As I've often said Wisconsin's greatest strength continues to be the dedicated hardworking people of our state. They go to work everyday pay their taxes and raise their kids with good Midwestern values.

I was a huge theater geek growing up and that was not the easiest thing in the world especially growing up in Chicago where sports are really the norm. I was always off to the theater at night from 7 years old on. Friends there in the Midwest who could talk to you about the idiosyncrasies of 'Pippin' were few and far between.

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country in addition to the Midwest. That is why USDA has established five regional research centers working on science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks.

The next thing I am doing is moving back home to Minnesota and getting involved in politics. I'm looking at a run for Senate in 2008 but in the meantime I am focused on knitting together the progressive network in the upper Midwest.

When I meet gay fans out and about they're so great to talk to - and I'm big on hugging because I'm from the Midwest. They're just so energetic and loving. I'm proud to have those fans and their support means a lot to me. I don't want just girls coming to my movies I want guys to come too!

I can support co-ops if they want to do it as we've known co-ops in America for 150 years - where they serve the purposes of the consuming public whether it's health care or whether it's co-ops as we know them in the Midwest providing electricity or to sell supplies to farmer.

I'd like now and into the future to play a bigger role not only in Wisconsin and the Midwest but nationally. I'd like to have an impact.

I don't think any other holiday embraces the food of the Midwest quite like Thanksgiving. There's roasted meat and mashed potatoes. But being here is also about heritage. Cleveland is really a giant melting pot - not only is my family a melting pot but so is the city.

Growing up in the Midwest people don't drive Porsches and Ferraris. They drive Fords and Chevys. And so even if you have the opportunity to buy a more expensive car it doesn't occur to you because it's not what you relate to.

There's one Baldessari work I genuinely love and would like to own maybe because of my Midwestern roots and love of driving alone. 'The backs of all the trucks passed while driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara California Sunday 20 January 1963' consists of a grid of 32 small color photographs depicting just what the title says.