I do not believe it is all about the leader. I think it's about the team, too. So we have one mission; we have one team; we are working to victory.

I support a constitutional conversation, as the Labour Party does, which will allow New Zealanders to evolve a more mature and stable constitutional form, but that's not something that I, as Labour Party, would want to impose, either on the party or on the public.

I have picked the very, very best deputy that I could. David Parker is a fantastic guy. He's a person who I trust absolutely. He's got a wonderful sense for policy. He will be great on organisation, and I know that I could not have a better deputy.

Socialism's not a word that I use. I say 'social democracy' because I don't think the government needs to own all the means of production.

A leader who listens is one who is malleable and willing to refine her views and actions as she learns new information or hears a better idea.

Members of Congress wear two hats: one as Washington legislator, the other as listener and community leader back home.

For a guy who believes in hope, Obama doesn't seem to be able to spread much of it around. How can he? We know too much now about the hollowness of institutions and the frailty of their leaders.

At rehearsals, I began conducting the band, counting them in without thinking. I guess it came from watching salsa legends like my uncle and Tito Puente, who was very much the leader of his band on stage.