MSNBC's Chris Matthews got into a verbal knock-down drag-out with Michelle Malkin a couple of months ago -- something that later influenced Georgia Sen. Zell Miller to challenge Matthews to a duel.

Malkin's experience was the Lincoln-Douglas debates compared to last night's "Scarborough Country." Pat Buchanan was sitting in for Joe Scarborough and Swift Boat Vet John O'Neill was being interviewed opposite MSNBC "Senior Political Analyst" Lawrence O'Donnell.

I must confess that I've seen convicted murderers treated better than O'Neill was treated by O'Donnell.

O'Donnell or Buchanan would ask O'Neill a question and the moment O'Neill started to speak, O'Donnell would talk over him: "Lying liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. You're a liar. You liar..." et cetera, ad infinitum. This didn't happen just once, but again and again and again. The transcript is not yet up at MSNBC's Web site, but when/if it does appear if you see "(CROSSTALK)" this is what's happening.

O'Donnell's behavior was embarrassing -- something that seems to be occuring a lot over at MSNBC -- and he owes John O'Neill an apology. (O'Neill has the patience of Job. I don't know many people who could've or would've endured O'Donnell's senseless abuse.)

MSNBC also needs to offer a better description of just what O'Donnell's role is as an "analyst." O'Donnell is a partisan Democrat who (if he ever did in the first place) makes no pretence at being a nonpartisan. When I see the title "senior political analyst," I think of CNN's Bill Schneider who is not a kool aid-drinking lefty. O'Donnell doesn't fit in the same mold and MSNBC needs to label him for what he is.

Although O'Neill didn't get to speak much so that he could be heard, one thing he again pointed out, as O'Donnell took a deep breath before going ape again, was that Sen. John Kerry has never answered questions about his military record from the press during his run for president. In contrast, President Bush has answered questions regarding his National Guard service.

O'Donnell's behavior is another bit of evidence that the partisan divide and deep division in this country is not the fault of President Bush or Republicans -- instead it is partisan Democrats who no longer are able to discuss issues in a respectful and sane manner.

*UPDATE* The Daily Recycler has the video of the "interview" here.

*UPDATE II* MSNBC now has the transcript up. Remember: (CROSSTALK) = O'Donnell frothing at the mouth.