In a day and age of global competition and instantaneous financial flows, you have to be highly sensitive to the way in which tax policy impacts your overall competitiveness as a country.

I think we have to be very sensitive to our need to compete, moving forward, and a lot of that is tied to tax policy.

It's taken a lot of presidents to get us where we are today, a lot of deployments, a lot of wars, a lot engagements. You add them all up.

I'm a true native of the Bay Area.

I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.

If we can't find cuts in the defense budget, we're not looking carefully enough.

People truly reaching across boundaries - be they religious or race, political or geographic. A state that is sincerely civil and respectful of each individual's pathway toward life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be our goal.