[Physicist]

What hurts is that Madison brought that weapon to bear against an objection that, for all its lameness, predicted the future exactly.

[PatrickHenry]

... an objection that, for all its lameness, predicted the future exactly.

True. At least it was a great put-down in its time. But in politics, unfortunately, even with a clearly-written Constitution, if the people lack virtue then the only "facts" that count are the votes. It's not quite the same in science. We don't (yet) vote on reality. Of course, public support for what you do depends on voters, so some uneasiness is justified.

[VadeRetro]

What hurts is that Madison brought that weapon to bear against an objection that, for all its lameness, predicted the future exactly.

Back in the Clinton Administration, I was arguing with a liberal Democrat lawyer friend about the lack of respect given today to the 10th amendment. (Powers not specifically delegated to the feds are reserved to the states or the people.) He gleefully trumped my complaint with "The Welfare Clause! We can do anything we have to for the general welfare." There might as well not be an Article X. He had it lawyered. (What did I expect?)