Valerie Jarrett, 11/11/11

Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement

Continuing our journey toward a more perfect union won't be easy. It never is. But as women throughout our country fight for change -- for equal rights and equal opportunity -- the White House will be a partner in their work.

Marlo Thomas, 11/10/11

Award-winning actress; Author; Activist

Sometimes life comes down to a few key moments. A path taken -- or not taken. Sadly for Joe Paterno, a life richly filled with good choices will forever be stained with one, inconceivable decision.

Adam McKay, 11/10/11

Film director; Co-Founder, Funny or Die

With Penn State students protesting and rioting over the firing of football coach Joe Paterno, many have wondered what those students could possibly be thinking. With that in mind, we here at Funny or Die decided to find the six dumbest protests ever.

Arianna Huffington, 11/8/11

Decisions are being made on a regular basis that are prolonging the economic crisis. And there are plenty of steps we can take that would produce tangible positive results in the lives of millions of people.

Conrad Black, 11/11/11

Historian; Publisher; Author

The effort by junior administration officials to prevent the addition of any references to God from the speeches recorded on plaques at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC, is an outrage.

Jamie Lee Curtis, 11/10/11

Actress, children's book author

"If I knew then what I know now" doesn't count for Paterno or Penn State. There is no excuse. There is no apology. Just tell the truth. The truth is what we all want and they should all spend the rest of their lives working on behalf of the victims and their recovery.

Dr. Andrew Weil, 11/8/11

Founder and director, The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Bear in mind that by "happy," I am not referring to endless bliss. Despite what many in the media proclaim these days, such a state is neither achievable nor desirable.

Jill Sobule and John Doe, 11/9/11

To all the good folks pitching tents at OWS, this song's for you. We support you, hope you keep warm this winter, and ask you to keep a spot open in your tent for us.

Cal Ripken, Jr., 11/12/11

Hall of Fame Baseball Player; Founder and CEO, Ripken Baseball, Inc.

I hope that our being there gives them a little break from the realities of the day and lets them know that people from around the world care about them and the Japanese people overall.

Mandy Moore, 11/11/11

Singer-songwriter, actress and PSI Ambassador

Pneumonia is a disease that often flies under the radar of not just the public but even the global health community. It kills more children under 5 years old every year than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. Yes, read that last line again.

Craig Newmark, 11/9/11

Founder, craigslist and craigconnects.org

While it is remarkable to see the variations in social media use by area of focus among nonprofits, the bottom line is that your main concern should be to cultivate conversations, relationships, and interactions within your own specific community.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild, 11/10/11

CEO of EL Rothschild, LLC and the co-Chair of the "Better Values, Better Markets" Task Force

Although portrayed as opposites, the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protesters are essentially kissing cousins.

Quincy Jones and Kevin M. McGovern, 11/7/11

In developing countries, people are forced to choose between sickness or purchasing expensive packaged or bottled water from untrustworthy sources. We believe that's an unfair choice.

Eve Ensler, 11/11/11

Tony award winning playwright, performer and activist

I am over people not understanding that rape is not a joke -- that we should have a sense of humor about it. And I am so over the students at Penn State who protested the justice system instead of the alleged rapist pedophile.

Sen. Chris Coons, 11/10/11

U.S. Senator from Delaware

As the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up the Respect for Marriage Act today, we mark a major milestone on the path to equality for all American families.

Sec. Hilda Solis, 11/9/11

U.S. Secretary of Labor

Ohio has made it clear: these dedicated public servants still need a seat at the table to demand fairness, dignity and respect -- especially in tough economic times. Through their unions, they have a voice in their workplace, in their future and, most importantly, in our future.

Dan Rather, 11/10/11

Host, 'Dan Rather Reports'

Many alleged human trafficking victims have never faced violence or physical threats, but claim they are victims of a modern form of slavery nonetheless.

Sec. Arne Duncan, 11/9/11

U.S. Secretary of Education

Instead of asking whether teachers are overpaid, the AEI/Heritage researchers should have asked what it would take to recruit and retain highly effective teachers for all students.

Lee Woodruff, 11/11/11

Writer

Each Veteran's Day we spend a great deal of effort honoring those who have served. And rightly so. But this year let's also honor the loved ones here at home who serve every day in unsung roles.

Joseph A. Palermo, 11/11/11

Associate Professor of American History, California State University, Sacramento

In 1776, had the American revolutionaries tried the Barack Obama approach of "reaching out" in a spirit of "cooperation" with the Tories and the British Crown there never would have been a United States of America in the first place.

Christy Turlington Burns, 11/6/11

Model; Writer; Entrepreneur; Spokesperson; Advocate; Filmmaker

If we truly value humanity, life and all that it represents in its highest form, then we need to do all that we can to promote quality of life over the quantity of life.

Dylan Ratigan, 11/9/11

Host, MSNBC's 'The Dylan Ratigan Show'; Author, soon to be released 'Greedy Bastards'

It's time for our leaders to be honest about actually addressing the problem of gross overleveraging in finance, because the Eurozone mess isn't going away.

Michael Smerconish, 11/10/11

Radio host

Regardless of what level of detail he was provided, in my opinion there is no exculpatory explanation to be offered on Paterno's behalf. Maybe that's why he released a statement last weekend when the story broke, before this week's events led to his firing

Doug Kendall, 11/9/11

Founder and President, Constitutional Accountability Center

November 8, 2011 will be remembered as the day conservatives broke with the tea party.