For as long as this nation has known war we have embraced the heroes it has produced. Americans have rightfully noted the honor and nobility of courage under hostile fire and thanked those who perished in their defense.

The criteria for serving one's country should be competence courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation we deprive them of their rights of citizenship and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans.

The quality that defines us as Americans is the courage to respond to being hit. The courage to root out and destroy the killers. And most importantly the courage to hold on to our values and protect our hard-won freedoms while doing it.

With courage and character American soldiers continue to put themselves on the line to defend our freedom and so many have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

We are telling the American people to have patience courage resolve and determination.

I want to find the candidates who understand the principles of American exceptionalism and have the character the courage and the confidence to actually lead the greatest nation in the world.

At the same time I would add that the American people have a lot of courage.

We're going to be OK because of the American people. They have more grit determination and courage than you can imagine.

Washington's answer to a self-inflicted financial crisis reminded Americans why they so deeply distrust the political class. The 'fiscal cliff' process was secretive and sloppy and the nation's so-called leadership lacked the political courage to address our root problems: joblessness and debt.

And I think most people in this country want to see a president that's got the courage to say we're going to cut the tax burden and reduce the regulatory climate and we're going to get Americans working.

No matter what you think about the Iraq war there is one thing we can all agree on for the next days - we have to salute the courage and bravery of those who are risking their lives to vote and those brave Iraqi and American soldiers fighting to protect their right to vote.

In France we don't yet have the craft that American TV does or big studios like Paramount. It was so cool going through those famous gates when you have your own little pass and picture on it. Woo hoo I'm going to work!

My favorite type of music to sing and to listen to you know rock. It's not always metal but you know half the time it is. Metal's cool you know? Not everybody on 'American Idol' listens to metal.

The name Crow was inspired by a number of things. I thought it would be cool to have a robot with sort of a Native American feel to it.

For too long our country's version of an energy policy has consisted of Americans waking up every day and wondering how much it will cost to drive to work how much it will cost to keep their business running how much it will cost to heat or cool their homes.

Honestly I'm cool with everyone and people pick up on that. I'd say 'I'm not gay but it's all good.' It's kind of like going to Paris when you don't know the language some Americans get into trouble over there but I'm just like 'Sorry I don't speak French.'

My family moved - first to Washington D.C. and then in the spring of 1975 to Lebanon where my father worked as a diplomat at the American embassy. My parents were enthusiastic about the move so my older brother and I felt like we were off to some place kind of cool.

Americans are cool if you show just a chink of vulnerability they respond so much. They'll pat you on the arm and say 'Hey kid you're all right.' Brits will respond but they are much more cynical.

My problem was that I was blond. There were no heroes with blond hair. Robert Taylor and Henry Fonda they all had dark hair. The only one I found was Van Johnson who wasn't too cool. He was a nice homely American boy. So I created my own image. It worked.

Most Americans are very cool people.

I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece and nobody wants to date their niece. It's the chubby cheeks. The whole reason people voted for me on American Idol is because I'm an everyday normal girl.

The simple truth is that balding African-American men look cool when they shave their heads whereas balding white men look like giant thumbs.

I think I was lucky to come of age in a place and time - the American South in the 1960s and '70s - when the machine hadn't completely taken over life. The natural world was still the world and machines - TV telephone cars - were still more or less ancillary and computers were unheard of in everyday life.

I am a huge supporter for cash for caulkers - which allows people to make improvement for energy efficient in their homes. We should do the same for Americans purchasing appliances and computers and for that matter new air-conditioner and heating units.