I miss Keith Olbermann. His hate filled rhetoric was so outrageous, his view of history so warped, his ignorance about politics so profound, and his insane hatred for the right so pronounced that it was like watching a continuous train wreck in slow motion - you didn't want to watch but were compelled by the sheer horror of the event to bear witness.

Ed Schultz isn't half the hater Olbermann was. He's just a mindless screamer - a barbarian of the air who proved it again yesterday on his radio show.

And what do the Republicans thinking about? They're not thinking about their next-door neighbor. They're just thinking about how much this is going to cost. President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Mo., on Sunday but you know what they're talking about, like this right-wing slut, what's her name?, Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she's a talk slut. You see, she was, back in the day, praising President Reagan when he was drinking a beer overseas. But now that Obama's doing it, they're working him over.

Re. the crude comments made about me by Ed Schultz on his radio program: First, I was surprised to learn that Ed Schultz actually hosted a radio show. Is it only available online? Second, I have to get back to recording the audio edition of my new book "Of Thee I Zing." Now I'm tempted to insert one additional zing--about men who preach civility but practice misogyny.

STATEMENT FROM MSNBC REGARDING ED SCHULTZ:

MSNBC management met with Ed Schultz this afternoon and accepted his offer to take one week of unpaid leave for the remarks he made yesterday on his radio program. Ed will address these remarks on his show tonight, and immediately following begin his leave. Remarks of this nature are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The Washington Post is reporting that Schultz apologized on air last night before turning over the show to a substitute.

"I used vile and inappropriate language," he said before handing over the hour to substitute co-host Thomas Roberts as he began what called an "indefinite" suspension. "It was wrong, uncalled for, and I recognize the severity of what I said."

On his syndicated radio show Tuesday, Schultz referred to Ingraham as a "right-wing slut" and "talk slut." After the incident blew up Wednesday, MSNBC announced Schultz would take an unpaid week of leave.

Schultz, who joined MSNBC in April 2009 and took over Keith Olbermann's old 10 p.m. timeslot in January, said Wednesday night, he said he had tried unsuccessfully to reach Ingraham to apologize personally. "I have embarrassed my family. I have embarrassed this company," he said. "The only way I can prove my sincerity in all of this is if I never use those words again. You have my word I won't."