Good-faith re-examination of a position you've held in the past should be seen as a virtue, not a vice.

Genuine dialogue, not rhetorical bomb-throwing, leads to progress.

I believe climate change is real - and I believe we have to act to protect the climate as fast as we possibly can.

I support allowing gay couples to marry because of - not in spite of - my values. And many of those values are the same ones deeply held by those who do not believe in gay marriage.

As the nation watches, Democrats and Republicans should reflect the interspersed character of America itself. Perhaps, by sitting with each other for one night, we will begin to rekindle that common spark that brought us here from 50 different states and widely diverging backgrounds to serve the public good.

I've learned from being in the woods that titles don't mean much and that actions speak a lot louder than words - even in Congress. I always look for the people who want to act - people who want to run the river or climb the mountain - even if they're not members of my political party.

Reform is not for the short-winded. I'm committed to making sure the Senate is more than just a graveyard for good ideas.