Romney has done another Thurston Howell the third thing.

He was on fox news trying to roll back his insult of the nascar people wearing poncho's.

“Well you know, it’s hard to imagine all the things they’re going to try and turn into attacks,” Romney responded. “I mean, that’s the first time I’ve heard the one you’ve mentioned. Look, I have worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself. And we’re out there in the rain; the rain was getting us soaked; I didn’t have a rain coat myself. I would have liked one of those. So, you know, it’s just the nature of the process.”

It's bad that his unnatural awkardness is so pronounced that it comes off even in the text. You can just read this and picture the dull robotic lack of charisma. You have to wonder how far we go down the gaffe road until it stops being a matter of comedy and starts being a character study of a man who is disconnected with normal people.

"I'm normal, see, I'm not artificial or forced or awkward in any way. I get wet just like you normal humans do in the rain. I like cars, and the trees are just the right height in Michigan."

Big Bang Theory viewers I ask you, who has more awkward small talk, Sheldon Cooper or Mitt Romney?

My comment is @ contraception issues. Since men and boys can't keep their baby-makers in their own pants and seem to be sooo convincing and smooth talking, mothers and fathers of daughters have to have another recourse in trying to keep babies from having babies. This also curbs the use of abortions as contraception. This debate from the republicans, as you can see, is about men controlling and taking advantage of women in a different way. If more "Daddies" stayed with the women they are making babies with (or "sluts" as Limbaugh calls us) then the abortion rate would decrease even more.

If they ( the republicans) don't want insurances to pay for contraception, then the insurance companies should not pay for Viagra (or any other enhancing drug). Even if the men take it for other reasons! Sorry Charlie, if women can't use contraception for other reasons, then neither can the perverts in this country!!!! It's not a religious fight because there are no priests, ministers, etc. fighting THIS fight. I think religious mentors have more problems of their own to worry about.

Women are speaking with a loud voice @ all of this and we are going to get louder! Just wait and see in November. Also, I don't know where the wives and daughters of these CRAZY, HILARIOUS AND STUPID republican men are. Have they convinced and smoothed talked you for so long you don't the difference?? Please open your eyes and even better, your ears!

Just wondering why no one is asking Rick Santorum, especially, but all of them: will they sponsor and support legislation restricting the prescription of Viagra to only men who are willing and able to procreate? And if not, will they at least support removing Viagra prescription coverage from insurance coverage under Medicare, and allow employers to instruct their insurers to not cover it if someone like me objects to them doing so?

Seriously, I am perplexed as to why we are not talking about denying men the enjoyment of sex if they can't afford the healthcare products they need to have it -- actually even that doesn't get to the nub of it. When you think about it, why is Viagra even a legal drug in the minds of these puritans?

Why has this not been reported on Rachel?

New legislation jeopardizes $900 million in health insurance refunds

A bill introduced in the Senate would jeopardize nearly $900 million in estimated health insurance refunds or lower premiums for consumers, says Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports.

According to Consumers Union, the legislation undermines a new rule that requires insurers spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care, rather than administrative costs, including salaries and advertising. But the new bill eliminates insurance broker commissions from the calculation of administrative costs, and doesn’t ensure that insurance companies direct the savings back to brokers.

The republicans don't even want to give refunds for overpayment now. Most of this money is being used for advertisement anyways.

Bill to Bolster Insurance Companies Harms Consumers, Protects Profits
WASHINGTON, DC – New legislation introduced today would jeopardize nearly $900 million in estimated health insurance refunds or lower premiums for consumers. The bill (S.2068), authored by Senator Landrieu of Louisiana, guts a key protection for consumers that purchase health insurance on their own or receive coverage from a small employer.

S. 2068 undermines the new Medical Loss Ratio rule that requires insurers spend at least 80% of premiums on medical care, rather than administrative costs including salaries and advertising. But the legislation, which eliminates insurance broker commissions from the calculation of administrative costs, doesn’t ensure that insurance companies direct the savings back to brokers. Instead the bill would permit insurers to simply pad their administrative costs.

“In just a few short months insurers must pay back consumers for wasting their money on inefficient overhead and excessive profit. But this bill would just put that money back into the hands of insurance companies” said Lisa Swirsky, Policy Analyst with Consumers Union. “This is a giveaway to big insurance and a significant loss for consumers struggling to afford health insurance.”

The new rule, included as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is a key component of the law’s aim to slow rising premiums. The National Association of Insurance (NAIC) found that altering the rule to remove broker compensation will result in a loss of more than 60% of forthcoming rebates for consumers.

“The single biggest complaint we hear about health insurance is ever-increasing premiums,” said Swirsky. “This bill erodes the biggest tool we have for reigning in insurance companies and fighting rising insurance costs.”

Hi Rachel, - Today you asked Mr. Robinson, "Why are the Republicans running with this Social Agenda? Republicans can read poles just like everyone else. So, Why would they do this?" He seemed a little bewildered about it. So, I thought I'd respectfully suggest that you have already defined the answer to this clearly in your reporting.

Health Care passed by Obama - From a Republican idea
Energy Policy passed by Obama - From a Republican idea
Tax Policy passed by Obama - From a Republican idea
The Wars in the Middle east - From a Republican idea
And the list goes on and on. I'm sure your people can think of even more stuff than I could.

The Republican are not stupid - they know that Obama is passing the laws they created. They could never pass these laws with a Republican in the White House. If they just stick to their guns then Obama will be the best Republican president on the ticket.

Honestly, I don't doubt that there are a large number of Republicans who sincerely want Obama out of the White House. But then there are "the smartest guys in the room," who have a different opinion. You are right, Republicans are not stupid - they want to loose this one. Otherwise, they would have run someone who wasn't a joke.

Rachel, two observations about last night's show:

First, how do you discuss Algae-based biofuel WITHOUT including Exxon's famous TV commercial on the subject from 2010?

Second, the graph of oil production under Bush vs Obama, the X-Axis is off. It shows oil production reversing course in (and shaded up to) 2008. Obama didn't take office until January of 2009.

Two points about last night's show:

1. Were Santorum to win the nomination...HE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY CHOOSE ROMNEY AS A RUNNING MATE....the establishment would be so far up his hind-end that "santorum" would be everywhere...!!!!! :-P<EEK>

2. When Jon Kyl was upset about nuclear negotations with Lil' Il (North Korea), he did not mean that as a factual statement.

Keep up the good work....