Crowley Political Report

You just know this is gonna be ugly.

Former Florida congressman Joe Scarborough, host of the MSNBC show Morning Joe, wrote an opinion piece for Politico today telling Republicans it is time for the GOP "to man up" and tell it like it is about Sarah Palin.

Scarborough clearly does not think much of the half-term former Alaska governor.

Scarborough says GOP leaders know Palin cannot win in 2012 but they are "too scared" to take on the "reality show star."

He says it is time to speak the truth about Palin. Scarborough seems particularly offended by Palin's trash-talk about Ronald Reagan who she dismissed as merely an actor. She also makes unpleasant comments about George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

This is all too much for Scarborough.

He does credit her with knowing "how to make millions of dollars, even if she embarrasses herself while doing it." 

Beyond Palin's ability to make money, it is clear Scarborough thinks little Palin and even less of GOP who grumble in private but are too afraid to challenge her publicly.