communications. kristi, to you first. candidate obama in 2008 promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. that hasn't happened. how about by the end of his second? >> well, john, i think what's important to remember is that as president obama is starting his second term, he's doing so in a remarkably strong position with high approval ratings and a great record in his first term. when he started, as we all know, the economy was in the ditch. he was able to successfully get us out of that at the point where last week the u.s. stocks closed at their highest level in five years and was able to pass historic health care legislation. by contrast, republicans have their ratings in the toilet. what that means is that there's probably -- it's going to bode well for their ability to compromise with him and for the president to get a second term agenda passed. >> chris, i suppose you see it somewhat differently. >> she addressed political positioning and i think...