We were all in a state of shock and disbelief 17 years ago, especially when it became clear that the first plane hitting the World Trade Center wasn’t an accident. But even then, as the rubble still smoldered in NYC and DC (and PA), I knew that one day America would rise from the ashes and elect (so to speak) a president that would make George W. Bush look like a stable genius and elder statesman. It took us a while, but in less than 20 years, we’ve gone from a nation that the entire world stood with to the biggest fucking joke in the history of the planet (bit of a sick joke, to be sure, but an impressive one nonetheless). So congratulations to us, and don’t forget to run out and do some shopping. You know, for old times’ sake.