We are at a crossroads over how the federal government in Washington and state legislatures and city councils across the land allocate their financial resources. Which fork we take will say a lot about Americans and our values.

The nature of freedom of choice is that some people will misuse their responsibility and hurt themselves in the process. We should do our best to educate them, but without diminishing choice for everyone else.

One of the sharp parallels is that neither Vietnam nor Iraq was the slightest threat to America's national security.

I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.

For a generation and more, the government has sought to meet our needs by multiplying its bureaucracy. Washington has taken too much in taxes from Main Street, and Main Street has received too little in return. It is not necessary to centralize power in order to solve our problems.

The longer the title, the less important the job.

I always thought of myself as a moderate liberal, a fighter for peace and justice. I never thought of myself as being all that far out.