Now that the special counsel investigation has ended, I offer this hopeful prayer:

– I hope the American public will be permitted to see the entire report absent any material that is deemed 6(e), which by law, cannot be made public. I hope that they see that report well before the 2020 election.

– I hope Republicans and Democrats can find the ways and means to move past the report without recriminations and work together on issues that matter to the public.

– I hope that all cable news channels will channel more of their energy into examining and reporting other issues vital to the American public.

– I hope that Americans will come to their own conclusions, based on fact, about all political office holders instead of relying on partisan pundits.

– I hope that voters will choose truth over deceit and tolerance over hate.

– I hope that members of Congress carefully consider taking any actions that Americans would see as more political division.

– I hope that lawmakers in Congress begin, today, to be more open and honest and less disingenuous; that they demonstrate more character and less dishonor.

– I hope that members of Congress recognize that what they permit, they encourage.

– I hope that lawmakers begin, today, to respect one another more, and set a higher standard of courtesy and civility that we can all be proud of.

– I hope that members of Congress show their loyalty and duty to the Constitution that they took an oath to support and defend.  And I hope they renew their pledge to the opening words in that Constitution:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…

– I hope that we all remember that as we hold others to the highest standards of ethics and integrity, that our greatest summons to progress lies in holding ourselves accountable to those same standards.