Tonight on The Independents: John Stossel on the Constitution, Ebola Blame, Iraq WMDs, Hong Kong Violence, Bad Polls for Everyone, and our Weekly Enemy of Freedom

Tonight's episode of The Independents (Fox Business Network, 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT, with re-airs three hours later) includes John Stossel wearing (however briefly) a comical 18th-century wig and some kind of weird robe, to promote his show tomorrow about why the Constitution still matters. Do you really need any other come-on?

Ebola is still secreting itself hysterically into the news; we'll attempt to assess some blame for bad planning with Party Panelists Ellis Henican (Newsday columnist) and Lisa Boothe (Republican strategist). The duo will also discuss how every poll is terrible, for everybody. The New York Times last night published a bombshell about how successive administrations hushed up news about the old chemical weapons that U.S. troops discovered (and sometimes suffered from) in Iraq between 2004-2011; we'll have longtime national security reporter Noah Shactman of The Daily Beast on to break down. And the co-hosts will crown our weekly Enemy of Freedom, who will be no surprise to alert Reason readers.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Enemy of Freedom is a weekly thing now? So that list wasn't definitive.

[Rev-Match]

Has FdA mentioned he likes Stossel?

[Heroic Mulatto]

I don't think "like" is the correct word.

This is a more accurate description.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

Why did I click on the link?? WHY?

[Rev-Match]

I refrained.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I imagine you were made of sterner stuff!

[Rev-Match]

What I mean is that I clicked on it, and had time to determine whether or not I wanted to go through with it because of my less than adequate internet connection.

[Heroic Mulatto]

An argument for net neutrality.

[Hyperion]

He doesn't really like Stossel, he's just obsessed with the stache. When I was in my 30s my stache was that thick. Now it's not, but I make up for it with the badass goat. But I have to tell you, looking like a fucking caveman after a weekend of not shaving is really not that great. We need more advanced facial hair tech and flying cars.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

The Stoss is lookin dashing in that wig.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

I've seen the Lockheed fusion reactor announcement linked here a few times.. I'd like to know what materials they are using for this reactor. Getting a fusion reaction to sustain itself is still not proven anywhere, or even close to. But developing the materials to hold this reaction is also a huge stumbling block. Currently, as far as my research into the subject has gone, there is really no material known of yet that can handle the stress of the environment required for high power fusion. Extremely high heat and pressure as well as a very high neutron flux. That is a tough environment to withstand.

I'd like to think Lockheed would only make any announcement like this if they were serious, but I just dont know how they have overcome the massive hurdles to fusion power and plan to have a working 100+MW reactor within 10 years.

[Trouser-Pod]

I was wondering what your take on it was. I know pretty much nothing about nuclear power, but I admit that this news was/is exciting, if true.

If this is more pipe dream than reality, what does Lockheed gain from making these claims? Could they brush off the negativity, business-wise, if this turns out to not be true?

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

That's what I'm thinking. I can't see why they would make this announcement if they didn't have something legitimate. I really hope they are serious.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

A little correction.. self sustaining fusion is proven. We just can't practically achieve anything close to it yet.

[Hyperion]

Fusion is the future. It IS going to work, it's just a matter of time. You have to get the right beer can and then rape the moon.

[DK]

Lockheed is not hiding this fact in their announcement:

Lockheed has made public its project with the aim of attracting partners, resources and additional researchers.

I imagine you've read the Aviation Week article which provides some detail. It goes over my head, but do you have a take?

[NotAnotherSkippy]

There's nothing useful in the AvWeek piece. Supposedly they have filed patents, but I only read patents when I'm paid to since the lawyers fuck them up so badly they're near incomprehensible.

[NotAnotherSkippy]

Meh, it's the neutron flux that's the problem. The plasma temperature doesn't really matter that much because it's relatively well confined magnetically. The neutrons have a moment, so they aren't completely immune to the fields, but their drift remains an issue.

That said, it's not the chamber materials that are the problem. It is plasma containment and instability. If LM can really get a high beta, then they've accomplished something. Remember that you're relying on thermal fusion which means you got a lovely boltzmann distribution of energies with only the highest energies being sufficient to actually fuse. that makes efficiency a challenge as well.

What bothers me is the little information I've been able to find makes it look like nothing more than a conventional dual magnetic mirror. I don't see any "breakthrough."

[Rufus J. Firefly]

America is ssssooooo lucky to have a FLOTUS like Michelle.

http://time.com/3508424/michel.....what-vine/

So, so lucky.

http://time.com/3462177/michel.....e_readnext

I wish there was a Canadian version of Michelle.

[Knarf Yenrab!]

In defense of Michelle, she is, to my knowledge, the only adult Obama who has not ordered the execution of an American child.

If BHO could have spent his years in the limelight concerning himself with sugar cookies and high-carb school lunches, the world would be a better place.

[John Titor (Formerly Jensen)]

What has Laureen Harper done lately anyway? She seems to pop up in campaign season and then just disappear for months on end.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Weren't left-wingers musing that Laureen is lesbian?

We got some Michelle fans here then.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

Don't worry, we'll have Trudeau in charge soon enough.

Oh Captain, mon Capitaine!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Don't even joke, SJF.

/sinks face into palms.

[John Titor (Formerly Jensen)]

Trudeaumania 2.0, the ReTrudeauing! He's just like the the first model, but with less Machiavellian cunning and more incompetence/empty emotional platitudes!

[Hyperion]

Lucky like having a really severe case of herpes?

[John Titor (Formerly Jensen)]

In regards to ebola, I think I speak for everyone when I ask: At what point in time does it become logical to install a big dumb wall staffed by autonomous miniguns around the infected zones? Alternatively, at what point of societal decay is it socially acceptable for me to start eating people?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Who said anything about societal decay to permit cannibalism?

[Knarf Yenrab!]

The first amendment to the Yenrabian (acreage available) Constitution holds that if they're already dead, they're not people anymore.

Just carry out corpse negotiations with the heirs and you're all set.

[Bardas Phocas]

Now the CDC is just fucking with us.
The second victim, told the CDC that she had a fever (though low) and they gave her the go ahead to fly.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/1.....diagnosis/
CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. John LaPook reports that Vinson called the CDC several times before boarding the plane concerned about her fever.

They probably thought 'what the hell, it's just Cleveland.'

[Rich]

the person at the CDC looked at a chart and because her temperature wasn't 100.4 or higher she didn't officially fall into the category of high risk.

"Protocol was followed."

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Oh, my confidence is getting higher and higher!

[Slammer]

Operation Shriek.

What do I win?

[Trouser-Pod]

I'm not quite sure that anybody wins, in that scenario.

[Rev-Match]

Prediction: Things about stuff. Also, ebola shenanigans.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Prediction: CLEAVAGE

[Trouser-Pod]

NOT Kennedy's...YES!!

[Fist of Etiquette]

You know what will save us from Ebola? Card check.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Suck dat gubmint cock!

[Rev-Match]

Everybody SHUT-UP! Lisa is talking!

[Fist of Etiquette]

UNREGULATED PRIVATE HOSPITALS WILL GIVE YOU EBOLA.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Is this clown truly blaming the private sector?

REALLY?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Foster's earpiece fell out. There, I said it.

[Rev-Match]

Have I mentioned I like Lisa?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Kennedy violated HIPAA on herself.

[Slammer]

WE NEED A BIG, STRONG TOP MAN TO FIX IT!

[Jesus H. Christ]

This is a clusterfuck, and the old guy statist is a shit stain.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Ellis is such a dickhead.

[Fist of Etiquette]

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS NURSES.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Obama needs to cough up his extensive knowledge of infectious disease. LEAD FROM THE TOP.

[PapayaSF]

He's probably a better doctor than his doctors.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I have such bad hearing that each time they say CDC I hear CBC.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

What's a CBC?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Oh nevermind. Canuckistani shit.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Gee, thanks for your concern about my hearing.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

What did you say?

I'm so deaf I couldn't understand what you wrote.

[John Titor (Formerly Jensen)]

Canada's Pravda.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

America's NPR?

[Fist of Etiquette]

WHEN WILL HNIC STOP EBOLA?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

HNIC has enough on its plate taking care of Canadians!

[Francisco d'Anconia]

DubyaMDz!

[True Scottsman]

the real precurser to Obamacare

[Fist of Etiquette]

A commercial break at the 10 minute mark? They're just making things up as they go along now.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Fuck yoo Hanz Brix!

[Fist of Etiquette]

No tie, no promotion.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Sounds like someone should have given them nukes in 1990s.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

When is Matt gonna get a brush cut?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Matt isn't that cool.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Just dropped in to see what condition my chemical weapons condition was in.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Shut the fuck up Donny.

[PapayaSF]

"But officer, these are old chemical weapons! I don't have an active program to make any more!"

"Oh, all right then. Carry on."

[Fist of Etiquette]

Worst mosh pit ever.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Intensities in tent cities.

[Jesus H. Christ]

+1 Great White Buffalo

[Slammer]

Are they using Salt and Pepper Chicken spray?

[Jesus H. Christ]

Kung Pao chicken spray. George likes his chicken spicy.

[Fist of Etiquette]

They're ahead of the game.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ebola in blackface.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Is actually a thing.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Of course.

[Fist of Etiquette]

SLUTTY, WELCH, NOT SEXY. Not always the same.

[Heroic Mulatto]

This is true.

[Fist of Etiquette]

What an obscure choice.

[Trouser-Pod]

Dancing with Google Brownstone, eh?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Eggciting.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

LCIS

[Slammer]

That cute bear luggage probably has the 'Bola now

[Almanian!]

🙁 I can haz a sad

[Agile Cyborg]

u can haze sweet bears? omg

[Rev-Match]

Something something 'politics' something something 'this show lost me when Lisa (the Goddess) left', something something 'the-failure-of-government'.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

It's always 40%.

[Almanian!]

8% if you're shriek

[Almanian!]

You guys need to post better. I'm not watching, and I can't follow it unless you post better!

Like Twitter when the orig Sharknado was on - TOTALLY knew what was happening.

Step it up, lads - chop chop!

[Trouser-Pod]

C'mon, Al...did you really need Twitter to know what was happening in Sharknado?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Everyone welcomes our insect overlords at this point.

[Almanian!]

fucking Mongorians!

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Libertarian moment.

[Rev-Match]

Um...Kombat ground troops need to be deployed to take the fight to EBOLA.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Flawless victory

[Francisco d'Anconia]

15%

Pretty fucking sad.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Howz boutz ground troops or nothing?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Yay. Stoss.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Translation

[Fist of Etiquette]

Have some dignity, Stoss. And I'm not talking about the wig; I'm talking about being on < i The Independents.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Socon friends?

[Rev-Match]

That and the 'white whig' thing

You RACIST, Kmele, you.

[Heroic Mulatto]

That's right...get angry Matt. We like angry Matt.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

+1 libertarian smash

[Slammer]

If she can finish High School online, then isn't attending High School superfluous?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Yes.

[Fist of Etiquette]

AH! Lou Dobbs.

[Moses Mandel Thwakovich 3rd?]

The real threat with ebola is not the disease itself but the threat it poses to the continued flow of vibrant populations into non-vibrant lands.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I'm a big fan of your music.

[Moses Mandel Thwakovich 3rd?]

Even Gypsies can sing.

[Moses Mandel Thwakovich 3rd?]

The real disaster was in American Somoa:

http://westhunt.wordpress.com/.....h-pacific/

[GILMORE]

Attire reviews will resume on Friday.

I've been traveling. also, my phone is teh suxs for posting here.

[Jesus H. Christ]

I knew something was missing from my life.

[Tejicano]

Wait, huh?

I just scrolled all the way down to here, holding my nose most of the way just for this?

[Rev-Match]

And, by extension, profitz are EVUL!

[Almanian!]

So the little got mo' and mo'...?