There will be no shortage of constitutional “experts” in this country come June.
The decisions in the Affordable Care Act cases are two months away, but the massive narrative-generation apparatus has already begun to shimmy and whir as it churns out the story lines that will dominate editorials in a few weeks’ time. If the ACA disappears, news personalities will react with subtle disapproval coupled with selective memory of the history of the federal judiciary—a partial history that will escape the attention of their mostly-oblivious audience. Commentators will be less restrained. Keith Olbermann may settle his lawsuit with Current TV just for the sake of more easily finding a new platform from which to declare the downfall of our republic.
For all of you who are outraged at the prospect of the Supreme Court of the United States taking the “unprecedented” step of striking down the Affordable Care Act . . . this one’s for you.
A lonely figure shuffles across the floor in an empty hall. Squeak, squeak, squeak. Each step is itself a minor victory. “I guess I should be grateful I can still move this well,” he jokes, even then with a twinge of pain spreading across his face.
The Office has actually been quite good for a lot of this season, the first without Steve Carell. The problem is that I didn’t begin SitCombat until both Archer and 30 Rock had returned. Unfortunately, most of the best eighth-season Office episodes aired before SitCombat kicked off.
Two internal counter-arguments immediately sprang to mind. First, we’re in the early half of the election cycle, not the fall portion. Maybe it’s not that unusual for the president to be ignored in the first half of the calendar year. Secondly, perhaps I’m suffering from faulty memory. After all, the last time we actually had a sitting president running for a second term was eight years ago. On the other hand, I’ve been watching SNL since I can remember, and I’ve caught up fairly well on the shows before my time. I would go as far as to say I’m safely in “buff” territory and at least within shouting distance of “expert.”
The plight of the noble robot is one that is both under-reported and under-appreciated. The month-long April celebration of Robot History Month attempts to remedy those injustices. Last year’s edition produced several fine pieces of content that honored the sacrifices and struggles of our robotic brothers and sisters. Here are a few examples:
WrestleMania XXVIII (“28” for you non-Romans) provided a puzzling hodge-podge of sports entertainment that ran the gamut from sublime to ridiculous to ill-advised. I’m not sure where exactly to place the aggregate, but it felt less-than-spectacular.
Archer also wrapped up last week. That leaves only one opponent standing between the Office and a resurgence to the top. Unfortunately, it’s the same opponent that’s won those four straight battles. Even more unfortunate for the Office is the fact that the episode is a rerun for the second consecutive week, possibly costing the show a golden opportunity to return to glory.
Tom resurrects Mike from the dead (off-air) and engages his reanimated friend in an hour-long conversation about this weekend’s WrestleMania 28 event. They run down the card and discuss how we got here, and, in cases in which it’s discernible, why we got here. The duo also talks themselves into believing that anything is possible in the WWE, including the reformation of the 
So, when someone equates a slight increase in the marginal tax rate of the very wealthy to “
The Axis of Ego 
SitCombat: 4/12/12
30 Rock has forged a SitCombat dynasty in recent weeks. Tina Fey and company have racked up a half-dozen consecutive victories with no end in sight. The wrap of Archer and the repeated re-runs (is the redundant?) by the Office have left 30 Rock with even less chance of losing.
Meanwhile, 30 Rock hasn’t been renewed yet, either. So, now’s thetime to fight for your lives, SitCombatants!
This was SitCombat for April 12, 2012:
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