"The Rain Was Sluicing From My Fedora and Down My Trenchcoat..."

"...as I walked down the filthy, mean streets and sucked on a cigarette. My gun, Betsy, was a comfortable weight under my left armpit. `How was it that I ever allowed myself to be talked into this gig,' I wondered."

Mike Hammer, spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House, said that there were no plans for the trip to Madrid, but that “the president is committed to a strong U.S.-E.U. partnership, and with Europe in general” on topics like Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, the global economy and climate change.

"Maybe the jury was out on this job, but one thing was certain: My gun was still quick."

(If you don't get the reference, go here.)