The weekend Today co-anchor didn't need guests Pat Buchanan or Rachel Maddow for the answer. She could have kept things in-house with NBC's own Lee Cowan, who has acknowledged “it's almost hard to remain objective" about Obama.But pose the question Robach did, and Pat Buchanan gave her a colorful answer. .

'I was so embarrassed,' vote switcher tells Rezko's trial

Rezko denies that he had any part in such a scheme. But Levine has pleaded guilty in hopes of a lenient, 67-month sentence and now is set to testify as the government's star witness, perhaps as early as next week.

Almanaseer testified Thursday Rezko got him his seat on the powerful board. He said soon afterward Beck approached him and said he knew that the matters being presented were new to him and could prove confusing.

"If you're not sure which way to vote, vote the way Mr. Levine does because that's the way Tony would want you to vote," he quoted Beck as saying. He said that Rezko merely laughed when told what Beck had said.

After that, Beck provided regular instructions before meetings on how Rezko wanted him to vote, Almanaseer testified.

IT Who Needs Due Process? Senate Passes Spy Bill

U.S. Senate to telecoms -- I'll scratch your back, if you scratch mine. Telecoms and many in the federal Executive branch seemed quite content with the increased usage of warrantless phone surveillance, which some people feel violates Americans' legal rights. The telecoms received large paychecks for every wiretap put in place; Comcast's rate was a modest $1,000 per tap. Meanwhile, politicians are happy because they were able to extend their surveillance programs as planned. The program may toss due process out the window, but, in their opinion, that is a necessary loss to deal with today's troubled world. Then all of a sudden the good times ended, when a few members of Congress demanded telecom's spy records for hearings on the legality of the program. The phone companies refused, and all of a sudden, their dirty laundry was aired to the public. The public exposure opened the NSA and telecoms up to legal action from civil liberties groups and citizens. Sure enough, the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed for a class action lawsuit for the warrantless eavesdropping practices. Such a lawsuit could cost telecoms and the U.S.