Defcon 5

As a three time marathon runner, I take pride in my perseverance.

Without it, I would not have crossed that magical finish line at 26.2 miles. Without perseverance, I would not have achieved many of my career goals, which might have easily been shot down by office politics, committee-think or just plain stupidity. And without perseverance, my wife and I may not have cracked the fertility code. I can't imagine my life without my two beautiful daughters.

So today I'd like to lift a glass in salutation to Latraesa Goodman, who would not be denied and dialed 911 when the local McDonalds told her they had run out of chicken McNuggets.

That's the kind of stick-to-it-iveness that's going to get this country out of its current financial mess.