2008 could represent the best chance a senator has had in 49 years to go directly from the legislative to the executive branch; for senators harboring those ambitions, it may be now or never.

As comprehensive as the findings may have been, I did discover something missing in the executive summary that could have strengthened the recommendations.

The system has 16,000 inmates assigned to cots in hallways and gyms, and is accepting requests from those who wish to be transferred to prisons out of state.

In spite of what they may say to the contrary, every president, especially those fortunate enough to have been re-elected, spends some time contemplating how he might be remembered.

The issue of privilege arouses a plethora of emotions, including denial, indifference, shame, guilt and overcompensation. But I am not certain that any of them are productive to the conversation.

It won't help Obama's case that President Bush's lack of foreign policy experience prior to assuming the office, coupled with his post 9/11 foreign policy decisions, could keep us in Iraq for another decade.

Brown consistently preached the virtues of staying in school to the black community. But his social conscience did not end with education.