“My old pal Joe Biden called me in January of 2010.  He said, ‘Al, I got a real deal for you.’ I said, ‘What is it Joe?’ He said, ‘Co-chair the commission.’ I said, ‘Well, let me get [my wife] Ann in here so she can laugh, too.’”

­— Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) describing his reaction when Vice President Joseph Biden asked him to be part of the White House fiscal commission.