2013-03-22
Explanation
This comic takes a real neuroscience observation -- that the brain'''s disgust centers become less active during sexual arousal -- and extrapolates it to an absurd political scenario. A scientist explains to a woman (who appears to be a political figure) that during sex, the part of the brain handling disgust "basically shuts off," and that the longer one has sex, the more bizarre acts become desirable. The politician asks "So you'''re saying there'''s a way," and the scientist confirms, "I believe so, Madame President."
The president then orders "a hollow desk with three healthy young interns under it, ASAP" -- a clear allusion to political sex scandals involving presidents and interns. The implication is that the president wants to use continuous sexual stimulation to override her own disgust response, presumably so she can do something deeply unpleasant without flinching. The "Soon..." panel reveals the purpose: she signs an "Authorization of Force Bill" while clearly being stimulated under the desk, interjecting moans into her patriotic speech.
The joke is a dark satire about how politicians make morally repugnant decisions (like authorizing military force) and the comic imagines they would literally need to shut off their disgust centers to do so. The votey panel escalates further with the president saying "I'''ll need 10 more interns for the drone bill," implying that even more morally questionable legislation requires even more extreme measures to overcome one'''s natural revulsion.