9/11™

Something's a little off at MSNBC: after last night's Keith Olbermann Special Comment rant about the Republicans' exploitation of 9/11, it seems a little strange to hear from Gawker that the network is currently playing its footage from 9/11/01 in real time. What's the old saying? You can't put lipstick on that pig. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

I generally like KO, but the Special Comment segment should simply be taken out behind the barn thrown under the bus retired. The novelty, and thus the power, is gone, and all that's left is a deeply overused ratings stunt they now start advertising two days in advance. Last night was the worst, I think: the rant turned in the end to John McCain's non-existent secret plan to capture Osama bin Laden, all but accusing McCain of treason for failing to share this plan with the rest of us. But the point, of course, is exactly the opposite. It's not that McCain "knows how" to capture Osama bin Laden because he "knows wars" and "knows how to win them"—the point, sir, the point is that John McCain's tough talk is plainly empty on its face, and therefore worthy only to be mocked.

Good night and good luck.