‘World’s Worst’ Person: Tom DeLay

Keith Olbermann Anchor, 'Countdown' • Profile

Every night at 8 p.m. on MSNBC, Keith Olbermann awards his daily pick for "Worst Person in the World." Some contenders are lucky — or unlucky —enough to be nominated more than once.

The Bronze goes to funnyman Brent Bozell, self-appointed president of the self-created Media Research Council responding to my special comment last night with a press release headlined, “MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann Preaches Hate Speech.” 

He offers himself up for interviews about me, to which I say, “Brent, thank you, keep talking me up, mention 8 p.m. ET if you can.”  Seriously, this is the guy who wrote the Willie Horton ad.  And in the press release he calls me a “brown shirt” and he thinks people are preaching hate speech.  Buy this man a mirror. 

Our Silver goes to Sean Ashby of Aussie Bums Company in Sidney.  His new product, the Wander Jock, men’s underwear with a difference. 

Ashby says, “The fabric cup protrudes everything out in front instead of toward the ground.  The design of the underwear separates and lifts.”  

Listen, mate, I don’t particularly need to be separated, thank you.  But I am told Brent Bozell is on the phone looking to order a dozen, to wear on his head. 

But Thursday's winner is former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay coming out in favor of torture—one kind of torture in particular. 

DeLay told a small audience at a community college on Long Island New York, “I don’t think waterboarding is torture... My definition of torture is you physically harm someone by cutting them, by cutting their fingers, and sticking things in their eyes, sticking their fingers in electric sockets.  Waterboard is a frightening experience, but the person does not have any physical damage.” 

Well, there it is, he is the bug killer after all.  So you are saying, Tom, that when somebody in some other country waterboards American troops or maybe American civilians they’ve “detained,” you’re going to be OK with that? 

Tom DeLay, Thursday's “Worst Person in the World.”

MORE FROM LATEST 5-4-3-2-1

Latest 5-4-3-2-1 Section Front

Pushing health care to a final vote   GOP takes frustrations out on the troops   Saving their seats in 2010   Climate change agreement remains unclear   Will Cameron have another box office hit?   Where in the world is Tiger Woods? Latest 5-4-3-2-1 Section Front   Add Latest 5-4-3-2-1 headlines to your news reader: