On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did all Americans, in a way that is impossible to describe, that we were not protected by the two oceans. It was necessary to eliminate threats before they showed up on our doorstep. I agree that we should not be getting caught up in far away wars. But I believe Iraq was central to our war on terrorism.

Iraqis are sick of foreign people coming in their country and trying to destabilize their country.

Whatever party you're in in America, our troops deserve the full support of our government.

I told you I'm not going to criticize my successor. I'll just tell you that there are people at Gitmo that will kill American people at a drop of a hat and I don't believe that persuasion isn't going to work. Therapy isn't going to cause terrorists to change their mind.

I do believe in the sanctity of marriage. ...But I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person.

Americans spend 6 billion hours a year filling out their tax reforms.

Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations.