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Sat Dec 27, 2:44 PM Pacific
Very Cool (Or Is That Warm?)
This won't do me much good in Las Vegas, but it's still pretty neat: a home that stays warm without a heater.
Decades ago, attempts at creating sealed solar-heated homes failed, because of stagnant air and mold. But new passive houses use an ingenious central ventilation system. The warm air going out passes side by side with clean, cold air coming in, exchanging heat with 90 percent efficiency.
"The myth before was that to be warm you had to have heating. Our goal is to create a warm house without energy demand," said Wolfgang Hasper, an engineer at the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt. "This is not about wearing thick pullovers, turning the thermostat down and putting up with drafts. It's about being comfortable with less energy input, and we do this by recycling heating."
Sat Dec 27, 1:05 PM Pacific
Amusing For Its Triviality
Have you heard of "Waikiki-gate"? It's the amusing name a reporter gave to an episode yesterday in which President-elect Obama headed out to a marine amusement park with his daughters and friends before the media's "pool" could catch up with the group.
This is the kind of thing that wingnuts may try to turn into a controversy, but when you look at the details, you realize that there isn't any there, there.
In a nutshell, yesterday morning the pool journalist was told to head on back to his hotel because Obama's schedule for the day had been completed. A little while later, Obama decided to head out to the theme park, and rather than wait for the pool journalist to make his way back to the where the Obamas are vacationing, Obama and his entourage headed out to the amusement park.
The pool caught up with Obama about an hour later, and for the first time on vacation, Obama actually spoke with the pool journalist. Obviously, Obama hadn't "snuck off," but he probably knew the pooler would feel spurned, so he gave him some TLC.
It was no big deal, but given how Washington works, I wouldn't be surprised if some folks decided to try to make a big deal about this.
To that end, here are the actual pool reports filed yesterday, so you can see what actually happened:
Sent: Fri Dec 26 13:29:04 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 1
Kailua, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama left his vacation home in Kailua at 7:52 a.m.local time. He was accompanied by Eric Whitaker, a friend from Chicagovacationing with Obama.
The motorcade arrived at the Semper Fit Center at Marine Corps Base Hawaiiin Kailua at 8:02 a.m. About three dozen onlookers were gathered in frontof the gym and waved and snapped pictures of Obama. The onlookers appearedto be civilians, some of them women and children.
Obama, wearing a gray T-shirt, black athletic pants, white sneakers and aWhite Sox baseball cap, waved at the onlookers briefly and entered the gym.Several of the onlookers then walked up to enter the gym and were beingscreened by agents.
Your pool is now at McDonald's.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 14:13:06 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 2
Kailua, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama exited the Semper Fit Center at Marine CorpsBase Hawaii in Kailua at 8:58 a.m. Wearing his gray T-shirt and White Soxcap, he spent about two minutes talking with onlookers and shaking hands.
One woman yelled, "Thank you for staying in our neighborhood." Obamareplied, "thank you."
Obama turned to a young boy and said, "Hey man, good to see you. Are you afootball player?" The kid nodded his head. Obama said, "I can tell!"
Obama shook more hands and told the crowd, "You guys have a wonderful newyear." The president-elect also said, "Good to see you."
Obama's motorcade returned safely to the Kailua home at 9:09 a.m.
Your pool is holding outside the house to await word on any futuremovements.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 14:33:31 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 3
Kailua, Hawaii
The wonderful Samantha Tubman called a lid at 9:27 a.m., so your pool isreturning to Waikiki Beach. President-elect Barack Obama is not planningother movements today, but if he decides to leave home again your pool willbe called back to Kailua.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 17:27:13 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 4
Kailua, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama left his vacation home with daughters Maliaand Sasha about 11:45 a.m. His motorcade left without the pool, the firsttime he has done so on this Hawaiian vacation. Your pool, which had a lid,was not informed in time and is now en route to the Kailua home to be sweptby Secret Service. Pool will attempt to meet up with the Obamas shortly.
The Obamas are apparently at Sea Life Park, a marine amusement park nearWaimanalo and Bellows Air Force Station.
Updates to come once the pool is taken to the park.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 18:18:17 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 5
Waimanalo, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama arrived at Sea Life Park, a marine amusementpark in Waimanalo, about 12:10 p.m. He is apparently inside the park withdaughters Malia and Sasha. He left their Kailua vacation home without theprotective press pool.
Your pool arrived at the park about 1:10 p.m. and are holding outside thepark to await instructions on whether we will have access to the Obamas.
Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt issued the following statement to your pool:"With no further scheduled events for the day, a lid was called untilfurther notice. The President-elect decided to take the girls to a waterpark and we assembled the pool as quickly as possible."
The park is nestled along the shoreline in the sparsely populated andscenic Waimanalo area, with soaring volcanic mountains nearby.
More details to come.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 18:51:57 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 6
Waimanalo, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha left SeaLife Park about 1:40, after spending 90 minutes at the marine amusementpark. Pool is now in motorcade and may make another stop before returningto the Kailua vacation home.
Your pool was not allowed inside the park. Obama did not pose for picturesor talk to reporters, but your pool could see him, the daughters, his half-sister Maya and several other family friends leave the park from theinteractive dolphin area.
Tourists who were inside showed the pool photographs they took ofPresident-elect Barack Obama and his family and friends. Obama is wearing acasual cream-colored shirt tucked into olive shorts and sandals.
The Obamas and friends were seen attending the dolphin show, the touristssaid. It is unclear whether the Obamas swam with dolphins, and Obama'sclothing did not appear wet.
When they left the park, about 50 park guests, many wearing life vests,stood near the motorcade to see the president-elect. When he came out, theyscreamed, "We love you, Obama" and "Obama Ohana!" (Ohana means "family" inHawaiian.) Obama stood and waved at them and smiled.
Several kids joined Malia and Sasha, as well as several adults. Your poolhas been promised a full list of those attending the park with Obama and wewill distribute that when it's available.
More to come. Stay tuned.
Philip Rucker
CORRECTION APPENDED:
Correction: an earlier pool report misidentified a woman as Obama'shalf-sister Maya Sortero-Ng. Sortero-Ng was not present today. The woman atthe aquatic park and shave ice shop was a nanny named Nubia who flew toHawaii with the Obamas.
Sent: Fri Dec 26 19:26:26 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 7
Hawaiikai, Hawaii
Pres-elect Barack Obama and his family and friends at 1:55 entered the KokoMarina Center in the Hawaiikai neighborhood near Honolulu for a sandwichand shave ice. Obama entered Koko Marina Paradise Deli and said, "So whatare we going to get?"
"Let me get a tuna sandwich," Obama said, asking for it on 12-grain bread,tomatoes and no mayo.
"Actually, can you melt cheese on that?" He asked. "Can you make like atuna melt with cheddar cheese?"
Obama then approached the pool to say hello. He placed his shoulder on thispooler who was scribbling notes and said, "You don't really need to writeall that down."
Then Obama walked with Sasha,Sasha Obama, wearing a purple, yellow and white dress, to Kokonuts shaveice. There were mobs of dozens of onlookers swarming the crowded parkinglot snapping pictures and saying hello. Obama waved, said hi, merrychristmas. At one point on the sidewalk, Obama dropped his sunglasses, bentdown and picked then up.
Inside Kokonuts, Obama, with his blackberry on left hip, ordered shave icefor the kids and friends. He told Malia, "We're going to do it one at atime." Some ordered banana coconut, pina colada. Sasha ordered a mediumbanana.
"Everyone, once you've ordered, step back," Obama instructed the kids.
Obama pulled cash out of his wallet and Eric Whitaker pitched in to pay thebill. Obama ordered mixed berry shave ice for Sam Tubman and offered shaveice to the pool.
"Guys, here's your chance," he told pool. "No? I'm telling you, this isreally good.... I don't think this is against policy. You want one, I cantell."
The pool declined the president-elect's offer.
Then Obama, Sasha, Malia and other kids sat at a blue picnic table enjoyingtheir shave ice. He asked the kids, "how is it? Good?"
Michelle Obama is not here.
Were still at the shopping center. More details to come.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Fri Dec 26 20:03:09 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 8
Kailua, Hawaii
President-elect Barack Obama, his daughters and family friends left theKoko Marina Center at 2:25 p.m. After winding along a narrow two-lanehighway overlooking the Pacific arrived at the Kailua vacation home at 3:02p.m.
Here are two addendums to previous pool report:
Barack Obama ate his sandwich before his shave ice, saying he wanted to seta good example for his girls by eating healthy food before dessert.
Also, note that shave ice (not shaved ice) is like a snow cone. BarackObama ate orange and green colored shave ice. We don't know what flavorthat is.
After what your pool now is dubbing "Waikiki-gate," we are holding outsidethe Kailua home awaiting word on possible future movements.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Sat Dec 27 00:26:39 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 9
Kailua, Hawaii
After several sightings of lightning in Kailua, near President-elect BarackObama's vacation home, the power went out about 6:30 p.m. Your pool doesnot have a lid yet, so we are holding in a dark van. The street lights andguard house lights are out near the Obama home. It is not clear whether theObama home has lost power or is operating on a generator. There are reportsof widespread outages across Oahu island.
Philip Rucker
Sent: Sat Dec 27 02:12:30 2008
Subject: Pool report No. 10
Kailua, Hawaii
We have a lid at 9:06 p.m. and your pool is returning to the hotel. Thepower remains out in Kailua and it appears President-elect Obama's vacationhome is without power, although your pool has not confirmed that to be thecase.
Philip Rucker
Fri Dec 26, 11:07 AM Pacific
MEMORANDUM
TO: Republican spinners, flacks, and concern trolls
FR: Jed Lewison
RE: NEW RULE
Real Time With Bill Maher is currently on hiatus until February, so I hope it's okay that I borrow his "new rules" concept for a brief second. Here goes:
New rule. If you're a Republican media operative, and you want to see the Obama administration fail, don't say while you think that Obama had nothing to do with Blago's corruption, that you think it's "unfortunate" that Obama will be tainted nonetheless.
First of all, you're wrong. Obama won't be tainted. People have seen your stupid GOP tricks before, and they won't fall for them again. While you were busy talking about how "unfortunate" it is that the Blago mess drags on and on, President-elect Obama was busy dealing with the nation's real problems -- and racking up an 82% approval rating for having done so.
While you were disengenously prattling forth about transparency in the wake of the most secretive administration in American history, Barack Obama was putting all the cards on the table, holding nothing back.
While you were dreaming of another Whitewater, Obama was becoming the most admired man in America. (And by the way, Hillary Clinton -- not Sarah Palin -- is the most admired woman in America.)
And most importantly of all, while you were busy doing everything possible to avoid discussing the fundamental economic challenges that we face, Barack Obama and his administration were busy working on a plan to start the recovery from the Bush Recession.
If you learned one thing from the last election -- and you apparently haven't -- it's that people are sick and tired of the typical partisan Republican games and distractions, especially when we're facing such enormous problems.
This is a big moment in our nation's history. You have an opportunity to do the right thing and get on board and help us fix the disaster that eight years of highly ideological conservative governance have brought to the United States of America.
Or you can cement your irrelevancy by standing on the sidelines and throwing partisan potshots and imagining fires where there isn't even any smoke.
It's your choice. Choose wisely.
Wed Dec 24, 8:44 PM Pacific
Bush Revokes A Pardon
The developer, Isaac R. Toussie, who was listed Tuesday as one of the beneficiaries of the president's constitutional power to wipe away a criminal record, is not being pardoned "based on information that has subsequently come to light," the White House said late Wednesday afternoon.
The terse White House statement did not elaborate, but officials familiar with the case said that presidential aides -- and perhaps President Bush himself -- were concerned about appearances, because Mr. Toussie's father, Robert, donated $28,500 to the Republican National Committee last April, for what apparently was his first political contribution. He also donated $2,300 to the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain.
I guess it's the right thing to do. But how in the world did they issue the pardon in the first place?
And now that the've retracted it, are they still considering offering it? This part of the the NYT article suggests they may yet issue the pardon:
But the White House's announcement on Wednesday noted that the United States pardon attorney, Ronald L. Rodgers, had not made a recommendation on the Toussie case, and that President Bush believed he "should have an opportunity" to do so.
...Another of Mr. Toussie's lawyers, Bradford A. Berenson of Washington, said his client was pleased that a pardon was initially announced Tuesday and held out hope that it might still come true. "Mr. Toussie looks forward to the pardon attorney's expeditious review of the application," Mr. Berenson said.
As I said...weird.
Wed Dec 24, 1:06 PM Pacific
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays To All
I'm one of the 7% of of Americans who aren't celebrating Christmas this year (like a famous carpenter, I'm Jewish), but to all who are, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all!
Wed Dec 24, 12:05 PM Pacific
Rick Warren Doubles Down, Accuses Critics Of "Christophobia"
(This is a post I wrote for Daily Kos, but thought I'd also share it here. I haven't commented yet on the whole Rick Warren thing, but I think this captures pretty much where I'm at: it realy sucks that Rick Warren will be featured at the inauguration, but the inauguration will still be a wonderful thing. However, it is a reminder of the work that we have yet to do.)
:::
Via John Aravosis at AMERICAblog, Rick Warren is doubling down and accusing his critics of "hate-speech" and "Christophobia."
Rachel Maddow has the video, and takes Warren to task for the hypocrisy of saying that it's unfair to call his views hateful while simultaneously accusing his critics of hate speech. Moreover, as Rachel notes, Warren flat-out lies about his comments comparing gay marriage to pedophilia and incest.
Setting aside Warren's role as inaugural invocation speaker (for a brief moment), I don't think there's any way to defend what he is now saying. I accept the proposition that it's possible to disagree on the issue of gay marriage without calling someone names.
But there's really no comparison between gay marriage and incest or pedophilia, and if Warren thinks they are equivalent, he's either a fan of incest and pedophilia, or he has serious problem with gay people. And calling his critics "Christophobes" just makes matters worse.
A simple apology from Warren for having made the comparison probably would have made this whole controversy go away. But now he's doubling down, and it's just making matters worse.
:::
Anytime Rick Warren's name is mentioned, there seems to be a fair number of people who just want the issue to get swept under the rug. I have great sympathy for that view. I want this mess to go away, too. Obviously, the last thing we need is a divisive force at the inauguration.
But it's important to remember that it is Rick Warren who is the divider, and the real division isn't between those who think he should speak at the inaugural and those who don't, it's between those who would deny gay citizens the same rights and privileges as everybody else, and those who believe gay citizens deserve the same rights and privileges as everybody else.
That's the real division, and Rick Warren is on the wrong side. Unfortunately, we're stuck with him, barring any unforeseen developments. But that doesn't mean we have to resign ourselves to accepting his views -- nor does it mean that Rick Warren has ruined the inauguration.
The truth is that this is situation that demands a complex political position, recognizing that Obama's team screwed up by inviting Warren without losing site of the fact that inauguration day will still be a great day, signifying not just the end of Bush's reign, but also the triumph of this nation over the terrible scourge of racism.
:::
Rick Warren's presence at the inauguration is a fitting symbol of the work that is still to be done, and perhaps the best thing that has come out of this whole affair is that those who support gay rights have learned how important their voice is.
In the end, Barack Obama's record on gay rights will be measured by what he accomplishes, and what he is able to accomplish will in large part be determined by what we as citizens empower him to achieve.
In recent days, we've once again seen the fundamental truth of those three little words: yes we can.
As Obama himself has said many times, it's not about him. It's about us, and what we can achieve, united. We have so much work to do, and we can't lose site of the fact that part of that work is achieving full equality under the law for all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation.
Wed Dec 24, 10:39 AM Pacific
President-elect Obama's Holiday Message
Good morning. This week, Americans are gathering with family and friends across the country to celebrate the blessings of Christmas and the holiday season.
As we celebrate this joyous time of year, our thoughts turn to the brave men and women who serve our country far from home. Their extraordinary and selfless sacrifice is an inspiration to us all, and part of the unbroken line of heroism that has made our freedom and prosperity possible for over two centuries.
Many troops are serving their second, third, or fourth tour of duty. And we are reminded that they are more than dedicated Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard - they are devoted fathers and mothers; husbands and wives; sons and daughters; and sisters and brothers.
This holiday season, their families celebrate with a joy that is muted knowing that a loved one is absent, and sometimes in danger. In towns and cities across America, there is an empty seat at the dinner table; in distant bases and on ships at sea, our servicemen and women can only wonder at the look on their child's face as they open a gift back home.
Our troops and military families have won the respect and gratitude of their broader American family. Michelle and I have them in our prayers this Christmas, and we must all continue to offer them our full support in the weeks and months to come. .
These are also tough times for many Americans struggling in our sluggish economy. As we count the higher blessings of faith and family, we know that millions of Americans don't have a job. Many more are struggling to pay the bills or stay in their homes. From students to seniors, the future seems uncertain.
That is why this season of giving should also be a time to renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship. Now, more than ever, we must rededicate ourselves to the notion that we share a common destiny as Americans - that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. Now, we must all do our part to serve one another; to seek new ideas and new innovation; and to start a new chapter for our great country.
That is the spirit that will guide my Administration in the New Year. If the American people come together and put their shoulder to the wheel of history, then I know that we can put our people back to work and point our country in a new direction. That is how we will see ourselves through this time of crisis, and reach the promise of a brighter day.
After all, that is what Americans have always done.
232 years ago, when America was newly born as a nation, George Washington and his Army faced impossible odds as they struggled to free themselves from the grip of an empire.
It was Christmas Day--December 25th, 1776 - that they fought through ice and cold to make an improbable crossing of the Delaware River. They caught the enemy off guard, won victories in Trenton and Princeton, and gave new momentum to a beleaguered Army and new hope to the cause of Independence.
Many ages have passed since that first American Christmas. We have crossed many rivers as a people. But the lessons that have carried us through are the same lessons that we celebrate every Christmas season--the same lessons that guide us to this very day: that hope endures, and that a new birth of peace is always possible.
Tue Dec 23, 5:00 PM Pacific
Hmmmm
That 52MPG Ford Fusion I mentioned yesterday?
It just got rated for 41MPG, which means real-world mileage in the 30s. I wonder where the hell the writer of the article I linked to got 52MPG?
Tue Dec 23, 3:04 PM Pacific
Blago Report: Still No There There
What a big disappointment for the cynics.
The Obama transition team's report documenting its contacts with the Illinois governor's office on the Illinois Senate seat reveals exactly what we expected: that there was hardly any contact at all between the transition team and Blago's office, and that it was all appropriate.
There was no discussion whatsoever relating to any sort of this-for-that. Nobody on the transition team had any idea of what was going on inside Blago's mind.
Moreover, it is obvious that the Obama team would have liked to release this report long ago. It was completed on the 15th, but at the request of the U.S. Attorney was not made public until today to allow Fitzgerald's office to complete its interviews, the last of which was conducted on the 20th.
At the request of the Office, we delayed the release of this report until such time as the interviews could be completed. The interviews took place over a period of three days: Thursday, December 18, 2008 (the President-Elect); December 19, 2008 (Valerie Jarrett); and December 20, 2008 (Rahm Emanuel).
Let me emphasize this point: the reason why the release of the Obama report was delayed was to allow Fitzgerald to complete his interviews with the transition team. In other words, everything that Obama's team has said has been true.
The case is (still) closed, but that probably won't stop folks from digging. I suppose that's fine -- as long as they stop making stuff up (like the 21 conversations that Rahm never had), and quit insisting that Obama's team prove a negative.
Tue Dec 23, 1:29 PM Pacific
The Contacts Report
In case you're interested, here's a copy of the Obama team's contacts report on the Blago mess.
Tue Dec 23, 11:11 AM Pacific
The Baby Pics Narrative
A collage of photos from an e-mail going viral:
On the other hand, make sure you take a look at the pic below the fold...
Tue Dec 23, 9:05 AM Pacific
Whoa
Damn, that's impressive. Funny thing is that Bush is always yammering on about how much he likes to work out, so much so that it's practically the only thing he talks about with people he interviews for jobs. And he couldn't hold a candle.
Update (9:58AM): Check it out -- more shirtless presidents.
Mon Dec 22, 4:03 PM Pacific
Franken by 48
It's almost over in Minnesota, and it really looks like Franken will win.
Mon Dec 22, 10:31 AM Pacific
Actually, Picking Palin Was The Mistake
Sarah Palin is busy giving interviews saying that she felt the McCain campaign's biggest mistake was not letting her do more interviews. There was a time that I agreed with her. As I wrote on September 5:
Todd Harris, a GOP strategist who is close to the McCain campaign, says Palin won't be available to the press for about two weeks. His defense? She might make "a mistake."
If she goes out and makes a mistake, that is something that [voters will] care about, and that's something that will haunt [McCain] for awhile, so I think this is a smart move.
This has got to be one of the craziest messaging decisions ever: Harris is conceding that Palin's not even ready to be a vice presidential candidate, let alone be president.
I just don't see how they can sustain two weeks of keeping Palin in hiding. Every day the McCain campaign keeps her away from reporters just highlights the fact that they don't think she's ready.
This strikes me as a pretty impressive strategic blunder.
In retrospect, the strategic blunder wasn't keeping her away from reporters. It was picking her in the first place.
Mon Dec 22, 2:27 AM Pacific
BTW
I know it looks like I placed an ad for the 2010 Ford Fusion in the headlines part of the blog. You can be rest assured that it's not an ad -- I've taken no money for it (or any other consideration, for that matter). I just think it's cool that a car with that kind of horsepower could get such good mileage.
I drive a Toyota Camry Hybrid, which I just love -- it's my favorite car ever, and I've had a few. But the new Ford car looks like it will beat the Camry hands down on price/performance, not to mention mileage (I get in the mid-30s).
Mon Dec 22, 2:13 AM Pacific
Just Don't Let Her Blog
Politico reports that the person who bigfooted all over Matthew Yglesias's blog is may be the next DOD spokesman:
Jennifer Palmieri - a Clinton White House veteran who is now acting chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and senior vice president for communications at American Progress - is being considered for assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. This is different than the job how held by Geoff Morrell, who briefs journalists as Pentagon press secretary. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who is remaining from the Bush administration, has said Morrell will stay in that role.
Sun Dec 21, 11:14 PM Pacific
Hyper-stupid ass-covering bull***t
So Matthew Yglesias calls the domestic policy agenda of some organization called Third Way -- which I had never heard of until tonight -- "hyper-timid incrementalist bullshit."
That was on Friday.
Today, at 10:33PM, his acting boss felt compelled to author a post -- on his blog -- stating the obvious: that his views are his alone. Moreover, she defends Third Way.
You should take a gander at the comments on her post. I counted at most 3 comments that supported her -- and over 200 saying she should not have interefered.
Yglesias will end up fine -- he's smart, and thinks for himself, no matter who might try to intimidate him.
But the thing that really strikes me here is that (a) clearly his boss made the most at the behest of Third Way; and (b) because Third Way demanded an apology, far more people are going to know what Yglesias said they were lame.
And now Third Way has supplied the evidence to prove their lameness. They couldn't possibly be more stupid.
Sun Dec 21, 11:04 AM Pacific
Asked To Name Highest Moment In Office, Cheney Comes Up With '9/11'
Behold, the first thing to come into Dick Cheney's mind when asked to name the highlight of the Bush Presidency:
Transcript:
WALLACE: Highest moment the last eight years?
CHENEY: Hmmm. Highest moment in the last eight years? Well, I think the most important, the most compelling, was 9/11 itself, and what that entailed, what we had to deal with. The way in which that changed the nation, and set the agenda for what we had to deal with as an administration.
Wallace nudged the vice president to add that 9/11 was also the low moment of the Bush years, but it tells you something about the darkness of Cheney's mind that this was the first thing to come to his mind when looking for bright spots over the past eight years was 9/11.
