The Gist

Memories of Alan Keyes

Oh, this is going to be good: Alan Keyes has decided to join the rest of the losers who are running for the Republican nomination for president, and made his debut at the Values Voters Presidential Debate last night in Fort Naugledale.

Some of you may remember, in one of the few real headlines to come out of the tightly-scripted Republican convention in New York in 2004, the erudite nutjob called Mary Cheney a "selfish hedonist" on my radio program. It hit the front page of the Chicago Tribune the next day (he was running for the Illinois open Senate seat, against Obama) and Mary's sister Liz refused to address the attack when a CNN host raised the issue that morning, feigning outrage at the anchor for even briging it up. Dick and Lynne refused to defend their daughter too, but pilloried John Kerry two months later for mentioning Mary in a positive light.

Eight months later Keyes' own daughter, 19-year-old Maya Marcel-Keyes, came out as a lesbian -- and came on my program -- and was kicked out of the house by Keyes, in a show of what Republicans mean by "family values." Now, Alan Keyes has come in to "raise the standard" of the Republican presidential field. Yes, he's raising the standard alright -- the kooky entertainment level, which already was pretty high, is now going to go through the roof. Pass the popcorn!