Spending when the math's not there and the numbers aren't there and if they look in the social security trust fund it's filled with IOUs because the government's been pilfering it for years on end. We have to do something. We have to start having this discussion.

Whether we knew many who died on September 11 or personally knew none we all lost something on that day. Innocence. Security. A trust that our homeland would always be safe.

When it comes to locations I'm one of those crazy authors who has to see it touch it taste it before I trust myself to recreate it for my readers. Having said that visiting a locked-down pediatric psych ward was the most intimidating research I've ever done - and I've visited maximum security prisons shooting galleries bone collections etc.

While it is clear that we need to make some adjustments to protect Social Security for the long term it is disingenuous to say that the trust fund is facing a crisis.

The Social Security trust fund is in pretty good shape today and we should not embark upon risky dangerous schemes which will in fact undermine Social Security such as privatization.

Trust your gut instinct over spreadsheets. There are too many variables in the real world that you simply can't put into a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets spit out results from your inexact assumptions and give you a false sense of security. In most cases your heart and gut are still your best guide.

It's time to stop the raid on the Social Security trust fund and start allowing Americans to invest their Social Security taxes in personal savings accounts.

Will some reporter or some Republican on the Sunday shows please ask why tax cuts raid the non-existent Social Security Trust Fund but all the Democrats' new spending doesn't? Will someone please ask that?

Foreign policy is about trying to deliver for them the best possible economic benefits the chance to travel to study to work the opportunity through trade to be able to sell their goods and services and as much peace and security so they can live and bring their kids up so they don't have to fear war.

Each and every one of the security measures we implement serves an important goal: providing safe and efficient air travel for the millions of people who rely on our aviation system every day.