 'Cause I think if I have to endure another disappointment today from this place that I have worshipped, I am gonna lose it. So if you could wait until tomorrow, I would appreciate it."

The Lame Duck Congress:

"Dad, it's me. Sam's asking for my help."

"I'm not gonna say anything, I'm not gonna spill anything. I'm not gonna get Republican juice on you."

"I wanna learn from the master."

"Can I take this muffin?"

"Are you eating that donut?"

The Portland Trip:

"You should really have Fresca."

"No, I just looked at the thermostat and got discouraged."

"I could grow papayas in here."

Bartlet's Third State of the Union:

"I've never met him. I'm an Associate Counsel; the Chinese food guy's got more access than I do."

"Yeah! It's a really big night for me!"

"Aren't I delightful?"

"I don't want to live in fear of the inevitable bungling of the English language that will occur and the mortification that will ensue."

"God! Thanks, Sam, for that debating tip, your feel for nuance. You're saying I shouldn't be drunk, when I'm representing the White House."

"There is a dash of Creme de Cacao, my friend."

17 People:

"Sam, if by 'those people' you're referring to Episcopaleans..."

"Sam, I'm a straight Republican from North Carolina. You don't think they hated me the first time around?"

"Do they have cheesecake down there?"

"Sam, if men were biologically responsible for procreation they'd fall down and die at the first sonogram."

"I believe that every time the federal government hands down a new law it leaves for the rest of us a little less freedom."

"We also like beef."

"Yeah, and Democrats believe in free speech - as long as it isn't a prayer while you're standing in school. You believe in the Freedom of Information Act - except if you want to find out if your 14-year old daughter had an abortion."

"I am a citizen of this country, I am not a special subset in need of your protection. I do not have to have my rights handed down to me by a bunch of old, white men. The same Article 14 that protects you protects me, and I went to law school just to make sure. And with that, I am going back down to the mess, because I thought I may have seen there, a peach."