Chris Kelly writes about that “thing” on the President’s mind during today’s 45 minute trip to Rhode Island.

Bush dropped in, to see what condition his condition was in, and to address the Naval War College. For the audience members playing the drinking game, the 9/11 references were:

1) “This is an ideological conflict we face against murderers and killers who try to impose their will. These are the people who attacked us on September 11th and killed nearly 3,000 people.”

2)”Remember, when I mention al Qaeda, they’re the ones who attacked the United States of America and killed nearly 3,000 on September the 11th, 2001.”

3) “Al Qaeda is responsible for most sensational killings in Iraq. They’re responsible for the sensational killing on U.S. soil, and they’re responsible for the killings in Iraq.”*

(*An allusion, not a direct reference. Take half a drink.)

4) “And what makes the war even more significant is that what happens overseas matters to the security of the United States of America, as we learned on September 11th, when killers were able to use a failed state to plot the deadly attack.”

And:

5) “September the 11th, we saw how a failed state, like I’d just told you, can affect the security at home.”