Obama has made America cool again - and more than that, he's made his own brand arguably the most powerful the world has ever known.

Obama has made America cool again - and more than that, he's made his own brand arguably the most powerful the world has ever known.

During my years as a press secretary, I developed a powerful internal filter, which worked to strip all things 'off message' from my thoughts before they came out of my mouth. It didn't always work, of course, and I said more than a few things I regretted.

Part of Obama's persona is self-reliance. He's calm; he's cool; he's self-possessed. In many ways, he has tried to define himself in opposition to Clinton's sometimes needy, often undisciplined, emotionalism.

I think a lot of presidents learn to be president by being president.

I am encouraged to see women are being elected in Chile, Argentina, Liberia, Ireland. More is more.

A lot of people over time have had this kind of pattern in their relationship with Bill Clinton. You first meet him and you're overwhelmed by his talent. He's so energetic and articulate and full of ideas and he calls himself a congenital optimist and that optimism is contagious.