For a long time, my minimum requirement for a Supreme Court justice is that they have the mental capacity to make senators during the judiciary committee hearings prior to confirmation look stupid. The fact that this is a minimum requirement will tell you what I think of the aptitude of the average senator. Orrin Hatch is, after all, on the judiciary committee.

So, what does it mean when you are absolutely destroyed in debate by a senator? Ask Bill Maher.

I dare you, I double dog dare you, to not develop a strong liking for Bill Frist (former senate majority leader, R-Tenn) after watching this interview with Bill Maher (FoI #18). Forget about political differences. This is a man with whom you could have a reasonable conversation. Not only does Frist demolish Maher's anti-vaccine misinformation, Frist holds Maher accountable for the consequences of his rhetoric. Maher tries to squirm away several times and Frist, figuratively, runs him down and finishes him off. Not only does Frist win all the debating points for factual accuracy, he wins the style points. Maher comes off as a desperate, callous, fumbling quack. 

Maher: You say that like I'm crazy.
Frist: Well, here you are. I think here you are. Oh my gosh.
-From 0:50

A few brief points:
1. It remains unclear whether Maher rejects the germ theory of disease, as he is apparently concerned about pieces of virus in vaccines causing the disease.
2. Maher has no idea how a vaccine actually works and has no interest in learning.
3. Pro-vaccination advocates are often portrayed as being only concerned with profits for vaccine manufacturers and to not care about individuals that might have rare side-effects. As a counter-point, observe Maher's callous, "what do I care" shrug at 3:56 when Frist tells him that his rhetoric could be putting pregnant women at risk.

The point Frist made that I wish he had made, but did not quite get there. He points out that prior to the polio vaccine, 3000 people a year died of polio, which is fewer (even as a percentage of the population) than those killed by seasonal flu now, a disease that Maher does not consider serious.

Still, what is most impressive, is that Frist does not waver or back down even when faced with Maher's bluster, interruptions, and insinuations of greed.

Well I wont back down, no I wont back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I wont back down
-"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty

I rarely get a chance to say this to a politician, "Well done, Senator."

*Hat tips to Steven Novella and Phil Plait.