I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.

Civility is not simply about manners.

Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.

A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.

The majority of U.S. high school students don't know within 50 years when the Civil War occurred.

When I look at Social Security, I consider it the most important social program in the United States, arguably the most successful program in the world.

America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.