The TN GOP ranks an over the shoulder "gutterball" with Chris Matthews on MSNBC Hardball (2/28).

Matthews mentions that Sen. Lamar Alexander had to intervene to get the offensive press release removed from the Tennessee Republican Party's website.

Actually, Sen. Alexander had to intervene twice, the second time after blogger Kleinheider at Volunteer Voters contacted Alexander's office to ask why the post was still there after Alexander's office said it would be removed.

Keith Olbermann also weighed in last night. See Andy Axels's post of the Countdown video below. Now another countdown begins: How long can TN GOP Chair Robin Smith keep her job after crossing Sen. Alexander and earning a rebuke from Sen. John McCain and the RNC?

According to Volunteer Voters, Sen. Bob Corker and Rep. Marsha Blackburn are the latest Republicans from the Tennessee Congressional delegation to denounce the press release.

Lt. Governor and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville), House Minority Leader Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol) are OK with the press release. As is, of course, Rep. Stacy Campfield (R-Knoxville), who probably wishes he had thought of it first.

The TNGOP's take on an "Internet lie" makes #4 on Olbermann's Countdown (2/28/08):

Rest assured, Keith. Hobbs won't ever use "stupidity" as a defense. Getting renounced by the national GOP, rebuked by Lamar Alexander, corrected by Bob Corker, dissed by Marsha Blackburn, scolded by John McCain, left for dead by Karl Rove, earning scorn from Countdown, chortles from Hardball, disdain from CNN, and the well-deserved indignation of the Obama campaign is all part of his brilliant strategy!

...to bring down the TN GOP from the inside. (wink, wink)

Your check's in the mail, Bill.

UPDATE: I'll take mine with butter, thanks.

Almost universally, support for GOP chair Robin Smith among donors and elected officials remains strong and she is getting high marks for her overall leadership of the state party. However, those same individuals who asked not to be named out of deference to her want to see a shake-up at her office and are pointing squarely at her communications director, Bill Hobbs.

Among the issues these Republican stalwarts have with Hobbs are his propensity to make the story about himself or his beliefs, which they say are not representative of the entire party. They feel that there a number of strong issues that Republicans can focus on in this election year, yet the message coming out of the Tennessee Republican Party consistently lacks discipline or merit.

Yeowch. Developing...