Bravo, senator. Occasions such as this only come along once or twice every epoch. You rose to it with eloquence and sagacity unparalleled in modern memory. Especially that part about keeping the gubmints mittens out of our healthcare skivvies. That's between us, our doctors and some jerkoff at the Aetna call center. You hit the moderate sweet spot, between the Republican a-hole and the Democrat hoo-hah. Ok, then.

The Greeks called this the supreme moment, kairos, and the Romans occasio. Wisdom meets opportunity. Verum est quod legitur, fronte capillata, sed plerumque sequitur occasio calvata goes the poem, "it is true what is read, that Occasio has the forehead with hair, but that almost always she passes being bald."

Yes. I doubt one in a million mediocre pols could've grabbed that precious lock. Others would've been left gaping at Fortuna's hairless nucha. Here's hoping you never let go.

THIS JUST IN: Sen. Lincoln has issued a statement. "I would like to thank Sven for the generous words regarding my...words. I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."