"Yeah. I guess nothing's forever." There's a low, contemplative edge to Luther's voice as he says that, thinking out loud. A bit of regret tinging his tone: "This one just seemed more 'for good' than most. Six years, the Porter's been quiet. Ten years I've been here. Thought that meant something."

The topic's shifted slightly, perhaps turned a bit too bittersweet for a celebratory public barbecue. He also sounds genuinely regretful about how things have changed. That's the hardest thing about this government, really: when they don't need to condition or brainwash their people. Someone can seem like a nice, decent guy and still have swallowed the poison.