McCain: Fight terrorism with conventional warfare that has nothing whatsoever to do with the terrorist threat itself.

Power, in the usual sense of the term, isn't even necessary. Power over yourself is what you possess if you first have: control of your mind; a confidence in the ability of your mind to trust its senses and to abstractly know reality; and a conviction that life is worthwhile and worth living to the fullest.

It's widely assumed that sticking to principle is impractical and stupid.

Michelle Obama's remarks that she was never proud of her country until her husband verged on gaining major political power are interesting and revealing.