My hope is that 10 years from now after I've been across the street at work for a while they'll all be glad they gave me that wonderful vote.

For me Barack Obama's election was a milestone of the most extraordinary kind. On the day he was elected I felt such hope in my heart. I thought we were seeing the beginning of a new era of equal opportunity across race and gender such as America had never known before.

Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed and delivering justice to the violent they are making America more secure.

But let me tell you this gender thing is history. You're looking at a guy who sat down with Margaret Thatcher across the table and talked about serious issues.

If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River the headline that afternoon would read: 'President Can't Swim.'

Illegal immigration is not just a matter of interest in states along our border with Mexico. It is having an effect on local economies schools health care delivery and public safety all across the country.

Many of us believe that we need health care reform. That being said - Americans felt like they weren't being listened to. There were a lot of people across the political spectrum who said we don't want a one-size-fits-all healthcare plan.

Congress is attempting to eviscerate women's health care. Like many women across America I am outraged.

Too many of my constituents like many other hard working Americans across the country are suffering unnecessarily due to our flawed health care system.

The idea of making access to safe abortions harder and more expensive and more difficult having to travel across state lines - that puts women's health and lives in jeopardy which is something I think no one wants.