Every barrel of oil that we produce around the world benefits Americans because it keeps prices down. We can talk more later about American energy independence, but the facts are, every barrel we produce helps Americans because it keeps prices down.

The greatest advancements in living standards over the past century have been coincident with affordable energy.

Despite some struggles of our own, America's business and economic system remains the envy of much of the world.

I believe in free markets. I believe in free trade. I believe in creating the conditions that will allow that to happen. And if we do that, American companies are going to be pretty darn competitive.

We can only restore faith in government if the state itself becomes an efficient, effective and transparent ally of the people. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, abuses of power and the misappropriation of public funds must end.

While the federal government is required by law to document publicly its wiretapping of phone lines, it is not required to do so with Internet communications.

The reality of government is we are all very busy day-to-day, and often, the discussions about very deeply held views on things - there isn't the time and space to do that.

We have to take immediate and durable action on climate change.