You know things are getting weird when Bill O'Reilly makes sense

If you watch one political video this year:

I love this clip, because it's a perfect embodiment of the Republican coalition imploding.

O'Reilly, in his clumsy right-wing way, is trying to tap into the overwhelming public anger at big business and a government that lets it run amok (he does so by blaming a "lack of leadership," which is not quite right, but it's a start). That's what O'Reilly does; he's a rabble-rouser. And watch as Cavuto, who is ostensibly on the same team, gets not just upset but righteously indignant at the suggestion that oil companies aren't playing nice -- and, amazingly, inveighs against the New Deal in the process. Hilarity results. Clearly, both of these people are crazy, but it's two different kinds of crazy that can't stay on the same planet for much longer. (Watch for the glorious moment where O'Reilly calls Cavuto a "pinhead" and Cavuto responds by saying "I'm not going to buy your next book." I'm amazed these people can communicate at all.)

For almost 30 years, Republicans have constituted themselves around the Reagan coalition: a shotgun marriage between wealthy urban/suburban capitalists and religious/alienated lower-income whites. It was never a good fit, and lately they've had more and more interal flareups (see: the immigration issue, which clove them neatly in half), but right now there's a potential death blow lurking. This economic crisis is tearing the GOP's two driving impulses -- millionaire free-market-ism and popular xenophobia -- apart from each other. And if the crisis gets more serious, and base Republicans begin to see the financial elite not as their allies but as their enemies (which, by the way, is exactly what they are), watch for some serious carnage.

And the Obama campaign has the perfect opportunity to maximize it, scoop up as many disaffected struggling Republicans as possible, and potentially redefine the partisan coalitions for decades to come. God, I love election season!

(Both videos via Al Giordano.)

A Younger Bill O'Reilly Does Not Equal a Nicer Bill O'Reilly

Well, our favorite conservative blowhard, oops I mean independent pundit has a notable mean streak. And it does not appear that it is something he had to grow into. There is now video proof that he had days with a less than sunny temperament even as an up and coming reporter for Inside Edition. And our friends from Barely Political and College Humor have managed to capture both sides of the argument. Enjoy.

I Thought This Day Would Never Come

Actually, before I get to the reason for this post, I first want to point out that Bill Richardson totally has a Strike Beard going on:

Image from here.

OK, now to the main attraction:
On Fox News this morning, Chris Wallace actually called out his colleagues for being unfair to Barack Obama!

Someone get Satan some mittens; he must be freezing right now.

Also, this gives me a chance to post last year's most entertaining 5 minutes of television (the fireworks start about 2:15 in):

Bill O'Reilly Officially Jumps The Shark

Screw Stephen Colbert. Truth is stranger than satire. O'Reilly, on Friday:

I don’t own an iPod.

Already I like where this is going--

I would never wear an iPod… If this is your primary focus in life - the machines... it’s going to have a staggeringly negative effect, all of this, for America...

It gets better--

Did you ever talk to these computer geeks? I mean, can you carry on a conversation with them?

Please... I can't take much more--

I really fear for the United States because, believe me, the jihadists? They’re not playing the video games. They’re killing real people over there.

I am really looking forward to the War on Christmas this year.

(h/t Wonkette)