Tank McNamara’s assault on Congress’ silly obsession with meddling in sports continues …

We’re getting quite a preview these days of what a vigorous general election we’ll be treated to.

Barack Obama versus John McCain over Iraq.

And Keith Olbermann versus John McCain over, well, silliness.

Last night MSNBC’s news anchor and presidential debate anchor Olbermann named McCain the worst person in the world. Why? Because of that one-day wonder flap over some Ohio radio talk show host. Quite a ridiculous reason to blow your news credibility this early in the game.

Here’s the pettiness captured on transcript:

“And the gold tonight. Senator McCain.

“After radio bully Bill Cunningham tried to use Senator Obama`s middle name as an epithet while warming up the crowd for McCain in Cincinnati yesterday, McCain repudiated them and said I`ve never met the man. After which Cunningham said, no, the campaign had hired specifically to throw quote, ‘red meat’ to their crowd. Oh and he and McCain had met twice. The first revised statement from the McCain camp, oh right, they might have met at a rally or somewhere like that.

“This is the third business day in the last four in which Senator McCain has had to alter one of his absolute denials. That’s quite a streak, senator.

“Senator John McCain, today`s worst person in the world.”

France’s Charles de Gaulle once said, “How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?”

We’re reminded of that after reading this latest brilliance from Europe:

The European Court of Justice ruled that only the crumbly cheese that has been made for 800 years near the Italian city of Parma can legally be called Parmesan.

Glad to see the Europeans are making good use of their treasured judicial system.  Yes, grate news indeed!

A Washington Post correction:

A Feb. 26 KidsPost article misspelled the last name of table-tennis player Tong Tong Gong.

We continue our special in-depth educational series, Meet Your Superdelegates.  A rare chance to get to know specific superdelegates who will be deciding the Democratic presidential nominee.  We’re focusing on party elders, government officials, senior advisors, and other high profile politicians who feature prominently in television and film.  And we boldly speculate who they will back at the Democratic convention.  Today’s superdelegate profile comes from the breakthrough TV sitcom sensation “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Margaret Geddes is a Minnesota congresswoman whom Mary Tyler Moore befriends.  At one point Mary invites Congresswoman Geddes to a fancy dinner at her home, trying hard to ensure that everything is perfect.  In fact, Mary is forced to make use of Sue Ann’s expertise as a cook when Rep. Geddes, with whom Mary worked on a news show, accepts her very casual invitation to dinner.  Later, Geddes merits a return visit to Mary’s house, this time with Johnny Carson.  Geddes remains true to her friend — which means she’ll remain steadfast to Hillary Clinton while all others are bolting to Barack Obama.

Previous profile: Congresswoman Maude Findlay from “Maude”
Next profile: Congressman Avery from “The Bob Newhart Show”

From the Washington Post’s coverage of radio talk-show host Bill Cunningham, who introduced John McCain at an Ohio rally yesterday:

He used Obama’s middle name two more times and referred to him as “a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who’s picturing himself as change.” He said, “When he gets done with you, all you’re going to have in your pocket is change.”

Cunningham then mocked foreign policy statements of “Barack Hussein Obama,” calling him the “fraud from Chicago” and saying that if Obama were to be elected president he would meet with the leaders of enemy nations. He continued by saying the “world leaders who want to kill us” will be “singing ‘Kumbaya’ together around the table with Barack Obama.”

His death today sparks infinite “best-of” memories.  Here’s mine: The time he nearly punches Noam Chomsky in the face.

Poor members of Congress.  Polls show everybody hates ‘em.  They seem more focused on talking sports than solving problems.

So where can they turn for relief?  Alas, now even the funnies are off limits.

Here’s today’s Tank McNamara:

Quick question, no time to think.

You’re the captain of the football team.  The game’s beginning.  You lead your squad to the middle of the field.  It’s the opening coin toss.  You call heads.  Heads it is.  The referee is curious: is it your preference to receive the opening kickoff.  Or given your druthers, would you be of the mind to kick the ball away?

OK, what do you do?  WHAT DO YOU DO?
I bet you elect to receive.

Now, here’s former senior Clinton administration official Hillary Clinton last night:

“Well, can I just point out that in the last several debates, I seem to get the first question all the time. And I don’t mind. I — you know, I’ll be happy to field them….”

Good that she doesn’t mind.  Even if her allegation was always the case — and Tim Russert pointed out on the news this morning that it isn’t — it’s hardly a hardship to get the ball first.  In fact, it’s good fortune and good strategy.

Now, let’s pick up the rest of Hillary’s quote:

“… but I do find it curious, and if anybody saw “Saturday Night Live,” you know, maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow. (Laughter, boos.) I just find it kind of curious that I keep getting the first question on all of these issues. But I’m happy to answer it.”

There she goes again — using “Saturday Night Live” as a crutch.  Actually, there was another part of the debate that reminded me even more of a SNL skit — a classic one from when the show was funny.

RUSSERT: Before the primary on Tuesday, on Sunday, March 2, there’s an election in Russia for the successor to President Putin. What can you tell me about the man who’s going to be Mr. Putin’s successor?

CLINTON: Well, I can tell you that he’s a hand-picked successor, that he is someone who is obviously being installed by Putin, who Putin can control, who has very little independence, the best we know. You know, there’s a lot of information still to be acquired. …

… RUSSERT: Who will it be? Do you know his name?

CLINTON: Medvedev — whatever.

The transcript doesn’t do full justice to Hillary’s fumbling and mumbling the name.  But it does come close to reminding us of the November 8, 1975 “Saturday Night Live”:

[ Music: “Jaws Theme” ]

[ open on interior, apartment ]

[ doorbell sounds ]

Woman #1: [ moves to chain-locked door ] Who is it?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Mrs. Ramilarghh??

Woman #1: Who is it?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Plumber..

Woman #1: Plumber? I didn’t ask for a plumber. Who is it?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Telegram.

Woman #1: Oh. Telegram. Just a moment.

[ unlocks door, and opens it. The head of the shark appears, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the hallway as she screams. ]

[ SUPER: “Jaws II” ]

[ dissolve to Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff and Matt Hooper looking over a three-foot long metal tub covered with a white cloth ]

Matt Hooper: [ looks under cloth and winces ] Oh, my God!

Sheriff: What was it?

Matt Hooper: Land shark. The cleverest species of them all.

Sheriff:

[ dissolve to Woman #2 in her apartment ]

[ Music: “Jaws Theme ]

[ a knock at the door ]

Woman #2: [ appoaches the door ] Yes?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Mrs. Arlsbergerhh??

Woman #2: Who?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Mrs. Johnannesburrrr??

Woman #2: Who is it?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Flowers.

Woman #2: Flowers? From whom?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Plumber, ma’am..

Woman #2: I don’t need a plumber. You’re that clever shark, aren’t you?

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] Candygram.

Woman #2: Candygram, my foot! Get out of here before I call the proper authorities. You’re the shark, and you know it.

Land Shark: [ muffled voice ] I’m only a dolphin, ma’am..

Woman #2: A dolphin? Well.. okay..

Now that’s comedy you can quote.

We continue our special in-depth educational series, Meet Your Superdelegates.  A rare chance to get to know specific superdelegates who will be deciding the Democratic presidential nominee.  We’re focusing on party elders, government officials, senior advisors, and other high profile politicians who feature prominently in television and film.  And we boldly speculate who they will back at the Democratic convention.  Today’s superdelegate profile comes from the breakthrough sitcom sensation “Maude.”

Maude Findlay was elected to Congress as a Democrat during the 1978 U.S. midterm elections (she helped campaign for a congresswoman who unexpectedly died in her house).  Maude and husband Walter to move to Washington, D.C., where she has to learn to do things differently.  Maude is feisty and is most likely a Hillary Clinton superdelegate.

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