Which is to say, they have so much influence that they get pandered to so that Pelosi doesn't wake up with a horse's head in her bed.

I'm sure Nancy Pelosi can afford a new set of sheets. I really don't find "they're a big lobby" a sufficient excuse - lobbies are only as powerful as politicians allow them to be.

Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain. Why is he climbing a mountain?

I really don't find "they're a big lobby" a sufficient excuse - lobbies are only as powerful as politicians allow them to be.

Oh, I totally agree.

Whoa. Rethuglicans just stood up and applauded. That was scary.

Yeah, but they were mumbling about something too, right?

I figured he'd save Ted Kennedy for the closer. Not that it's not applicable -- it very VERY much is -- but it's also great politics.

Yeah, and his family looks so...emotionally raw, but representing Teddy.

Big Words Used By Obama: demagoguery; acrimony.

I. Love. Him.

I really want to know who it was that shouted "Lies!" when Obama said that the plan wouldn't cover illegal immigrants. That one should be pretty easy to verify or disprove -- it's not like it's one of the "what will happen in ten years if we do this and this happens and this other thing happens but this thing doesn't happen" questions. And his next sentence was about not paying for abortion, and I really expected somebody to shout out something then. (He kind of looked like he expected it, too.)

Hec, Em is...nearly...dead on.

I forget how old he is, so maybe I'm just being a jerk. The Eighth Amendment doesn't apply in this situation because:

The prisoners were not accused of a "crime" but of an "act of war". Yes, including those who were *conveniently* classified as "enemy combatants" despite not actually engaging in active combat against the U.S. or any of its citizens or soldiers. As "enemy combatants" they fell under the jurisdiction of military, rather than normal Constitutional (see also: criminal) law.

Doesn't make what Bush did right (anyone want to tell me that's what I'm saying will get a boot and a multi-tool in their neck), but the Constitution doesn't apply.

Various treaties and agreements with other countries do, however. The Geneva Convention(s) (properly it's plural, being a set of agreed-upon conventions for international legal issues, especially in time of war) being primary among them.

Sounds like Emmett has at least read the Constitution, though, which is super double extra awesome. If it means anything, tell him MM not only approves but thinks he rocks the world.

The Prez is NOT going to say "Death Panel". He's above that shit, yo.