One of the things I recall about the immediate aftermath of September 11 was how polite everyone was in congested traffic. We had never seen so much yielding. If you didn't yield, the terrorists would win.
Members of Congress joined hands on the steps of the Capitol Building and sang, "God Bless America". But as I noted at the time, the congeniality broke down around "white with foam."
For the first time American flags were appearing on the lapels of Democrats and late night comedians. Was it about patriotism, approval or Nielson ratings? The answer is yes.
Janet Napolitano says that the airport rule on shoes won't last forever. Fine, but the longer people continue to be inconvenienced at the airport, the longer they will remember.