As a woman my style defines my leadership. It's a gentler more compassionate approach. I consult I listen and I compromise where it's in the best interest of the citizens.

From a parent's right to know what their children are doing to protecting citizens across the country from the growing threat of gang violence the House Democrat leadership is simply out to lunch.

Many citizens see all the leadership of these large institutions together in a conspiracy against them rather than in any adversary relationship with each other.

All of this suggests that while citizens became more comfortable with President Bush after September 11 and thought him to have the requisite leadership skills they continue to harbor doubts about his priorities loyalties interests and policies.

In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.

These past years as we have been recovering and given our city a rebirth we have been encouraged by our faith knowledge and steadfast belief that we will pull through. There will be challenges and setbacks as there have already been but we will continue and we the citizens of New Orleans will prevail in bringing our city back.

Widespread public access to knowledge like public education is one of the pillars of our democracy a guarantee that we can maintain a well-informed citizenry.

And let me tell you you boys of America that there is no higher inspiration to any man to be a good man a good citizen and a good son brother or father than the knowledge that you come from honest blood.

The private citizen beset by partisan appeals for the loan of his Public Opinion will soon see perhaps that these appeals are not a compliment to his intelligence but an imposition on his good nature and an insult to his sense of evidence.

Republics are created by the virtue public spirit and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people in order to betray them.