In the midst of economic recovery and global upheaval, disasters like this remind us of the common humanity that we share.

You can question somebody's views and their judgment without questioning their motives or patriotism.

The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something.

It's important to make sure that governments have some checks on what they do, that people can oversee what's being done so the government doesn't abuse it.

The United States does not have a monopoly on crazy people. It's not the only country that has psychosis. And yet we kill each other in these mass shootings at rates that are exponentially higher than anyone else. Well, what's the difference? The difference is that these guys can stack up a bunch of ammunition in their houses, and that's sort of par for the course.

I refuse to give in to the notion that the American people can't handle complicated information.

I am confident that Assad's days are numbered. But what we can't do is to simply suggest that, as Governor Romney at times has suggested, that giving heavy weapons, for example, to the Syrian opposition is a simple proposition that would lead us to be safer over the long term.