Topic: Solicitor General

A segment from the show "Gay USA" is used to highlight Ted Cruz's past defense of a Texas law banning the sale of sex toys during his time as Solicitor General. The hosts discuss the irony of the law given the prevalence of large "sex toy warehouses" along Texas highways. They mock Cruz's legal position that there is "no right to personal sexual gratification."

Rachel Maddow defended Elena Kagan's lack of judicial experience by comparing her to Harriet Miers, a move the hosts label as "specious." Maddow emphasized Kagan's role as Solicitor General and Dean of Harvard Law School to counter Republican criticism. The hosts argue that Maddow is ignoring Kagan's lack of litigation experience to score political points against the Bush administration's legacy.

Critics point to Elena Kagan's past ties to Goldman Sachs and her office's intervention on behalf of Monsanto regarding genetically modified alfalfa. The hosts argue that the media focus on her sexuality serves as a "smokescreen" to hide her status as a corporate shill. They also criticize C-SPAN for editorializing during broadcasts of Senate hearings on the Gulf oil spill.

Solicitor General Elena Kagan is identified as a front-runner for a Supreme Court opening despite her past membership on a Goldman Sachs advisory panel. The White House stated that this affiliation would not disqualify her from the position. The hosts use this as evidence of the deep integration between the Obama administration and major Wall Street firms.