I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

The "Mike" Johanns-bot is back in the news today with a likely software issue.

According to the Lincoln Journal-Star, "The message sent by voters in this November's elections should influence what Congress decides to do in its post-election lame duck session, Sen. Mike Johanns says."

One of those issues is whether to extend the Bush tax cuts. The Johanns-bot is in favor of extending the cuts for everyone. It argues that "a return to higher tax rates could slow or stall economic recovery."

Why wait until after the election? "'This is an election cycle where voters appear to be fired up and members of Congress should endeavor to listen' to the message they deliver at the ballot box, the Republican senator said."

But what about this poll? As CBS News reports, "Fifty-three percent of Americans agree with Mr. Obama that the tax cuts for the wealthy should be allowed to expire, while 38 percent do not, according to the poll, conducted Sept. 10-14."

Why can't we listen to that message, Mike? I'll wait for an answer while all of this computes.

The Johanns-bot's puzzling behavior could be explained by a failure to download current data, of course. But it is cause for greater concern.

Back in March, the Johanns-bot argued that the issue of abortion "should not be an issue of political gamesmanship, especially when the game is so rigged against pro-lifers. This is an issue of conscience. On this one, you are pro-life or you are not."

That's interesting. On the one hand, the Johanns-bot appears to think that its decisions ought to be determined by the people, but on the other, it appears to think that its decisions ought to be determined by its conscience—or, rather, whatever emulates a conscience in the Johanns-bot. What would happen if its conscience were to come into conflict with the people?

The Republican Party ought to address this issue before the Johanns-bot starts killing astronauts or something.