WARNING: We have commentary in this show that goes explicit.

In this episode, Alex vents about the loss of his dream job. There are man hugs.

Jonathan talks about Archon, Vegas, and Genghis Con, and invites everybody along.

Sam got a motorcycle.

There’s more Red Dead talk.

And in the topic, we discuss all manner of items related to the recent Medal of Honor scandal.  In the newest game, you’ll be able to take on the role of a Taliban fighter in the multiplayer modes.  We respond to a Fox News interview of a military mom, get some reactions from servicemembers, and generally speculate wildly.  Enjoy!

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On December 7th, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked the naval station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,402 and wounding another 1,282. This attack, along with Germany’s successive declaration of war despite any treaty obligations, swayed American public opinion away from isolationism toward direct involvement and intervention.

The event yielded 16 Medals of Honor, 51 Navy Crosses, 53 Silver Crosses, four Navy and Marine Corps Medals, one Distinguished Flying Cross, four Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, and three Bronze Stars earned by American military personnel who distinguished themselves during the attack.

90,000 US servicemen lost their lives in the Pacific. Today is a day we remember their sacrifice.

Read more about it here.

Following a question The Holmberg asked on our forums, I thought a primer on how bills pass through the house and senate might help before Jeff, Darryl, and I talk health care and other pending issues.

Items Explained are…

• Sponsored bills
• Conference committees and reports
• Concurrent resolutions
• Super Majorities
• Filibusters
• Reconciliation
• Senate Rule XXII

For additional information, I recommend Project Vote Smart. It has a lot of good information.

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It can be a bit daunting discussing politics with two political management graduate students. Who am I? Just some guy that likes politics. Or am I? Having grown up in Missouri, perhaps I gained some type of political psychic power, foresight into election results.

From NPR’s Political Junkie, I won the contest for the 2009 election day results:

Just back from a post-election visit to Mom in Florida — she’s fine, thanks for asking! — it’s now time to announce the winner of our 2009 Election Contest!

I compiled a list of key elections — everything from the two gubernatorial and two congressional races, plus the same-sex marriage referenda in Maine, down to a handful of mayoral contests. You had to pick the winners in each.

But there was also a scoring system involved: ten points each for the gov. races in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as the special congressional race in upstate New York. Five points each for the California 10 House race, the Maine referendum, and the New York City mayoral election. And one point each went to the other mayoral races.

We had a mechanism for breaking a tie, should that have been necessary.

It wasn’t.

Not only was Joe Selby of Nashua, N.H., the winner — he got every one right. He finished with 47 points … closely followed by Maureen Hogan of Phoenix, Ariz., with 46 points. Joe wins a pair of 1976 presidential campaign buttons from President Ford and Jimmy Carter.

To quote Nathan Fillion, Bam said the lady!