It is important to recognize and politics positive thinking is often the slaves' virtue - something that people do to con themselves about the burden and change being placed upon them.

As a politician who cherishes religious conviction in his personal sphere, but regards politics as a domain belonging outside religion, I believe that this view is seriously flawed.

Every artistic expression is either influenced by or adds something to politics.

I was raised to speak out about politics and the world around me. I would do it whether I was in the public or not. It is the way I was taught. The American way.

All politics is local.

I think that what I'm doing is right. And election-year politics, which intensifies everything, is not going to drive me off that course.

By asking the question 'Am I happy?,' and via the answer setting out what I mean by happiness, there is a political route that can be taken, by asking another question - 'Can politics deliver happiness, and should it try?'

So here is one of my theories on happiness: we cannot know if we have lived a truly happy life until the very end. This view of life and death was reinforced by my close witnessing of the buildup to the death of Philip Gould. Philip was without doubt my closest friend in politics. When he died, I felt like I had lost a limb.

There has been a shift to what may be defined as a culture of negativity which goes well beyond coverage of politics.

I've done business with people I've met in politics, who I went to law school with, who I grew up with. Who do you do business with? People you meet in life.