I'm not overly alarmist about it but I do think there are some worrying signs like the growing accumulation of wealth by a very small proportion of the population plus elections in the US are much more dominated by money than anywhere else calling itself a democracy.

Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on it adds up.

These endless legal challenges that define elections in New York are a joke in this country and they are the reason why it is so expensive or one of the reasons it's so expensive to run here and why so many people decide not to run.

I supported my friend Congressman Shuler over former Speaker Nancy Pelosi during our party's leadership elections in November citing a need for new leadership.

I also know that there have been many times in our history when the proximity of an election has induced exactly the kind of leadership and consensus-building that produce progress in our democracy.

I have run a general election campaign pregnant and ran Ed Miliband's leadership campaign commuting to London with a new baby so I already have my system set up.

While Mayor Daley surprised me today with his decision to not run for reelection I have never been surprised by his leadership dedication and tireless work on behalf of the city and the people of Chicago.

To my mind the election was stolen by George Bush and we have been suffering ever since under this man's leadership.

Leadership can not be measured in a poll or even in the result of an election. It can only be truly seen with the benefit of time. From the perspective of 20 years not 20 days.

That U.N. Security Council resolution requires getting Syrian troops and intelligence officials out of Lebanon so that the Lebanese can have elections here this spring that are free and fair and free of outside influence.