If I were a 9/11 Commissioner, I would ask:

1. What were the vacation schedules and locations in July and August 2001, of the principals of our government and national security apparatus, including the President, Vice President, Condoleezza Rice, Andy Card, George Tenant and Louis Fresh?

2. Did the President actually read the August 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Briefing?

As many Americans, I have been following closely the developing drama of the 9/11 Commission. It occurs to me, that the 9/11 tragedy may have had a lot to do with two pretty basic human frailties: the natural tendency to protect one's committed vacation time; and not being very good at doing homework.

A Google search of "Bush Vacation 2001" brings up an interesting set of articles...

When Republican leaders say they support schools, do they mean public schools?

[kos:Charles Starr], Republican from Hillsboro and Education leader of our State Senate, recently wrote that he encouraged parents "to run, not walk from public schools."

Starr has long been at odds with public school advocates, having fought losing battles to post the Ten Commandments on public property with taxpayer money, encourage religious and home schooling, and end bilingual teaching. But this sentiment raises new criticism.

When the "Founding Fathers" met in Philadelphia to rescue the disintegrating confederation of the thirteen "States" (which in the parlance of the day meant countries), there were two distinct lines of thought. On one hand was [kos:Alexander Hamilton], who, impressed by events like Shay