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

Public decision-making does not lend itself to certitude.

There are words bandied about that are being misused - words like 'socialism,' words like 'communism,' words like 'fascism.

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

I have a long-term interest in the humanities.

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

There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism.