And when it comes to developing the high standards we need, it's time to stop working against our teachers and start working with them. Teachers don't go in to education to get rich. They don't go in to education because they don't believe in their children. They want their children to succeed, but we've got to give them the tools. Invest in early childhood education. Invest in our teachers and our children will succeed.

Based on current surveys of public opinion in the United States, it turns out that the majority of Americans think I've done a pretty good job.

There's no doubt that probably at least once a week, maybe once a day, I said, "Ah, I should have done that better."

Call Loretta Lynch for a vote. Get her confirmed. Put her in place. Let her do her job.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country

What I want to try to do is unify the two wings of the Democratic Party. What's considered the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party - the more centrist wing of the party. I think we can craft an approach that is more American, pro-worker, pro-business, pro-growth.

We start this new year in the midst of an economic crisis unlike we have seen in our lifetime.