House Republican leadership have refused to allow a clean minimum wage vote. Close to 15 million Americans will be affected if we did this. Do Republicans really expect a family to live on less than $11 000 a year?

But 85 percent of the mosques have extremist leadership in this country. Most Muslims the overwhelming majority of Muslims are loyal Americans.

I think most Americans understand that we went through a period in which American leadership was judged quite critically internationally.

Most North Americans know that human-caused global warming is real even if political leaders don't always reflect or act on that knowledge.

While F.D.R. once told Americans that we have nothing to fear but fear itself Mr. Ashcroft is delighted to play the part of Fear Itself an assignment in which he lets his imagination run riot.

You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of plus some that are beyond imagination.

Sometimes Americans don't quite get my sense of humor. My good ol' British sarcasm seems to go over their heads.

I don't know if my sense of humor goes over Americans' heads.

I love the diversity of America. I love the plain normal sense of humor Americans have. It is not wicked like in some countries. And I also love how new America is.

I always thought the biggest failing of Americans was their lack of irony. They are very serious there! Naturally there are exceptions... the Jewish Italian and Irish humor of the East Coast.

As the war on terror continues Americans must honor the brave men and women who gave their lives for the protection of this nation and the hope of peace.

Our democracy is the centerpiece of who we are as a nation. And it is the fondest hope of all Americans that we can help bring democracy to every corner of the world.

Americans appreciate the way our friends around the world are sticking by us and we all hope for their continued support in what's going to be some very trying times.

We've got the wind at our back right now. Americans are waking up to the realities of their previous choices. We must keep America moving back to preeminence because our values and conservative ideas are the world's greatest hope.

My deal is have a flat simple tax. And - Americans want - Americans I hope - aspire to be - be wealthy. I hope they aspire to have a better quality of life. And we have this class warfare that's going on now. And I don't agree with that. I'm interested in people getting to work.

I hope that the mistakes made and suffering imposed upon Japanese Americans nearly 60 years ago will not be repeated against Arab Americans whose loyalties are now being called into question.

To my great disappointment it appears that the politics of division are making a big comeback. Many Americans share my disappointment - especially those who were filled with great hope a few years ago when then-Senator Obama announced his candidacy in Springfield Illinois.

I had in mind a message although I hope it doesn't intrude too badly persuading Americans and especially Southerners of the critical importance of land and our vanishing natural environment and wildlife.

When too many Americans don't vote or participate some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action.

Americans particularly after World War II tended to romanticize war because in World War II our cause was the cause of humanity and our soldiers brought home glory and victory and thank God that they did. But it led us to romanticize it to some extent.

In Afghanistan there is a plan to build democracy hundreds of thousands of troops are protecting it. There is a plan to rebuild and reconstruct there. But many thousands of Americans die from violence and poverty every year and we don't have a plan for reconstruction at home.

What the New Yorker calls home would seem like a couple of closets to most Americans yet he manages not only to live there but also to grow trees and cockroaches right on the premises.

Yes Americans can still get credit for cars and trucks and refrigerators and those businesses are doing well. But just try to get a home loan now.

Here at home when Americans were standing in long lines to give blood after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon we squandered an obvious opportunity to make service a noble cause again and rekindle an American spirit of community.