Quote of the day

Andrew Sullivan's selection of this quote captures the essence of Barack Obama's presidency:

"This is essentially a People’s contest. On the side of the Union, it is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all - to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life. Yielding to partial, and temporary departures, from necessity, this is the leading object of the government for whose existence we contend,"

 - Abraham Lincoln, Special Message to the People of the United States, July 4, 1861.