This was in the Morning News, and I know everyone is sick of hearing about it, but I can't stop thinking about how awesome Cory Booker is. Running into a burning building to save a neighbor is the kind of thing that should live for a news cycle or two. (And it's a great opportunity for me to remind you to watch Street Fight, the excellent documentary about how Booker became mayor of Newark. Booker's been a hero of mine ever since I first saw it.)

But! I just learned that this is Exceptional Public Servant Day*. MSNBC says:

Barefoot and bold, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin outran four hungry bears vying for the birdfeeders hanging from his backyard porch — and won...When the bears kept clawing at the feeders, Shumlin ran out barefoot to grab the dispensers in an attempt to stop the bears from eating, but one bear charged at him on the porch.

The governor was able to run back into the kitchen, with feeders in hand, and escape the hungry bandits.

Shumlin told the Lebanon Valley News editorial board that Vermont "almost lost the governor," adding that he was within "three feet of getting 'arrrh’," the Associated Press reported.

Where are Washington's exceptional public servants? It's their day! I demand that Mayor McGinn foil a bank robbery before the day is out. I call on Governor Gregoire to rescue a toddler from an angry mountain goat. We can't let these eastern politicians show us up like this.

* I have to be a brat and note that both Shumlin and Booker are Democrats. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'm sure Chris Christie did something totally heroic today, too.