Rowley Runs Into Bimbo And Bully

I watch a lot of political television and it's not often I see something that makes me want to kick in my TV screen – but I saw it just moments ago on MSNBC's Hardball. I've learned to indulge the vapid Norah O'Donnell when she fills in for Chris Matthews and to put up with her childish way of asking questions and always favoring conservative guests.

But she showed her true stripes tonight, when she sat in the middle of a "debate" between Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent and Democratic candidate for Congress in Minnesota and a newcomer on the right-wing, scumbag circuit – for me at least – Mark Williams.

O'Donnell had this exchange with Rowley to open the segment:

O'Donnell: "You're a Democrat, running for Congress. ... It was reported that Republican leaders in your state were just thrilled that you decided to align yourself with anti-war extremists. Do you think that this could affect your race for Congress?"

Rowley: "Well, I will quickly correct the record that they are not "anti-war extremists." The majority of the people I saw down in Crawford were actually veteran's groups and there were military families and ..."

O'Donnell: [breaking in] "But, Coleen, they do oppose the war in Iraq, do they not?"

Rowley: "Yes, they do, but that doesn't make them, I guess, the term "extremists." They're really I think reflective of mainstream America in many ways."

It continued on that way for a while and then got worse when she introduced Bill O'Reilly sound-alike Williams. He's the blowhard radio talk show host who is joining Ann Coulter clone, Melanie Morgan, on an anti-Sheehan caravan to Crawford.

Williams started off with a bang, saying "Well, the pontifications of a self-serving Democrat political candidate notwithstanding..."

He then launched into the first of many angry diatribes, in which he did everything but spit and spin his head around, including this exchange:

Williams: "I just got back from Iraq, talking with the troops, talking with the Iraqis and I see the damage that's done by pathetic creatures like the woman I'm talking to and Cindy Sheehan. When they get up there and they present this country as divided and still arguing issues that were decided, debated and voted on three years ago, that both demoralizes our troops and invigorates the insurgency.

"And it's no mistake that the lion's share of violence is in and around Baghdad. That's where there are more Western news cameras per capita than probably any other city on the planet earth. When they see this kind of division they use it as a fundraiser and a recruiting tool."

O'Donnell: "Mark, if you don't mind, you're making the case that Cindy Sheehan is hurting the morale of our troops?"

Williams: "She is aiding and abetting the enemies of this country and the people who killed her son. And right now Casey Sheehan is spinning in his grave!"

And it only got worse from there. Meanwhile, Ms. Rowley was very calm and modulated and showed amazing poise in the presence of the non-journalist moderator and the insane Repuke she was supposed to engage.

So that's the latest: They're cranking the slime machine up a notch by now calling Cindy Sheehan someone who is helping the terrorists against the troops.

I know I can trust my colleagues at Crooks and Liars to put video of this up quickly. Please watch and get very angry.

These people are garbage and it's time to really go after them.