Given those choices, I'll have to go with door number 1.

But I think it would be a better example of how moralizing right-wingers reconsider when their policies start hitting close to home. As long as it's a faceless "other" that's fine, but not when it's his little girl.

I'm a 6'2" white mail with green eyes - I guess that makes me 2" better than you ;-)

Hmmm - I wonder if this is how it starts?

Is Obama a Muslim fundamentalist, or a raving liberal? Or is he loyal to his controversial (Christian) ex-pastor? According to some, all of the above!

Actually to the wingnuts, Obama is just like Al Capp's Shmoo - he's whatever nasty thing (in their opinion) they need him to be at the moment.

I just wish he actually was some of the things they accuse him of being.

Better watch the way you spell "center" there tovarich. That's how they spell in in France and we all know what a bunch of Commies they are, what with single-payer healthcare, free college education, five weeks of vacation, and such fripperies.

Now you're with the program. Oh, and smoke a lot too, so that you die young and limit those unproductive retirement years. And if we're lucky, you'll rack up big medical bills. See, it's easy. Just put your mind on hold and think "What Would Rush Tell Me To Do?".

Having waded through the inanity of many of the one-comment wonders, I rather wish that they tried to reach you over at Slate.

Sounds like a rough duty day Mike. Did it get broadcast or taped for later? It sounds like it would be something to show in schools to other kids.

Joan, you should fire this guy (or at the very least not renew his contract) and let Elephantman have this slot. While I disagree with almost everything Elephantman has to say, I can at least believe that he means it. Mr. "Walken" is obviously just a party hack who's just repeating the talking points he's been given.

In short, please give us someone who at least believes his lines and doesn't just recite them.

I was going to say that he was pulling an Aimee Semple McPherson out in the desert and will reappear in a few days announcing that God wanted him to be President (not merely to run for the office, you understand).

Then, of course, we find out he was really holed up in a no-tell motel with 18 hookers, a case of gin, 20 lbs of grapefruit, and a trampoline. And I'm afraid that it will be discovered that the grapefruit have nothing to do with the gin...

So if she's not qualified, than neither are the 4 who agreed with her.

Actually, I think most of the right wing punits/blogosphere would agree with that statement.

Of course that would make Roberts, Scalia, Alito, and Clarence unqualified for their seats as they've also been on the losing end of 5-4 decisions. But, since when has reason stopped Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, et al. from actually considering what came out of their pie holes?

"In poor countries, there was a lot of corruption going on," explains Mora. "In rich countries, there were more political and economic pressures on the policy making. The end result of that is that in both cases, science is not converted into proper regulation."

Can someone explain to me why the "political and economic pressures" aren't described as corruption?

Whether a fisherman bribes a catch inspector to look the other way, or a corporation supplies a campaign contribution to a sympathetic politician, the only thing that changes is the size of the payment.

The Constitution provides for a head-count census for the purpose of determining electoral representation, period. The rest is nobody's business.

Nope, not quite, from Article I, section 2:

(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.) (The previous sentence in parentheses was modified by the 14th Amendment, section 2.) The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

The census can include what Congress wants it to include.

I agree 100% that the mere fact that Congress passes a law doesn't make it constitutional. As a matter of fact, recent years showed us that they're not related at all in many cases.

I would however argue that barring a Supreme Court ruling explicitly denying them the power, they've got it. Do you know of such a ruling? If so, please cite.

I refer you to FindLaw, http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/constitution/article01/08.html#f314, you can do your own research from there.

So, we've gone from "Joe the Plumber" to "Frank the Fireman". It seems that the only time the Republicans in general and the Cato Institute in particular give a damn about working people is when they can be exploited.

Well Frank, enjoy your 15 minutes of fame, who knows - you might be able to turn it into a run for office. But I wouldn't suggest adding tort reform to your positions.

... and Republicans are so disappointed.

Require that drilling company execs and their families only be allowed to drink water from wells within 3 miles of drilling fields where fracking is used.

"I orally copulated this man for the sake of the Republican party!"

I expect to hear this one in real life sometime soon.

"Let's say I'm 38 weeks pregnant," he began.

Frankly Senator, it might improve your thinking on a few issues.