This noisy, sometimes frustratingly slow-moving system of government is the best and only one we know. And, whatever the result today, it sits on a fragile foundation more fragile today than at any point in my lifetime. If you agree, which candidate will most help us repair it?

Now, with just days to go, we face a choice between Vice-President Kamala Harris and Trump. This contest is not a classic choice between a Democrat and a Republican or left and right.

Some campaign seasons are all about the issues. Not this one. The 2024 Presidential election is about what kind of country we intend to be. In this moment, let us express a strong commitment to American democracy, which, to paraphrase Lincoln, remains our last best hope.

But some things are more important than political affiliation. Call me old-fashioned, but integrity, the rule of law, peaceful transfers of power and other traditions of American democracy are worth more than any single political issue.

Some folks grew up on small government, family values and peace through strength as much as I grew up believing the government could play a constructive role in the economic and social progress of our society.

Our ideological positions are rooted in our many varied experiences as Americans. We hold our beliefs close and tend to stick to them. It is a fundamental part of our national identity. We agree. We disagree. We do our best to move forward.

While many of us are tired, overwhelmed by the immediate challenges of the day, now is the not the moment to sit out.

In a democracy, we fight with words, not bullets. For next four months, both candidates and their supporters need the space to advocate their approaches and criticize those of the opponent. No one deserves to die simply by engaging in the democratic process. 4/4

Third, there are many conspiracy theories already surfacing on social media. I caution against believing anything until authorities have detailed the facts, including the motivations of the shooter, whether he acted alone and whether security measures were followed. 3/4

Second, the temperature in our politics is way too high. Are we losing our grip on the difference between political disagreement and political violence? It’s hard to imagine things not escalating unless we find a way to draw important contrasts without resorting to violence. 2/4

Good morning. Here are my further thoughts on last night’s tragic shooting. First, I extend heartfelt condolences to families of the victims and prayers for a speedy recovery of the survivors, including former President Donald Trump. 1/4

Political violence has no place in America. Our disagreements must be resolved through the campaign process, not through a gun. #Trump

Not a politician. Not a firebrand. Totally off-the-cuff. Reggie Jackson’s honesty about his lived experience is an important reminder of the harsh realities of segregation. We’ve lost so many first-hand witnesses of that time. And yet we repeat what we forget. Thx #ReggieJackson

A picture is worth a thousand words. #WillieMays, at the peak of his powers, playing stickball with kids in Harlem. Never get so high that you can’t reach down. We have lost one of the most outstanding baseball players in history and a great citizen of the world. #WILLIEMAYSRIP

Kudos to @ViLyles for her letter to Charlotte youth concerning violence. Young people are talked ABOUT, more than spoken TO, by leaders at all levels. To reduce youth violence, we need young people as partners.

On January 2009, The Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor and I filmed short clips discussing the relationship between the U.S. government and jazz music. The result was broadcast on Martin Luther King Day during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Let Freedom Swing!” concert in Washington D.C.,

We saw the risk and worked to avert it. And that’s what makes this situation so sickening. Those rules likely would have worked to prevent or mitigate what happened in Ohio. But, in the end, these safety measures were eliminated by the group that followed us. 6/6

A derailment of this magnitude can always be dismissed as “unlikely” beforehand even though it carries the potential for catastrophic consequences. It can always be too costly…until the worst happens. 5/6

The process of promulgating safety regulations is fraught with problems, and that’s not a political statement. Democratic and Republican Administrations require a crude “cost-benefit” justification for any new rule. 4/6

We had witnessed Lac-Mégantic and a host of other dangerous derailments in the US. At the time, large amounts of crude oil were being shipped by rail—some called them “bomb trains,” and I knew we needed better safety measures than were in place. 3/6