Note to Mr. Ford: If you want “to expand the definition of ‘pro-life’ to apply to other issues, such as [education and] health care and veterans’ benefits,” stop using the term “pro-life.” It’s their language not ours. It will never be ours and can only be defined by the definition they have chosen for it. Create your own language to say what you mean to encompass the important issues you cite and then repeat the heck out of it to make it stick.

Also, the next time someone confronts you on marriage equality try, “I don’t think churches should have to marry two men or two women if they don’t want to.”

T/F/B: Kleinheider

Updated: Apparently CQ Politics’ Taegan Goddard has never hear of the “Colbert Bump.” The election is a long way off and more New Yorkers know who Harold Ford is now than did a month ago. Why wouldn’t he go on The Report?

Glenn Greenwald on Justice Scalito’s Alito’s behavior during the State of the Union (Justice Ginsburg should have turned around a smacked on his hand with a ruler):

By contrast, the behavior of Justice Alito at last night’s State of the Union address — visibly shaking his head and mouthing the words “not true” when Obama warned of the dangers of the Court’s Citizens United ruling — was a serious and substantive breach of protocol that reflects very poorly on Alito and only further undermines the credibility of the Court. It has nothing to do with etiquette and everything to do with the Court’s ability to adhere to its intended function.

There’s a reason that Supreme Court Justices — along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff — never applaud or otherwise express any reaction at a State of the Union address. It’s vital — both as a matter of perception and reality — that those institutions remain apolitical, separate and detached from partisan wars. The Court’s pronouncements on (and resolutions of) the most inflammatory and passionate political disputes retain legitimacy only if they possess a credible claim to being objectively grounded in law and the Constitution, not political considerations. The Court’s credibility in this regard has — justifiably — declined substantially over the past decade, beginning with Bush v. Gore (where 5 conservative Justices issued a ruling ensuring the election of a Republican President), followed by countless 5-4 decisions in which conservative Justices rule in a way that promotes GOP political beliefs, while the more “liberal” Justices do to the reverse (Citizens United is but the latest example).

And Stephen Colbert dismantles Chief Justice Roberts’ weak logic for ignoring stare decisis and overturning “hundreds of years of precedent” for the Citizen’s United ruling:

Oh yeah. There’s more. And now Tennessee is on his radar.

Memphis Senator Beverly Marrero disagrees:

“I don’t understand why, if you want to have a handgun permit, which is your right, that you’d be so concerned about people knowing about that….If I had a handgun permit or if I had a gun in my house, I’d have a big ol’ sign out in my front yard saying, ‘Don’t mess with this woman. She’s got a gun.’”

And the Puppies.

But what might really help is a little coming together. Would it be bad to crash the “Women for America” rally at Centennial Park on Thursday? I’m just sayin’…barbecue, a beautiful fall day, some reaching across the aisle to my GOP-sisters…Of course, one rousing verse of Regan Dougall’s “Thank you, From the Real America” and it could be right back to the puppies, pictures, and pound cake…

Senator Clinton is ready for anything…?

Senator Edwards fishin’ for a Jet Ski…?

Senator Obama putting the press and their distractions “on notice”…?

The best Colbert Report EVER.