Matthews again
Poor Chris Matthews, he can't help himself. On Wednesday's Hardball, he tossed this rhetorical flip to Democratic operative Steve McMahon: "How can you not trust a man who says 'I won't be able to win this war in my presidency; I'm leaving it up to other presidents in the future'?" Followed by a botched football metaphor.
I. e., trust the guy who buried the country knee-deep in Iraq because, having said over and over again that he's winning the war, he now says he's...punting. So shut up.
Mission Accomplished, Chris. You're flown onto the deck. The jug is out, cool, bracing. The Kool-Aid is flavored lemon.
For more, much more than you can stomach, on Chris Matthews, see my "The Harder They Blow" in the April American Prospect.
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Not to mention he also on that show used the Hannityism "Murtha amendment" to refer to the underhanded slur that was actually sponsored by Duncan Hunter (R-CA).
March 24, 2006 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bob Somerby disagrees with Todd Gitlin's take on this:
"Gitlin betrays no real idea of what Matthews has done for three years." That's at http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh032406.shtml
March 24, 2006 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really wanted to vomit (yet again) last night when he had the army wife who asked Dubya in the "town meeting" about how the press was just saying waaaaay too many bad things about Iraq. After letting her and her husband spout talking points for 10 minutes Chris sent them off with a "You're great Americans." Barf! They are brain-dead Americans, and it was obvious every time they opened their mouths.
I am so sick of Chris, so why to I tune in on him? I have sworn not to so many times, but I just click him on long enough to get all fired up and then go to Lou Dobbs, or anywhere else. I ahve sent Chris so many emails (none ever answered). How does he continue to get away with his drivel?
Jan Knaus
March 24, 2006 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
It seems terribly obvious that Bush is not going to pull troops out before he's out of office because it's finally dawned on him that after US troops leave there's going to be even more chaos than there is now. Iran may go in to prop up a Shi'ite strong man and install an Iranian style mullocracy. Bush doesn't want to see this happen on his watch, so he's going to keep the troops in. He no longer believes in democratizing Iraq, but he doesn't want the chips falling on him.
March 24, 2006 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gitlin's American Prospect rant sans substance and analysis couldn't be more wrong.
When Matthews says Gore would "lick a bathroom floor" or Hillary sounds like a "witch," he isn't spouting a Republican line. He's reacting, his gut telling him what to make of the denizens of the political world -- and the Reagan Democrats we want back are likely reacting the same way.
The answer is not to jump on Matthews; it's to stop licking the bathroom floor -- for example, demand a full Florida recount and quit playing games. [Yes, I voted for Gore, but I'd vote for a three-legged yellow dog if he was a Democrat]
Matthews is the canary (kookaburra?) in the coal mine, and Democrats would be well advised to listen to his palaver -- closely.
March 24, 2006 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
When Matthews says Gore would "lick a bathroom floor" or Hillary sounds like a "witch," he isn't spouting a Republican line. He's reacting, his gut telling him what to make of the denizens of the political world -- and the Reagan Democrats we want back are likely reacting the same way.
You know that your assertion about Matthews' gut is true...how, Ellen? Do you have a machine that lets you peer into Matthews' mind? So long as the dozens of Chris Matthews in the U.S. news media keep heeping contempt on Democrats while relentlessly pushing bogus Republican talking points, whether it's in their gut or not, many Americans are logicaly going to "react the same way."
Again: It doesn't matter what is or is not in their "gut." What matters is that their talking points are consistently (1) bogus and (2) closely aligned with Republican talking points.
March 24, 2006 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Ellen's point (not that she isn't capable of defending her own statements...) is that rather than cry about the media, Democrats should show (develop, really) some ability to control the talking points, to work the refs, to change the narrative.
Dissent Protects Democracy
March 24, 2006 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. Democrats should ridicule talking points and point out that the Republicans play childish games and tell fairy stories. The only way to win this game is not to play it.
"The grown-ups are home and you kids are in big trouble."
March 25, 2006 1:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
BOZOS LIKE YOU ARE THE REASON WHY LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ARE HELD IN CONTEMPT IN THE STATES THAT A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE MUST WIN TO BECOME PRESIDENT. HOW DARE YOU DENIGRATE PEOPLE WHO BY SERVING IN THE MILITARY ARE DOING A LOT MORE TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY THAN YOU ARE. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT. IF YOU ARE NOT ON ROVE'S PAYROLL YOU SHOULD BE.
March 25, 2006 6:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great article, and Matthews definitely blows harder, Todd. Could you please write an article next about Bob Shrum? He really needs to get treatment for his addiction to the Matthews abuse-fest, and it's gettin' ridiculous. Shrum debases himself nightly, and laughably, doesn't even realize that Matthews is purposefully humiliating him every time. Shrum incredibly said recently--in the most obsequious manner imaginable--that Matthews is equitable in his abuse! Bub Shrum must be desperate for a paycheck these days is all I can say.
March 25, 2006 7:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is not the talking points that we need to control, it is balanced coverage of our talking points...we do not control the corporate media. TheGOP does....look at how they skew every single thing into a red vs. blue state issue...nothing is about America anymore, it is all the GOP talking points. They even let that Laura Inghram go on and skewer the media, with all her bloviating while at the same time, they painted Helen Thomas as a 'ol mean looney woman out to get Bush'
We have lots of talking points..they did not even discuss the substance of Reid's remarks regarding the budget being close to 9 trillion dollars as the reason he said Bush was the worse President ever.
Nor was there any coverage of the fact that the FISA act explicitly states that to wiretap without doing soas set forth by the statue is a violation of the law.
So, changing the script requires that our script be covered and it is not being done. Worse of all, they shape the issues as ours by default by saying we have no plan or that we cannot caitalize on their dropped balls...as oppose to them having dropped the ball and creating the mess...like we are supppose to be the clean up crew for their messes..and are inept for not having the bucket and mop to wipe up their putrid and treason acts,.
No, it is not about having a script it isabout coverage.
March 25, 2006 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink