Huffington Post editor Roy Sekoff joined Keith Olbermann on MSNBC's "Countdown" Thursday night to evaluate the electoral prospects of the candidates who seem to be have risen to the top of Republican presidential prospects for the nomination in 2012. Rachel Maddow also did an excellent job on her show last night of discrediting Haley Barbour's revisionist history of Civil Rights in the south in the 1960's. These Republican hopefuls represent the very worst in American politics today. They're divisive, dishonest, corporate puppets who will say and do anything possible to become president, regardless of the consequences that may ensue. It's a real freak show.
That group includes former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and even Bush-era Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.
"I actually thought it would be impossible to top the 2008 group in terms of freak-showishness, when we had Sam Brownback running against Darwin and Tom Tancredo running on the xenophobia ticket," Sekoff said. "But this group, they have so many loose cannons, it almost is enough to make one pine for Duncan Hunter."
Seeking to dismiss Palin in light of her decision to headline the GOP's annual Ronald Reagan Dinner in Iowa Sept. 17, KO pointed out that no Reagan-dinner headliner has won the nomination. Sekoff was unconvinced.
"I don't think we can use historical precedent when it comes to Palin," Sekoff said. "Don't forget, no presidential candidate has ever had their own reality show with Kate Gosselin guesting, or has a daughter who's an unwed mother and a contestant on 'Dancing With The Stars.' So I think we're in uncharted waters here, Keith."
Sarah Palin: Half-term governor of a state that doesn't seem to like her anymore. Family ensconced in tabloid tales. Hypocrite, liar, divisive inarticulate clown. FOX News contributor.
Willard "Mitt" Romney: Was a proponent of everything before he ran for president and then he was against everything he was for. Made fortune from laying off American workers and closing businesses. Beautiful hair. The flip-flopping, especially the competing to be more liberal than Ted Kennedy quote will play over and over again if necessary to GOP primary voters and kill his chances. Base Republicans have no tolerance for Mormon's.
Tim Pawlenty: Governor of a state that can't stand him. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
John Bolton: Extreme Right-wing war/fear monger. Bush recess appointee to the United Nations because he couldn't get confirmed. Favors "nuking" Chicago http://thinkprogress.org/...
Newt Gingrich: Morally challenged, void of ethics. Need I say more?
Haley Barbour: Governor of Mississippi who was a very successful "lobbyist" before taking the helm in his state. Rewrites history of Civil Rights and outright lies about his memories of attending integrated schools. In 1991, Barbour helped found the lobbying group now known as BGR Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, with Ed Rogers, a lawyer who formerly worked in the George H. W. Bush administration. In 1994, Lanny Griffith (also a former Bush Administration appointee) joined the firm. In 1998, Fortune magazine named Barbour Griffith & Rogers the second-most-powerful lobbying firm in America. In 2001, after the inauguration of George W. Bush, Fortune named it the most powerful. The firm has had a prominent role in advocating on behalf of the tobacco industry.
This pack of Republican dolts would certainly catch the eye of PT Barnum. "It's the greatest freak show on earth!"