Today’s Daily Schadenfreude: Allen West

This is terrific.

Allen West, the crazed wingnut challenging Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) in my own district, Florida’s 22nd, was named Worst Person in the World by Keith Olbermann on his Countdown show on MSNBC yesterday. Click on this image to view the video (unfortunately, it can’t be embedded):

For the video-challenged among you, here’s a transcript of the pertinent part:

And our winner, Florida Republican congressional hopeful, retired Army lieutenant colonel Allen West.

A guest booker from a TV network tried to get him to come on a show and talk about the increase of violence in Afghanistan. But since West had not been to Afghanistan in eight months, he saw through their smokescreen … he knew what they were really planning on doing: kidnapping him.

[Said West,] “My B.S. flag really went up when they said they wanted my address to pick me up at night.” The network which asked him to come on? Al-Jazeera. “I was not about to be a puppet,” he says, for a network, quote, “which has helped torment our men and women in uniform.”

Col. West evidently does not know that past guests of Al-Jazeera include Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff and some guy named John McCain.

We have no idea if Col. West has won any medals for paranoia.

Republican Florida congressional candidate Allen “A TV Network Plans to Kidnap Me” West: today’s Worst Person in the World!

Well, of course, West has virtually no chance to defeat Ron Klein in November. But, at least now we know that if he somehow managed the colossal upset, he would have plenty of company with all the other batshit crazy Republicans in Congress.

And, Col. West, beside your Worst Person in the World award on your mantel, you can add one more honor … because today’s Blast Off! Daily Schadenfreude is for you!

It’s official: West is in to take on Klein in FL-22

And then there were two.

Retired Lt. Col. Allen West, who as chronicled here perhaps is best known for being fired relieved of his command after firing a gun near the head of an Iraqi detainee in order to frighten him into divulging information, has declared his candidacy for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District, where Ron Klein defeated long-time incumbent Clay Shaw last fall.

West is the second GOP candidate in the field, joining Marc Flagg, a pilot.

If his political tactics are as effective as his military tactics, West’s campaign should be short … but loud.

A challenge to Ron Klein … from Afghanistan?

Yep, apparently the latest potential GOP candidate in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District is retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen West. Thing is, Col. West is shipping out in a week or so for Afghanistan:

West says he’ll announce his plans next week, then take off for a final five-month stint in Afghanistan, where he has been working for two years as a contractor advising the Afghan military.

If West runs, he says he’s prepared to conduct crucial early fund-raising, organizing and communications from roughly 8,000 miles away in Kandahar. He’s been talking with Palm Beach Gardens-based consultant Donna Brosemer about setting up a campaign Web site and e-mail account that will allow him to post blog entries, respond to e-mails and hit up contributors.

Don’t laugh! It turns out Col. West is the ideal Republic candidate:

West, 46, drew national attention in 2003 after he fired a pistol near the head of an Iraqi detainee to try to scare him into divulging time-sensitive information about a planned ambush of U.S. forces. The Army relieved West of his command and fined him $5,000. He retired after 20 years of service and received an honorable discharge.

West said he received thousands of e-mails from around the U.S. after the incident, nearly all of them supportive.

As a candidate, he hopes the 2003 controversy translates into a national fund-raising base. West, who is black, also hopes his rare status as a GOP candidate of color generates national interest – and money – for his campaign.

An African-American Republican with no regard for human rights who got fired from the Army?

What could be more perfect for the Criminal Party?