I've been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid growing up in Tennessee: that one day, I'd have the chance to come here to Madison Square Garden and be the warm-up act for Elvis.

The 'well-informed citizenry is in danger of becoming the 'well-amused audience'.

When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler.

When politics is too slow, change has to come from culture.

We must also promote global access to the Internet. We need to bridge the digital divide not just within our country. But among countries. Only by giving people around the world access to this technology can they tap into the potential. Of the information age.

There's no doubt that in the last two to three decades, American democracy has been hacked. It was based on the regular harvesting of the wisdom of crowds, but now big sources of special interest money are able to prevent the passage of almost any meaningful reform that's aimed at the public interest.

Most people in politics draw energy from backslapping and shaking hands and all that. I draw energy from discussing ideas.