. as you join us, we are awaiting remarks from the president and new jersey governor chris christie. there's the microphone set and ready for them. we understand that they'll be at that microphone very soon. the pair touring hurricane-damaged areas of new jersey today, witnessing firsthand both the devastation and the importance of fema. and joining us now from washington, jared bernstein, who's formerly the chief economic adviser to the vice president and jonathan capehart, an opinion writer for "the washington post." both are msnbc contributors. jared, i understand you yourself had something of a power cut and you had to go to duncan doughnuts to get some work done. and while you were sitting there, you had some time to reflect on fema, on mitt romney, and on the paul ryan budget. what did you conclude, jared?