We are all used to paying a sales tax when we buy things - almost 9 percent here in New York City. The application of this concept to the financial sector could solve our need for revenue bring some sanity back into the financial sector and give us a way to raise the revenue we need to run the government in a fiscally responsible way.

I have long said there are three distinct groups under the GOP's tent: theological warriors who want to impose their social views on the rest of society Tea Party zealots who say with a straight face that they want the government to get out of their Medicare and remnants of the pro-business moderates.

For me journalism has been more a matter of projecting a particular approach to covering policies to covering issues. It was a continuation of what I tried to do in government.

Aggression is simply another name for government.

My politics are of a practical kind - the integrity of the country the supremacy of the Federal government an honorable peace or none at all.

I love and always have loved policy issues and trying to have an impact on the issues that are out there. I cherish my years in government. I have loved my participation at CNN at Current writing teaching. Where I will go next I will have to sort out.

Gandhi has asked that the British Government should walk out of India and leave the Indian people to settle differences among themselves even if it means chaos and confusion.

Power must be used but it must be tempered by soul-searching and the recognition of our human capacity for error. That is the maxim that should inform our approach to every challenge from reforming state government to engaging in foreign affairs.

I stand before you today because this vision of government as the engine of opportunity is what I believe in.

The Israeli government has proved over the past year its commitment to peace both in words and deeds. By contrast the Palestinians are posing preconditions for renewing the diplomatic process in a way they have not done over the course of 16 years.