Alan Colmes Dishes on FOX News Show

The newly-unemployed Alan Colmes (who allegedly still "works" for FOX News) joined Imus this morning. Having recently left Hannity & Colmes after 12 successful years, Colmes shared his plans to write a book and to develop a weekend show for FOX. Imus shared some thoughts on FOX News's current weekend lineup, which includes Mike Huckabee's dreadful show Huckabee.

"He's a phony, and a disingenuous schmuck on top of it," Imus said. "When he was running for the Presidency, he did as much harm to John McCain as anybody else because he wouldn't get off the stage!"

Colmes called Huckabee's show a blatant set up for a 2012 Presidential run. But Imus wasn't done railing.

"The show is un-watchable; the show is stupid," said Imus, "He's stupid."

Imus apologized for his anger, which was about to be stirred again when he asked Colmes about Health and Human Services Secretary Nominee Tom Daschle's tax problems. Colmes, observing that Daschle's red glasses make him look like a "circus freak," admitted that Daschle owing nearly $130,000 in back taxes does not reflect kindly on President Barack Obama's administration; he argued, however, that Daschle is the victim of a double standard.

"Take Kobe Bryant-look at his background, and look at what he's done," Colmes said. "We celebrate this guy as a great sports hero and he's allowed to continue to play. But a guy who doesn't pay his taxes is vilified, and we wonder if he can serve in an administration?"

Calling Colmes's analogy "clumsy" and "forced," Imus said that the American people have no say whether Bryant is hired by the L.A. Lakers.

"We do have control over elected public officials who are operating a government using our tax dollars," Imus added. "We ought to have some say-so, and we deserve to be represented by people who aren't slimeballs and crooks like Tom Daschle."

Colmes is married to Jocelyn Crowley, a professor at Rutgers University who is also Monica Crowley's sister. Appearing on yesterday's program, an ailing Monica had told the I-Man that her boyfriend left her alone on Sunday in her cold apartment to go watch the Superbowl elsewhere. In a shocking turn of events, Colmes defended said boyfriend.

"He's a good guy," said Colmes. "Maybe she didn't want to watch the Superbowl?"

Asked whether Monica can "do better," Colmes offered, "We can all do better."

-Julie Kanfer