Hyperbole was to Lyndon Johnson what oxygen is to life.

When certain causes become prairie fires, politicians make difficult choices, and often at the expense of someone like Jeremiah Wright and Walter Jenkins. That's the cruel nature of American politics, where the end becomes the consummate objective, and sometimes the means to get there come at a great price.

Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.

For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.

We see more and more of our Presidents and know less and less about what they do.

If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes you a liberal, I plead guilty.

When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think we are this close to losing democracy to the mercenary class.