Obama Ipsum

That promise is our greatest inheritance. I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort - that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash.

Hope in the face of uncertainty. And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we're wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war. But what the people heard instead - people of every creed and color, from every walk of life - is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party.

I'm talking about something more substantial. It is easier to start wars than to end them.

We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not with so much work to be done.

And in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life. As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose - our sense of higher purpose. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.

Thank you, and God bless America.