Crybaby conservative alert!

Somewhere a wingnut's head is exploding.

Riding a ratings wave from “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” a program that takes strong issue with the Bush administration, MSNBC is increasingly seeking to showcase its nighttime lineup as a welcome haven for viewers of a similar mind.

Lest there be any doubt that the cable channel believes there is ratings gold in shows that criticize the administration with the same vigor with which Fox News’s hosts often champion it, two NBC executives acknowledged yesterday that they were talking to Rosie O’Donnell about a prime-time show on MSNBC.

During the nine months she spent on “The View” before departing abruptly last spring, Ms. O’Donnell raised viewership notably. She did so while lamenting the unabated casualties of the Iraq war and advocating the right to gay marriage, among other positions.

Note the operative phrase: "Raised viewership notably." Even though Rosie probably hurt Bitsy Hasselback's feelings a few times.

Say, if Rosie gets the gig, would Bitsy agree, perhaps, to be her co-host? Sort of like Colmes to Rosie's Hannity? The thought makes one rub one's hands with glee.

I'm not really a Rosie fan, but she'd probably be fun to watch. Could you imagine Rosie inviting Newt Gingrich to be on her show? Or Rudy? Or even some clueless Beltway Dem like Pelosi or Schumer? Really, after the rabidness of Bill O'Reilly, Rosie O'Donnell is probably the picture of politeness in comparison, yes?

Of course Faux News' stooges are pissed. They're now obsessing about it, too.

From News Hounds:

Fox doesn't give a rat's patootie whether or not advertisers will follow. Fox is freaked out that a Rosie show would smash Hannity & Colmes' ratings. According to Allison, Dan Abram's show -- which runs opposite Hannity & Colmes now -- is up 40% over last year. According to the article linked to above, Keith Olbermann's ratings is up 33% over last year. (Several months ago I read they were up more like 54%.) Democrats and progressives, who comprise 50% of the country, are starving for television that speaks to them. Rosie would probably be tremendously successful and I submit that's why Fox is having a hissy fit about this. Fox wants its viewers to call MSNBC and complain about that "radical" (as John Gibson called her) and quash this deal before it gets going. And they act like they're such big, bad tough guys.

Dan Abrams? Wow. Is it just me or is that guy kind of a pipsqueak?

Speaking of pipsqueaks, Li'l Tucker, it seems, is headed for cancellation city. Which means he'll probably end up at that great refuge for right-wing losers: namely, Faux News. Note to Roger Ailes: give this guy a job already, so he can lose any remaining legitimacy and we won't have to see him on Sunday morning blabfests anymore. Okay?

Meanwhile, does anyone really watch Glenn Beck's show? This is a serious question.