Peter Norvig: "We can't fix the process in time for the 2008 elections, but I can look at the candidates as if they were interviewing for the job of CEO of the US. What is clear in 2008, more so than in 2004, is that what we need now is a turnaround specialist. The hard part about effecting a turnaround is fear of change."

Bob Cringely: "If you are a new CEO who needs to turn around a business 10 minutes after walking through the door, there are two things you can do: 1) cut costs, and 2) focus on your top 20 percent customers."