Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press Nov. 21 Video

This is the full episode, including smiling, follow-on Bobby Jindal.
Hillary Clinton talks about the airport "pat downs," aka groping. Seems to me that Americans need to decide: are they afraid of terrorists or not? I was offended when I had to take off my shoes. Beware travelers: Nov. 24, Ron Paul has declared as national opt-out of the scanner day at airports and get the pat down. That could mean very long lines, given the amount of outcry from the public, or so the media tells us.

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Obama Likes His Job

These are more videos from Larry King. Obama says he's got the best job on earth. Watch that here. Bad news for Bobby Jindal, who wants drilling to resume. Obama says it would be irresponsible to lift moratorium. Watch. Can you imagine if Obama did that and another disaster occurred? The emotive Jindal doesn't have to think about those things because he's only the governor of one state.

Jindal Emotes

So many ironies.

Jindal writes letter to Obama administration, asking it to lift the drilling moratorium:

I am writing to express my grave concerns regarding the severe economic impact of a six-month (or longer) suspension of activity at 33 previously permitted deepwater drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, including and in particular the 22 deepwater drilling rigs currently in operation off the Louisiana coast.
Already, Louisiana has suffered severe negative economic and ecological impacts from the BP oil spill. Our seafood industry is experiencing huge economic losses that have only been partially mitigated by a frustratingly slow and inadequate BP claims process. Moreover, our precious wetlands are suffering incalculable, permanent damages, while our tourism industry faces escalating losses. Read the rest at NOLA

Jindal and Colin Powell on This Week

Bobby Jindal and Colin Powell were on This Week.

Jindal says what you might expect him to say.

Colin Powell says Obama was on top of the oil spill but he didn't convey that to the American people. I'll buy that.

Obama sends out his cabinet people first. People want to see the president on their TVs. They want to see the president in the disaster area.

The media hammered on the narrative that Obama wasn't visible. Powell says when a disaster happens, the president needs to be highly visible at the start or else the media will fill the void.

Powell also talks about DADT. Jake Tapper shows a 17-year old clip of Powell making the case against gays in the military. Powell says he feels differently now. The country has changed, he said. He says he's in favor of repealing DADT, but he said the opinions of the senior military leadership must be heard.

In part two, he talks about Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and education.

Part 2

This was a great roundtable, all the way around. The only people who don't favor repealing DADT are republicans in office.

Obama Speaks in Grand Isle on BP Oil Spill

Browner Says Oil Spill Worst Ever

In an interview with ABC, Carol Browner, assistant to POTUS for energy and climate change, says the administration is doing everything it can on day 36 to stop the oil leak. The top minds are on the job, including Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The next attempt to stop the leak, called "top kill," comes tomorrow (or later). Browner says that some of the things that Bobby Jindal is asking for would take six to nine months to put into place and the administration is focused on NOW. Could Jindal be using the cover of a crisis to get free government services? Watch the interview here.

Gibbs Air Force One Gaggle From Louisiana to DC

Obama, Thad Allen, Bobby Jindal

Robert Gibbs briefed the press on the way back to D.C. from Louisiana:

MR. GIBBS: So to give you -- chart you guys through a little bit about what they saw, where they went. So this lacks a little perspective of a little bit broader -- but if you look at Louisiana, where we are is that fingertip out, right, is -- Venice is where the helicopters took off from -- right? So they went 15 miles due east right to the edge of the coast, and then went -- basically turned back and made a straight beeline up the coast, and that takes you back to the airport in New Orleans. And in some ways it follows a little bit the road that we took down.

But obviously from the aerial perspective -- the President said you could get a real sense of several things -- just the intricate nature of the coastline that you're dealing with, the fact that you could see from the air the year-by-year decimation of these coastal areas. We heard a lot about this in the meeting, which was that a lot of these places have receded because of damage that's been done. So not only do you have the economics of some of the most -- as the fishermen told the President -- some of the most important estuaries in our country, but you also have -- obviously these marshes represent the physical barrier that protects the greater part of Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, from bigger storms and hurricanes.

So that's a sense of what they saw in the helicopter. On the ride were Thad Allen, Governor Jindal, and John Brennan, along with the President.

Q They saw no sign of the actual slick, then?

MR. GIBBS: No. The winds were -- one of the reasons that we -- well, the reason that-- we had four helicopters -- the visibility and the winds were such that there was a genuine concern that we'd have to go from visual to instrumentation flying. That makes them a little nervous to have four helicopters out there doing instruments, which is why we pealed off quickly. And the winds just did not allow them to get out.

Now, obviously that's part of what is complicating some of the booming and some of the response, but at the same time, has kept some of the oil away as well. So the weather is, I would say, on the whole, has not been helpful to the recovery, though.
Q Robert, did the President see any marshland or coastal area that -- where the slick had reached?

MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm aware of, no.

Q His reaction?

MR. GIBBS: Well, again, I mean, you got a real sense of, as he said, what's at stake both economically for the millions of dollars that are made off of fishing in these areas, but also the potential environmental devastation in the further decimation of these precious wetlands.

And we talked a lot about -- in the meeting with the larger group before the press statement -- in once that -- they're obviously setting up and making some preparations in the parish for how to deal with different aspects of the slick as it comes. And they talked about how genuinely hard it is to clean this up once it gets into some of these areas. So I think the President got a real firsthand look at the geography of what we are dealing with.

Read the rest here.

Obama Calls Spill Potentially Unprecedented Environmental Disaster - Video

Louisiana's Times-Picayune has comprehensive coverage/photos here

Obama spoke just minutes ago giving an update on the car bomb and the oil catastrophe. Obama met with Admiral Thad Allen and other personnel, including Gov. Bobby Jindal. The spill is about 9 miles off the coast.
"We're dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster."
Obama says the federal government isn't sparing any resource. BP is responsible for the leak and BP will pay for the bill, Obama said.
Let's not forget, 11 people died in this oil rig disaster. It doesn't sound hopeful to me. Some sort of miracle is in order to stop the leak. Mitigating the effects of the oil on the environment seems highly futile.
Watch ABC's interview with Janet Napolitano, Ken Salazar and Thad Allen.

Obama in Louisiana Gives Update on Oil Spill and Car Bomb

Read more on the oil spill at NOLA

Update: Watch video of Obama's remarks here.

Watch BP America's Lamar McKay's remarks on This Week here.

Update: Standing in the pouring rain, Obama essentially said this could be a huge ecological catastrophe and that every federal resource is being put into stopping the leak and mitigating the spill. Obama reminded everyone that BP is responsible for the spill and for paying for the cleanup.

It's 4:25 eastern. Obama has arrived to speak. Live stream.

Obama arrived in Venice, Louisiana at 1:30 pm eastern and was greeted by Gov. Bobby Jindal. Obama appointed Thad Allen to spearhead cleanup. A live stream of Obama's update is expected at 4 pm eastern. Listen at the audio stream below or there could be live video at msnbc.com.

Ratcheting up its efforts Saturday to respond to the Gulf Coast oil slick that’s quickly approaching land, the Obama administration announced that it had appointed U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen as National Incident Commander with overall responsibility for the government-wide response.

In a conference call with reporters, Allen said that he had served in the same role during a 2002 planning exercise in New Orleans for an oil spill in the Gulf Coast, giving him unique insight into the tactics available to respond to the situation.

"The first thing is to stop this thing at the source," Admiral Allen said. He explained that Coast Guard, BP and others are working on a plan to drill what's known as a "relief well" to ease the flow of oil through the shaft that was breached after the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. More at Politico

Jindal Calls for Ouster of Prejudice Justice of Peace

Louisiana justice of the peace and of course, a republican, Keith Bardwell, paid with tax dollars, refused to marry an interracial couple. Honestly, it's hard to believe that people still have that kind of backward thinking. Not only should he lose his job but he should be quarantined for being ignorant. Here's the horrific part. He's been a justice of the peace for 34 years. Imagine all the damage he's done.

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement a nine-member commission that reviews lawyers and judges in the state should investigate.
"Disciplinary action should be taken immediately — including the revoking of his license," Jindal said.
Bardwell did not return calls left on his answering machine Friday.
Bardwell has said he always asks if a couple is interracial and, if they are, refers them to another justice of the peace. Bardwell said no one had complained in the past and he doesn't marry the couples because he's worried about their children's futures. AP

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Bardwell is an oblivious idiot:

Today Show Interviews Tyren Scott Who Asked Obama About Hate

His mother was nervous when Tyren asked the question. "A child can say anything," she said. Indeed.
Tyren set an example for all of us with his simple question. If you missed Obama answering his question, check it out here.

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Media Hammers Obama For Lack of Progress in New Orleans

Obama said it in his town hall--people expect him to have already solved world hunger.
The Morning Joe crew laments Obama didn't spend enough time in New Orleans and they say his response to a town hall question on Katrina wasn't good enough, that he was professorial. But Katrina wasn't at the forefront of the town haller's minds. There was only one question at the town hall on Katrina. The rest of the questions were about national issues, such as health care.
Then, the talking heads with sad faces went on to say there was no progress in New Orleans. They are dead wrong. See below.
Here's the deal. Obama has people. He's not a one-man show, despite the fact that he's here, there and everywhere.

He has people, such as Craig Fugate, head of FEMA, who has been getting sterling praise for getting things done in New Orleans. FEMA has a staff of people. Obama has staff who visit New Orleans.

FEMA has been coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security.
This video is just a bunch of talking heads trying to pretend like they truly care. "Let's name New Orleans Goldman Sachs." Ridiculous. Perhaps the talking heads do care. But they haven't done their research. All anyone has to do to find out what FEMA is doing in New Orleans is visit FEMA.gov:

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In August, FEMA announced major funding for New Orleans:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) announced an additional $260.3 million for projects throughout the New Orleans area, including funding to Dillard University, Templeman Prison I and II and the Gaslight Apartments. These announcements bring the total public assistance funds obligated for Louisiana recovery projects since Jan. 20, 2009 to more than $1 billion.

"FEMA is working closely with our state and local partners to push money down into the hands of locals as quickly as possible," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. "Our recent funding reflects these efforts to provide tremendous support so that projects can move toward completion." Read more here

Here is what FEMA is doing for railroad recovery:

Mayor Nagin gives an update in August:

Here's a list from Homeland Security on the accomplishments in Louisiana so far this year:

2009 Accomplishments in Louisiana*

Public Assistance
w Two joint teams established to resolve disputed Public Assistance Projects
w 73 disputed projects resolved
w $895 million in total Public Assistance funding in these sectors:
w Education: $404 million
w Public Works: $130.2 million
w Public Safety & Protection: $49.7 million
w Health Care: $54.5 million
w Public Infrastructure: $217 million
w Debris Removal/Emergency Protective Measures: $40.2 million

Mitigation
w $9.5 Million of a total of $23 Million granted to elevate and retrofit homes for 48 families in Orleans Parish.
w $1.2 Million granted for a floodwall to reduce the risk of flooding for Dozier Elementary School
w More than $2 Million for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to harden and retrofit buildings in Baton Rouge and Hammond


Individual Assistance
w 3,260 of households transitioned to permanent housing
w In June, FEMA announced very-low-cost mobile homes and park models through its Sales-to-Occupants program, ensuring that many more occupants would qualify to purchase their homes.

* January 20, 2009 – August 7, 2009

“The Town of Grand Isle has been working closely with FEMA, and throughout our determination we have acquired a good working relationship. FEMA sees our needs firsthand and does the best to see that our goals are accomplished. Our progress is moving along thanks to the dedication, persistence and hard work that our elected officials and FEMA have done.”

Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle

Public Assistance and Mitigation Grant Funding for Major Projects
FEMA and DHS announced the following funding in 2009

January
w $3.7 million: St. Bernard Grand Ballroom
w $3 million for 20 reconstructions: City of Slidell Reconstruction grant
w $1.1 million: Slidell sewer system cleaning

February
w $3.8 million: Louisiana State University Modular Dental Clinic
w $46.5 million: Plaquemines Parish Pump Stations

March
w $9.5 million: Orleans Parish elevations of 48 homes
w $1.3 million: Xavier University hazard mitigation funding

April
w $13.1 million: Recovery School District building
w $8 million: Holy Cross Schools
w $3.5 million: SUNO mold remediation
w $2.7 million: Lakefront Airport Terminal Building repairs
w $15 million: Canal Street complex repair and mitigation efforts
w $2.2 million: Orleans Parish installation of 5,000 water meters
w $1.2 million: Celebration Christian School and Daycare replacement of contents
w $1.4 million: City of New Orleans Emergency Operations Center communication network
w $7.8 million: South Cameron High School and Elementary School replacement/consolidation
w $1.7 million: Louisiana Facility Planning and Control
w $1.1 million: Carrollton Water Treatment Plant
w $2.2 million: North and South Florissant Drainage Pump Stations
w $3.4 million: St. Bernard construction and demolition debris removal
w $4 million: Plaquemines Parish canals debris & sediment removal
There's lots more here.

Release from Homeland Security:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday joined President Obama, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley in New Orleans to see Hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery efforts firsthand—her third visit to the Gulf Coast since January.
At the University of New Orleans, Secretary Napolitano joined President Obama, Secretary Donovan, Secretary Duncan and Chair Sutley at a town hall meeting to hear directly from Louisiana residents about ongoing rebuilding efforts.
During the town hall, President Obama highlighted the Long Term Recovery Working Group, co-chaired by Secretary Napolitano and Secretary Donovan, which will provide operational guidance for recovery organizations and help ensure a more resilient nation.
Additionally, Secretary Napolitano attended the National Fusion Center Directors Meeting to discuss the Department’s progress toward becoming the single focal point of information on homeland security threats for state and local law enforcement officers.
She also visited the Vessel Traffic Center, a U.S. Coast Guard-operated interagency facility responsible for managing 20 miles of complex waterways on the Lower Mississippi River, and received a briefing on current Coast Guard maritime operations.
Secretary Napolitano’s trip highlights DHS’ continued commitment to providing federal support for rebuilding and security efforts throughout the Gulf Coast through coordination with federal, state, local and tribal partners.

Obama's Town Hall in New Orleans Oct. 15

After the town hall, Obama visited MLK Charter school. Read about his visit here.
Update Oct 20: Full New Orleans video:
Transcript
At the town hall Bobby Jindal was seriously booed but Obama gave Jindal props, calls him a "hard working man."

A fourth grader asks why people hate Obama. Well, small boy, it's like this, some people are intolerant and rotten (that's my answer). Obama tries to explain politics and says people feel frustrated because of the economy. He's so level headed:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Obama Town hall in New Orleans Oct. 15

Obama and Sasha at Jefferson Memorial

UPDATE Oct. 15: SEE VIDEO OF THE TOWN HALL HERE.

Note the time is Louisiana time (it's at 2:15 eastern). There will be live audio here.

Update: The president will arrive at Louis Armstrong International Airport at about 11:30 a.m. and likely travel by Interstate 10 to New Orleans, where he will stop about noon at Martin Luther King Charter School in the Lower 9th Ward. He will proceed to the University of New Orleans for a town hall meeting at 1:15 p.m. Shortly after 2 p.m., the president's entourage will return to the airport. NOLA

The town hall should be live streamed at cnn.com, msnbc.com or whitehouse.gov/live. I'll post details on time and place when they're up. In New Orleans...

With the president will be Secretaries Napolitano, Donovan, and Duncan, who "will each participate in events throughout the community to review recovery progress."

From New Orleans, POTUS heads to San Francisco for a DNC fundraiser that evening, and then Friday he flies to College Station, Texas, for a Presidential Forum on community service hosted by former President George H.W. Bush and the Points of Light Institute at the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University. Politico

Bobby Jindal will be on hand:

"The president's administration has achieved some truly great things in the short time since taking office," Landrieu said Thursday evening. "If this visit is too brief, it will not afford the president the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that an effective and committed administration can have on rebuilding neighborhoods and communities."
Earlier in the day, Vitter sent a letter to Obama, cautioning, "If the town hall is the only major event of the visit, I truly think it will be deeply disappointing to most citizens."

The White House Thursday evening indicated that plans for the president's trip are still being finalized, and would not confirm that a town hall was on the agenda, leaving open the possibility that a different and perhaps more extensive itinerary was in the works.

Regardless of the president's precise plans for his trip, Gov. Bobby Jindal's office said Thursday that he would be in New Orleans for the president's visit. So too will Reps. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-New Orleans, and Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson.
But Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, the only Democrat in the Louisiana House delegation, will not be in New Orleans with Obama.NOLA

Republicans Speaking Out FOR Health Care Reform

In the past week, a few big republicans and independents (Bloomberg) have spoken out in favor of getting healthcare done. Took them long enough.

Their names carry weight. They include former Senate majority leaders Bob Dole and Bill Frist, a heart surgeon; Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, a health policy expert; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, now an independent; and Mark McClellan, former administrator of Medicare and Medicaid from 2004-06.

As former Republican congressman Mickey Edwards, currently a lecturer on public affairs at Princeton, puts it: "The grown-ups are beginning to speak up." Read more at USA Today

Bobby Jindal urges republicans to join in. Jeb Bush is NOT one of those grown up republicans speaking out for health reform. He aims all of his criticism at Obama. But Bush is "pleasantly surprised" about Obama's education efforts.

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Jindal Pleased With Obama's FEMA Team

Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., says Obama's team has brought a more practical and flexible approach. Many local officials offer similar reviews. Even Doug O'Dell, former President George W. Bush's recovery coordinator, says the Obama administration's "new vision" appears to be turning things around.

Not too long ago, Jindal said in a telephone interview, Louisiana governors didn't have "very many positive things" to say about the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

But Jindal said he had a lot of respect for the current FEMA chief, Craig Fugate, and his team. "There is a sense of momentum and a desire to get things done," the governor said. Read the whole thing

Howard Ahmanson Becomes a Blue Dog Democrat

Ahmanson, a Christian philanthropist, says he's a Blue Dog (the more fiscally conservative Democrats) rooting for Bobby Jindal in 2012.
But he's been a staunch republican and most likely that's been because of his strong religious views for which many have painted him in an ugly light.
On Obama, he says it's too early to tell.
He said Obama's reversal of Bush's restrictions on abortion and embryonic stem cell research was not surprising. Frankly, if republicans were wise they'd change their strategy on opposing abortion and embryonic stem cells. Rather than cementing their feet, and appearing like extremists, they'd find another way to appeal to people.
He'd like to get a note of recognition -- Someone send him a welcome card!
Still, something seems strange about this.

WaPo: In what one might call a biblical move, Christian philanthropist Howard Ahmanson -- one of three major funders of the campaign for California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages -- has abandoned the GOP for the Democratic Party.

No one ever said the multimillionaire isn't idiosyncratic.

In a rare interview Thursday, Ahmanson shared some of his thoughts about why he switched parties. In a word, taxes.

Specifically, he was offended by the California Republican Party's insistence during a recent state budget battle that there would be no tax increases for any reason, no matter what. "They're providing one issue, and it's just a very silly issue," Ahmanson told me by telephone.

So, without fanfare, Ahmanson printed out an online form and mailed in his Democratic Party registration. Thus far, he's heard nothing back, but confesses to hoping he'll receive a little card or something.

Jindal Taking Another Whack Tonight Before Obama's Speech

Glad they're giving Jindal another shot. He's got it in him.
But if you don't want to hear his speech, I'll tell you what he's going to say: The deficit is too high and the budget is too large.

Swamp: Jindal will have a chance to voice his party's message tonight opposite the president's prime-time news conference.

Viewed as a possible presidential contender for his party, Jindal is headlining a congressional fundraiser for the GOP that happened to fall on the same night as Obama's presser.

The governor's televised address from the hallway of the governor's mansion in Louisiana in response to the president's congressional address was widely ridiculed.
....
Tonight, Jindal will speak before a live audience of party faithful in Washington, with his address scheduled well before Obama's news conference at 8 pm EDT likely starting before the president's remarks. Obama will draw live broadcast and cable news coverage -- Jindal likely dependent on cable coverage of his talk.

Jindal Tells Larry King Limbaugh is a Great Leader

Bobby Jindal said it TWICE. No mistaking. Of course, Limbaugh rushed to his side, post Jindal's Howdy Doody speech. Jindal just ruined any credibility he had left.

I think what's happening is there are more hard right conservative republicans, relative to the moderates, than anyone knows and the democrats have forced them to come out and show their colors.

The new republican party that emerges will be the one we're seeing now, which won't be able to compete going forward because reasonable people aren't going to follow Rush Limbaugh and the conservatives are anything BUT inclusive.

Jindal's also a coward and is carrying Rush's water. Rush says this all the time -- Obama is just a good speaker:

Larry King: Governor, you took a lot of flak for that speech. Were you surprised that you did?

Gov. Bobby Jindal: Let's be clear, the president is a great speaker -- probably the greatest we've seen in a generation. I'm certainly not nearly as good of a speaker as he is. And I'm not the only one that's got that opinion.

I hope people look at the content of the speech, not just the delivery. You know, for years, I've been told I speak too quickly. Now I'm told I speak too slowly.

What's more important is I was outlining a philosophical difference with the stimulus package, with the leadership in Congress, with the administration. I was outlining a philosophical disagreement that says we need to get businesses hiring again. We need to put more money in the private sector. CNN

Even if republicans had a point, no one would listen because they're acting pretty foolish. 

Where's Bobby Jindal?

In the same way that republicans, normal ones, asked where is John McCain when he chose Sarah Palin, they're now asking where is Jindal? Why do intelligent republicans let themselves get hijacked? Or are they just feeling freer to let their true colors show?
I actually liked Bobby Jindal at one point. I know that puts me in the same category with Rush but for different reasons. But his speech the other night was a horror. Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, who railed against Palin as vice president, says Jindal was dumbed down by his staff.

RCP: I know Bobby Jindal, and that guy wasn't Bobby Jindal.

The real Jindal is the intellectual equivalent of a nuclear power plant. The real Jindal has actually read the stimulus bill and can recite its contents. The real Jindal is the sort of politician who promises ethics and education reform, and actually delivers.

Stories of Jindal's ability to quickly assess a problem and fix it have become the stuff of legend in Louisiana, as when he was assigned the task of reforming the state's Medicaid program and presented a workable plan the following morning. He was in his 20s.

That kind of performance, followed by his bare-hands approach to Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts as a Louisiana congressman, helped him become the nation's youngest governor in 2007. What happened to that guy? Who snatched his body?

His staff did. Read the rest.

While Parker blames Jindal's staff for writing the speech, Jindal would've been stupid not to read it or make necessary changes. Parker said he was dumbed down on purpose, so I guess if we believe her analysis, republicans largely believe Americans are ignorant. Republicans haven't figured out that we now want our leaders to be smart. 

Being the smartest person in the room can be a mixed blessing. Whether it is advantage or handicap for a brainy candidate depends on having the right people around him. At the moment, Jindal seems to be handicapped by handlers who either don't trust their candidate or have no faith in Americans' intelligence.

In coaching him to dim the lights a tad, they stole his spark. Dumbing down doesn't come naturally to wunderkinds like Jindal. In trying to sound human, he sounds fake. In attempting to convey everydayness, he comes across as an extraterrestrial.