After many many years I finally am opposed to the death penalty. I forget the case but it was one where we found out someone was innocent too late and he was executed. Curious if these ne laws have something to do with lobbies who support private prisons though.

Another provocative and intelligent show tonight. You have to wonder if all those corporations who publicly spurned ALEC have quietly put their money behind the National Center for Public Policy Research. That NCfPPR note you displayed cited the "far left Center for American Progress Action Fund" as that bright light that uncovered all the little ALEC cockroaches as they scurried for cover. If that's true, the CfAP deserves a look.

There must be some master group which comes up with unmemorable names for these organizations. I suspect it's a Nixonian legacy. The names themselves remind me of that portion of Monty Python's Life of Brian where they sneeringly identify all the Popular Fronts of this-and-that.

The plot sickens?

That's it, Republicans, keep the anti-woman stuff on the front pages. Keep it all fresh and alive in people's minds.

Did the so called "angry voters"of 2010 get what they voted for,or did corporate America get what they paid for?What does contraception and abortion have to do with jobs,jobs,jobs that the republicans promised during their campaigns? It has nothing to do with governing but everything to do with stalling the economy.Romney believes there is a left wing conspiracy.I believe there is a congress, bank, corporation conspiracy.They believe if they can keep the economy stalled so they can get a friendly republican elected in 2012,regulations will disappear along with their tax burden.Thats why Romneys super pacs are being flooded with corporate cash.President Obama's super pacs are lagging because Wall St thought they had a step"n"fetchit black guy when they gave money to his campaign in 2008.They have since found out he is not easily bought,like Romney can be. I take that back,Romney will do their bidding because he "IS" a Wall St.kinda guy.Pres Obama has been railroaded for 3-1/2 years and look for another 7 months of the same.

Rachel,

It's all about SCOTUS! The quickening of the anti-abotion/contraception movement is in anticipation that Obama will win a 2nd term. Actuarially, Obama stands a good chance of appointing 2-4 more justices by 2016. Scalia is 76, Kennedy 75, Ginsburg 79, Breyer 73. And then there is Thomas, only 63 in human years, but 93 in cranky years.

If Obama gets four or five appointments, the anti-abortion case is lost for a generation. For many folks it is worth any price to win their fight NOW. I think that has been a major driver of the Congressional hissy fit of the last three years. Consider their outlook: They leave the a wrecked economy to a very charismatic young President. There is nowhere to go but up, economically. Heathcare is also ready to be addressed. What if the new Presidents healthcare solution proves popular and effective? Again, there is nowhere to go but up. From the view of 2009, a second term for the President will be hard to miss, and SCOTUS clearly hangs in the balance. I think the GOP has been playing endgame since November 2008. For both parties, it is all about SCOTUS right now.

Any chance we could get Rachel to do a good solid debunking of this "The Pill Kills" mythology? The whole argument is that supposedly the Pill prevents an embryo from implanting in the mother's uterus and therefore kills the embryo -- but this actually is pure speculation and isn't known to happen! Plan B has in fact been shown not to prevent implantation, by research designed specifically to test this question. Yes, one of the cornerstones of anti-contraception ideology -- that it prevents implantation -- isn't even known to be true, and in some cases is known not to be true! I'd love to see Rachel take a hard look at the evidence on this.

yes I will go full term despite the rape. who will adopt the child? MITT?