In my opinion, the president is right to address future funding, even though Social Security will show a surplus through 2018 and will not run out of funds until 2042.

The worst thing that can happen to us in an ideological struggle is to become what we are fighting.

America has faced much more difficult times, including potential national extinction, without flinching.

We don't defeat evil by becoming evil.

It is statesmanlike for the administration and Congress to look to our nation's welfare beyond their terms in office.

In matters large and small, many people seemed concerned about churlishness, an ugliness in our relationships that appears to be increasing rather than decreasing.

The quality that defines us as Americans is the courage to respond to being hit. The courage to root out and destroy the killers. And, most importantly, the courage to hold on to our values and protect our hard-won freedoms while doing it.