I do think that I am generally optimistic.

My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington.

I don't look at my pension. It's not as big as yours so it doesn't take as long.

We've evolved a lot since 9/11 also, in terms of our law enforcement capabilities, our intelligence capabilities, military, counterterrorism.

Rather, my perceptions about how we solve problems in health care or education span across a whole range of areas. And I want to try to capture that complexity.

But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. It's unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop. Pass this bill, and put our teachers back in the classroom where they belong.

America is not - and never will be - at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists.