Val, Joe: Time to Fold 'Em When Even O'Donnell Says Your Case 'Very Weak'

Valerie? Joe? Are you listening? Let me offer some well-intentioned advice. When liberal Larry O'Donnell - he of the infamous anti-Swifty meltdown - goes on Keith Olbermann's Countdown and calls your lawsuit 'very weak' and even the Olber-meister himself won't ride to your defense, it's time to fold your tent, toss in your hand, throw in the towel and quietly slink away. This has to go down as the biggest busted flush of a lawsuit-cum-publicity stunt in recent memory. What's next? Val and Tonya Harding in a pay-per-view steel cage match?

Let's put it this way. Zinedine Zidane would have a better shot suing Materrazi for bruising his forehead with his chest.

Earlier in the show Olbermann had exhumed John Dean, who hasn't found the anti-Republican cause he won't support. But while Dean predictably rooted the Wilson-Plames on, even then Keith himself was circumspect, asking rather than asserting whether the star couple had a strong case.

When Dean departed, O'Donnell came on and absolutely savaged the suit: "I think this is a very weak case. . . I think they're going to have a lot of trouble keeping this case in court. I think the [defendants have] a very, very strong case in going for dismissal." Yikes!

Tellingly, Olbermann breathed not a word in support of the suit's bona fides.

In a way, it's almost a shame this case will never see the light of trial. Can you imagine the cross-examination on the issue of damages? If anything ever plucked Wilson-Plame from obscurity and made them Vanity Fair stars and rich to boot, it was the very 'outing' of which they now complain. Dick, Karl - please disclose my identity - I'm beggin' you!

Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle.' Contact him at mark@gunhill.net