WATCH "The Cafferty File": Kick-start peace?

How far would a bipartisan cabinet go toward easing some of the gridlock in Washington?
Jack, What a novel idea. The President would be a true representative of the people and his/her cabinet would reflect diverse ideas. How refreshing. -Bob, New York

Why is gridlock so terrible? In the first term of President Bush, the Republican Congress passed countless spending bills without a single presidential veto. Spend, spend, spend was their motto. Furthermore, Wall Street prefers gridlock in Washington. The market has historically gone up during periods when different parties controlled the White House and the Congress.
-Arthur

Jack, The optimist in me says that since nothing else has worked to fix the "broken system," we should give this a chance. The realist in me says that since nothing else has worked to fix the "broken system," why should this be any different? -Jeff, Boise, Idaho

As far as I can recall from high school civics class, the president's cabinet doesn't make laws! Gov. Richardson's bipartisan cabinet makes for a good sound bite but it is an empty promise insofar as making any real difference. -DB, New York

Why does Washington have the highest rate of AIDS infection of any city in the country?
One word, Jack, "stupidity.” All the babble about racism, failure of educational systems, declining morality, and other excuses is just that, an excuse. It all comes down to being smart enough to not engage in high-risk behaviors. The consequence of stupidity is, in this case, a rather nasty and slow death. -James, Tennessee

I have another question. Why does it matter what race has the highest rates? There the media goes again, forcing us to compare race. If it had been white people with high rates, would you have stated the difference? Unlikely. -Erica

AIDS rates are increasing all over the country since Bush implemented his "abstinence-only" funding policy for AIDS prevention programs, and we are only now beginning to see the results of the implementation of a prevention education method that the AIDS community has known for decades does not work. -Doug

Should the U.S. be spending more money on diplomacy?
Diplomacy is always cheaper than lives or bullets. Talk first and often, and when all else fails, talk some more, and then shoot as a last resort if you absolutely have to. Once you pull that trigger there is no way to recall that bullet. -Richard, Fairview, Texas

It's not about spending more money on communications. It's about the very "policies and goals" of the United States that Gates wants to share with the world. Those policies and goals under the Bush Administration no longer represent freedom, democracy, or the will of the American people. -Candace, North Hollywood, California

Hi Jack, The answer to your question is simple: When it comes to freedom and democracy, we don't practice what we preach. It begs the question: Why should any foreign nation listen to us?
-Robert, Berea, Ohio