On Capitol Hill Congress runs by an internal clock: Legislative days are not counted the way calendar days are, and the seasons are marked not by the earth's orbit but by whether Congress is in session or out.

This is a Bart Simpson Congress: underachievers and proud of it.

To this congress the poet speaks not of peculiar and personal things, but of what in himself is most common, most anonymous, most fundamental, most true of all men.

It is true that the poet does not directly address his neighbors; but he does address a great congress of persons who dwell at the back of his mind, a congress of all those who have taught him and whom he has admired; they constitute his ideal audience and his better self.

We are grateful to Congress and the president for enacting this legislation without further delay.

People are looking to Congress for leadership and constructive action. Instead, the Republicans in Congress have served up inaction in a fast and furious blame game,