In this time when our self-inflicted troubles seem so obvious but the possibility of change -- that is to say, political transformation, through awareness, compassion and common sense -- feels more illusory than ever, something extraordinary, that is to say real, is on the brink of happening in Chicago.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

I found David Samuels' storyline -- that portrays Ben Rhodes, the President's Deputy National Security Advisor, as the Manipulator in Chief -- to be a work of fiction and extremely condescending to members of Congress and all others who supported it.

For generations, this country's transportation infrastructure served as the backbone of our economic success. We dreamed big, we built bigger, and our economy flourished. But today, our crumbling infrastructure is slowing economic growth.