America's love for a display of might and power, of triumph over the adversary, and of a 'winning strategy', is not only evident in her foreign policy and conduct of war, but also in her presidential campaigns Here, aggression, while disapproved of by many at one level, is also admired by others, and seems almost to be a necessity of political life – one that applies to political rivals at home as well as to adversaries abroad

The complexity of the human heart allows us to hope for something and to expect that we will be disappointed in it at the same time, to maintain ideals, and believe that they will never be realized at the same time Holding these dual views defines the nature of disillusionment – the profound sense that one's most cherished hopes will not materialize in one's lifetime or in the space of time in which the heart feels things should or must happen

We have, in this country, a tradition of leadership that aims to appeal both to the intelligence of the 'common man', and also to the heart within each person that assesses character and that decides upon voting behavior For most people, such decisions are not just based on the ideas and issues that candidates present, but also on the integrity, depth, and commitment that a candidate brings to these ideas and issues