mr. smiley. tavis: let me start with the question of the democrats and how or if in fact they can get their mojo back. you have been around for years in politics, so you've seen these kinds of ads and flows. what strikes you about what has happened and democrats -- to democrats in november? >> i think the democratic party must define the future in terms that the american people can understand. there is a sense in this country that we are stagnant, that we are if anything moving in circles and not forward. not only for our generation but for our children and future what my party has to do, and indeed all of those in public office, is construct a narrative that explains to the american people how investment today profits this country in the future and offers us more hope and promise, and that investment must first of all be in our people and particularly in our done a people, their education and their health. that is the backbone of the country. we have to invest in infrastructure, in our transport