That's a critical part of this conversation, ... We understand that this is the first of two vacancies on a court that's so evenly divided that one bad choice could make a - from my point of view - could have an impact for a long time.

That's a critical part of this conversation. We understand that this is the first of two vacancies on a court that's so evenly divided that one bad choice ... could have an impact for a long time.

we cannot put off the debate over the best course for the future. . . . We do not honor our fallen soldiers simply by adding to their numbers.

There is a line to be drawn here. We should all draw it together in terms of personal intrusion of our loved ones.

At a time when we see around the world the violent consequences of the assumptions of religious authority by government, Americans may count themselves fortunate. Our regard for constitutional boundaries has protected us from similar travails while allowing private religious exercise to flourish. Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must answer a difficult question: Why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?

It is very difficult to track how this man, who gave us such misleading information before the invasion of Iraq -- now under active investigation for endangering American troops --- is now the toast of the town in the Department of the Treasury and Department of State,