Ms. Kelly will be a distinguished public servant and valuable addition to the Court of International Trade.

I expressed my desire to continue close cooperation moving ahead.

I know that that's what the American people want us to do.

I thanked my counterparts for their friendship and partnership thus far.

I believe that we have to continue to take a serious look at how we reform our entitlements because health care costs continue to be the biggest driver of our deficits.

I got elected to do work on behalf of American families and small businesses all across the country.

Our top priority has to be jobs and growth.

I'm open to compromise, and I'm open to new ideas.

We should not hold the middle class hostage while we debate tax cuts for the wealthy.

They have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system.

And that's the idea at the core of the plan that I talked about on the campaign trail over the last year: rewarding manufacturers and small businesses that create jobs here, not overseas.

I am honored to put forward this highly qualified candidate for the federal bench.

I hope and intend to be an even better President in the second term than I was in the first.

To those celebrating Diwali, I wish you, your families, and loved ones happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.

Diwali is a testament to the compassion of these communities that so many of them have helped those that have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

It is also a time for prayer and reflection about those less fortunate.

Out of a day of sadness, we were reminded that the beauty of America remains our diversity and our right to religious freedom.

As that lamp is lit, we should all recommit ourselves to bring light to any place still facing darkness.