Matthews to McCain: ‘People Will Learn A Lot’ From Letters About ‘The Way Obama Treated You’
Matthews to McCain: ‘People Will Learn A Lot’ From Letters About ‘The Way Obama Treated You’
Chris Matthews interviewed Sen. John McCain tonight about his recent controversial exchange of letters with Sen. Barack Obama. (Background here.) McCain couldn’t have hoped for a more friendly venue.
Matthews mischaracterized Obama’s position on ethics reform as, “I’m not dealing with you anymore in a bipartisan fashion.” He claimed that “people will learn a lot from this about…the way in which Obama treated you.” Finally, he asked McCain, “Do you think that Obama is behaving like a House member here rather than a Senator?” Watch it:
Full transcript below:
MATTHEWS: It seems to me looking at the exchange of letters between yourself and Senator Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, that you initially put together a bipartisan effort, and then he withdrew from the deal and then told you in no uncertain terms, “I’m not dealing with you anymore in a bipartisan fashion. I’m going to go off and do this as a Democrat.”
MCCAIN: Well, I had a conversation with Senator Obama, and he said that was not his intention. But the way I read the letter, after I heard from the press that it was on its way, that indeed that that was the case, including touting Senator Reid’s [ethics reform] proposal, which has no Republican sponsors and will not. And we all know that we have to work together, and so I responded, and Senator Obama and I had a conversation, and we agreed to move on.
MATTHEWS: Do you stand by your letter back to Senator Obama?
MCCAIN: Sure.
MATTHEWS: Well, let’s take a look at it, because I think the people will learn a lot from this about — I know you’re being nice now — but the way in which Obama treated you. The first line of the letter: “I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere.” You’re basically saying what here?
MCCAIN: I’m saying that I believe that his efforts were sincere at the time. The letter that I received contradicted that, at least my reading of it, and I don’t know how you read it any other way, and so therefore I — that’s exactly what I said. It was a little straight talk, Chris. [Laughter]
MATTHEWS: Well, more here: “I concluded your professed concern for the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions.” You’re saying to the guy, I thought you were a gentleman and a civil servant, and now you’re obviously not. [Laughter]
MCCAIN: Well, I thought it was pretty well written, didn’t you? [Laughter]
MATTHEWS: I think it was tough. Let me ask you, I know I love to do — you know, Senator, I have to do this now. Ken Mehlman, the chairman of your party, has gone after Hillary Clinton for being angry, as if there’s something wrong with it. This is a letter of a very sophisticated, angry senator. What’s wrong with being angry?
MCCAIN: I’m not angry.
MATTHEWS: This letter is brilliantly angry.
MCCAIN: I wasn’t angry when I wrote it. Look, I wrote the letter because I was very disappointed in the letter that I received from Senator Obama, and was told to me by the press. Look, this is a pressing issue. We have to move forward in a bipartisan fashion. You know and I know that the only way you resolve one of these issues is in a bipartisan fashion, so that’s why I felt strongly about it. In the room were Senator Collins, the Chairperson of the Oversight Committee, and Senator Lieberman, and we had all agreed to move forward with her committee as quickly as possible. And there was reference in the letter to a task force, that frankly we had committed to moving forward with the committee process.
MATTHEWS: You know, I worked on the Hill for many years. I used to notice there was a big difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate was bipartisan by its nature, it was people who found common ground where they could and didn’t waste a lot of time. The House of Representatives was mainly about taking party positions and seeing who won. Do you think that Obama is behaving like a House member here rather than a Senator?
MCCAIN: I hope not. I hope that he made a mistake and we can move forward.
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It’s funny how no one reports on the original letter Obama sent to McCain. I used to have respect for McCain, but the kool aid has worked it’s magic once again.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:27 pmYeah, it would be helpful if we had a clue on the background. Not only the original Obama letter, but what they may have agreed to when they started out working on ethics reform ‘in a bipartisan fashion.’
Judd, is there more about this available?
February 7th, 2006 at 6:34 pmJane, look here and enjoy:
February 7th, 2006 at 6:37 pmhttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/6/222443/3990
OMFG!!!
Has anyone read McCain’s letter to Obama? It’d full of venom!
All Barak did was say he was backing another bipartisan measure, brought about after their conversation!
How dare Matthews make Sen. Obama out to be the bad guy!
This is just disgusting.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:37 pmSpin, spin, spin…
Making the “other” out to be the bad guy is one of the ReichWingNut’s tool of their trade.
Sad to see them continually stoop so low.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:39 pmMcCain has shown his true colors. He is as deceptive and guile as his Republicans friends.
And lapdog Chris Matthews swallows everything thrown on the floor to him without checking on the facts. What an embarassment to the traditional media.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:39 pmHere’s a link to Obama’s site in which all 3 letters are posted. http://obama.senate.gov/letter/060206-sen_obama_and_sen_mccain_exchange_letters_on_ethics_reform/index.html
February 7th, 2006 at 6:42 pmI feel the media has been replaced with Bush talking puppets.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:43 pmHow did they get such control over the media?
Another stomping on our Constitution.
TWEETY’S A CONSERVATIVE….JUST LIKE O’REILLY, HANNITY AND THE REST. LET’S QUIT ACTING SURPRISED WHEN HE PERFORMS TO TYPE. HE’S POND SCUM.
MCCAIN’S PSYCHOTIC, SO I WOULDN’T TAKE ANYTHING HE SAYS SERIOUSLY. IF HE WASN’T A SENATOR, HE’D BE IN THE LOONEY BIN. KEEP THE SHARP KNIVES AWAY FROM THAT NUT.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:45 pmWow, the GOP is that afraid of Obama already, and he’s not even running in 2008, unlike McCain.
I think he made a mistake here. Obama will not lose in Illinois as long as he wants to run, and McCain has a much longer record to pick apart.
Obama has displayed nothing but integrity and honesty and is really the everyman’s politician. McCain must see him as a threat to his (albeit nonexistent) middle-of-the-road image.
Obama will tear him to shreds.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:47 pmMcCain is a manly man. Smatthews loves his manly men.
Dear me.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:47 pmCheck out Democrats.com. They have posted a $1000.00 reward for any jouranlist or other person that asks Bush about the second Downing Street memo. That’s how bad it’s gotten. We have to bribe people to get the truth out.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:47 pmMcCain is suffering from his monthly rectal cranial insertion. He has outlived his usefulness and should be assigned a cactus near Tucson to tend. Senator Obama impressed me at the Democrats convention and I have been following him somewhat closely. There is no doubt that he will carve a new orifice for McCain.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:48 pmBiden was NPR today talking about how bipartisanship died in ‘94. I learned alot about him on Terri Gross. He described the Republicans as unaccustomed to wielding power and as a consequence being greedy.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:49 pmBut I really think more attention right now needs to be paid to Rove threatening to take away money from Republicans. He is, essentially, bribing-threatening his party to zip it over the illegal spying.
McCain is so angry, so emotional. Is he fit to serve in government, let alone run for president in 2008?
That’s the GOP meme being used to try to discredit Sen. Hillary Clinton for speaking out against the policies of the Bush junta.
Just say…………………
February 7th, 2006 at 6:49 pmMcCain is so angry, so emotional. Is he fit to serve in government, let alone run for president in 2008?
That’s the GOP meme being used to try to discredit Sen. Hillary Clinton for speaking out against the policies of the Bush junta.
Just say…………………
February 7th, 2006 at 6:49 pmBut you notice Obama took the high road in his response to McCain’s vitriol….
February 7th, 2006 at 6:50 pmClass Act.
This is worse than a spousal spat over minced words.
McCain needs to understand that if he wants the support of the moderates and win the wishy-washy moderate Dem’s, especially in ‘08, he might want to realize that the isolationistic techniques that are the crux of the RNC will actually lose him votes from his own moderate RNC members, especially in light of current national and international events.
AMERICA IS NOT DUMB
February 7th, 2006 at 6:50 pmTo quote/steal from Will and Grace….
“Obama, you are Barack-ing my world!!!!!
February 7th, 2006 at 6:52 pmChris Matthews is 100% Bush lover and Sen. McCain is also a Bush ass-kisser, so what a pair they make > lol.
They should become Brokeback Mountain lovers > lol.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:53 pmMcCain sometimes seems like the GOP’s only hope for ethics and moderation, but when you see this kind of childish and abusive response to Obama’s letter I have to wonder if McCain isn’t a bit bipolar.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:53 pmMcCain has taken on the role of GOP pimp. They may not have the best candidates in 2008 but they have learned that they can make an unintelligent loser like GWB a winner if they destroy the character of the opposition. They want to cast Obama as someone who cannot or will not work with the opposition to reform the cess pool we call congress, which McCain’s party created! Expect any Democrat who begins to gain any national attention go come into the GOP crosshairs. McCain is just a recasting of Swift Boat Vets. He looks nicer and after all, he was a war prisoner!
February 7th, 2006 at 6:53 pmJay R,
What I don’t understand is WHY McCain is kissing his ass… after what they did to him with the “black adopted child is actually his love child…” thing.
Why go back to them for more?
February 7th, 2006 at 6:56 pmOf course, the root of this all is that Rove is threatening to blacklist any senator who seriously investigates Bush.
This is especially scary for McCain, since he’s lining up a lot of Bush donors.
In addition to that, McCain is insane.
February 7th, 2006 at 6:59 pmBut you notice Obama took the high road in his response to McCain’s vitriol….
Sure but it won’t matter. Obama is a rising star in the party and the Republicans know that. So they start knifing him in the back now so when the day comes that Obama gets a leadership position or the VP or the presidential nomination, the GOP just has to open the handy dandy file and let the Swift Boating begin!
February 7th, 2006 at 6:59 pmWhy have not NBC and MSNBC fired this Son of A Bitch?
February 7th, 2006 at 6:59 pmDo you think W was right when he said McCain is suffering from post-torture emotional trauma?
February 7th, 2006 at 7:02 pmOne question for McCain: Does Chrissy swallow?
February 7th, 2006 at 7:05 pmMcCain clearly tried to use Obama to support his proposed ethics plan. Obama has chosen to support a stronger bill being proposed by the Democrats. Obama knows a whore when he sees one.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:06 pmAnyone notice this comment in the transcript…
“…Senator Reid’s [ethics reform] proposal, which has no Republican sponsors and will not…”
So, McCain thinks biparisan only means Dems signing on to Repub bills?
February 7th, 2006 at 7:07 pmObama has the full series of letter exchanges on his Senate web site at Obama & McCain Letters.
McCain has removed his press release from his Senate web site, but the link still remains on the front page. It just goes to nothing now.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:09 pmReply to post 23 True Blue > I think that the Bush family has lots of dirt on Sen. McCain, so they went to him and said: You can work for us, and kiss our butts, or we can spill all the puss we have on you to the press, and you will not even keep your Senate seat. Bush family plays Hardball just like the name of Matthews stupid show!
February 7th, 2006 at 7:12 pmHave any of you seen Matthews commercials, where he promises to ask the tough questions, yaddayadda. Wayne and I were wondering if he started showing those commercials because of complaints that he’s too soft on Repubs. After we started noticing the commercials, Matthews had one show where we thought, okay, he IS asking follow-up questions, correcting the interviewee, acting somewhat like a real journalist. After that it was back to the asskissing.
Zookeeper, Shannon, thanks for the links.
Gotta run, goodnight all!
February 7th, 2006 at 7:12 pmThat comment about acting like a Rep was meant by Matthews as a put down, like sitting at the kiddie table at Thanksgiving dinner.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:13 pmPerhaps Matthews is a robot.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:16 pm#24…. Excellent comment! It’s important to remember Rove has his pinkies in everything Repub. This is a controlling administration. Nothing is done without a long range plan in mind. The first goal is to keep GWB in power for three more years. I bet there are a lot of really dirty deals just waiting to be uncovered, so any ability to dig into the GOP gold mine of lobby money collecting would be a theat to all the GOP.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:17 pmMy opinion of McCain has been mostly negative ever since he authored the tobacco legislation. But I’m beginning to warm up to him as a potential presidential candidate. Her Royal Clintoness must have nachtmares about this guy.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:19 pmMcCain’s got that look of a kid that was just given a delicious lollipop to help him calm down from his temper tantrum.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:23 pmBlue > forget about McCain > he is in bed with the Bush family now and as corrupt as they are in everything! Plus he wants to nuke Iran which would set off WWIII.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:23 pmLet’s see if Obama has any balls. McCain (Cheney’s lapdog) is wide open on alot of issues at the moment and would quickly pipe down if Obama showed his teeth here.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:23 pmWho the hell has gotten to Chris Matthews? I used to respect this guy as one of the view talking heads in the MSM that actually was fair and occassionally asked a tough question.
What the hell is going on? Has Chris Mathews been paid off by someone? Or has he been threatened like Rove threatened the Senate?
And wtf happened to the once respectable Senator McCain???
February 7th, 2006 at 7:27 pmI’m afraid you’re right, Jay R., but unfortunately McCain gets a lot of play on MSM.
We may see the ugly side, but MSM turns it around to blame a real stand-up guy.
What’s a progressive to do?
This is just a butchering of REAL reporting.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:28 pmall ole ass kisser mathews is doing is adhering to the corporate line. nothing less. without bush and repubs heading the country corporate america falls flat on its ass. not to worry folks, there are things taking place now that no amount of spin can put things back together again. just a matter of time before fat boy mathews splits his tanked and toxic guts. as for mccain, i can see why the cong butchered his weasley ass.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:34 pm… that’s a bit harsh, Bobbytoo…
February 7th, 2006 at 7:37 pmno one deserves torture….
Whats funny is the ticker. What is the geometry of watching two images, one a kiss ass, the other a playa and finally how does that ticker play into my freud head and my two eyes and my two ears.
Thats a funny ticker.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:46 pmI think Matthews was temporarily off his right-wing agenda when things were going well for the Bushies. He probably could not foresee how bad things were going to get for the Repubs. Now that they are in trouble, he is back to his true colors.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:52 pmIT MAKES ME SICK
To watch any politician and their supporter
February 7th, 2006 at 7:55 pmOn national news give each other a hand job.
Does anyone else find it amusing that ‘Keating-5′ McCain is seriously positioning himself as the candidate of ethics? It’s like David Duke positioning himself as the candidate of tolerance. Poor McCain, just when people think you’re not just another partisan shadey politician, you remind us that you are.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:56 pmTrue Blue (one of my favorite Bluegrass bands),
How did they get such control over the media?
As they say, follow the money. Chris Matthews is no fool. He’s a graduate of Holy Cross, supported Barry Goldwater, worked in Tip O’Neill’s office, wrote speeches for Jimmy Carter, been a long-time journalist, and he knows that there is no future on the highest-paid rungs of the corporate media ladder for an anti-government, pro-minority talking head.
In this case, Obama said, rightly, let’s not do this with your media-seeking repug-leaning task force, with Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson on board, let’s do it the right way with a congressional committee, in response to which McCain sent the childish letter praised by Matthews.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:57 pmWhackjob should put a camera on his head and sub himself out as an Endoscopic tech.
February 7th, 2006 at 7:59 pmI wish Obama would ignore the far left. If he follows your advice, he has no shot at the Presidency. You people are hateful – Obama should no better. Oh well, just four more years of a Republican President.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:06 pmWe’ll be ignoring Mattews the way we ignore Coulter soon.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:06 pm#52 – no, you won’t. You’re the only people being ignored and rightly so. You hate our country and would sell your soul to defeat Republicans.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:08 pmSo, Don,
He’s a sell-out.
Damn.
I lived not 2 streets away from Tip in Cambridge. He was Russell St., I was Pemberton St. Do a map search and you’ll see…. not particularity YOU, Don, but to any skeptics…
Tip was a great guy. Walked up and down Mass Ave. quite a bit. Talked to everyone.
He’s be ASHAMED of Matthews right now.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:12 pmTerrible.
The fact is that the ethics problems in Washington are mainly from the Democrat side. The Democrats want to ignore the corruption of Nancy Pelosi, Bill Jefferson, and Jim Clyburn.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:13 pmMcCain is the only naval pilot to almost sink his own aircraft carrier, USS Forestall during the Viet Nam War.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:14 pmHe’d…. damn!
February 7th, 2006 at 8:14 pmGus,
February 7th, 2006 at 8:15 pmWe see more about Chris Matthews on this site than just about anyone. For some reason (beats me, I don’t have a teevee), he won’t be ignored–which is just great for his ratings, I expect.
The fact is that the ethics problems in Washington are mainly from the Democrat side. The Democrats want to ignore the corruption of Nancy Pelosi, Bill Jefferson, and Jim Clyburn.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:17 pmBWWAAAAAHHHHHH!
OH, Thanks! I needed that belly laugh to distract me from all the Republican lead controversy!
The US government, like any big institution, has always had ethics problems but they were brought to a new, higher level under Newt Gingrich and then Tom DeLay with his stipulation that corporations employ only repub lobbyists (often ex-congressmen).
February 7th, 2006 at 8:24 pmI fully expect the turncoat Senator from Connecticut to join with McCain in trashing Obama. He strikes me as being cut from the same piece of cloth as the rest of these repugnants. If he had a backbone he would leave the dems and join the Repugnants, but he knows he would never get elected from his home state. He doesn’t want to give up the perks. Coward!
February 7th, 2006 at 8:29 pmIt is no wonder that outside of the weather reports the American public is watching less and less cable news. You can’t trust a damn thing that comes out of these reich wing-nuts mouths. The media kisses up to whatever party gives their corporate owners the most government tax breaks and subsidies, and that party is usually the GOP. Only two kinds of people come out of the GOP: steers and queers. And since none of them walk on four legs….lol.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:40 pmWell,let’s get it out in the open here. McCain is already running for President in 2008 and figures that talking down to a Black Senator, who ‘doesn’t realize his place,’ won’t do him any harm.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:41 pmIt was enough to make me puke. Literally.
Obama should boycott going on Hardball, and when any elected Democrat of party officials goes on, they should remind Mr. Twit (from Tweety) how biased he often is.
February 7th, 2006 at 8:45 pmBUT SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, the scandal that is currently exploded upon Washington, as well as elsewhere, so far has only resulted in republicans, giving guilty pleas, Jack Abrarmoff, republican lobbyist guilty of fraud extortion and bribery, Micheal Scanlon, republican lobbyist and former aide to congressman Tom DeLay(R), guilty of conspiracy of to commit fraud, Randy (Duke) Cunningham(R), congressman of California guilty of taking Bribes, being convicted, Allen Raymond and Jim Tobin (R)both election tampering in New Hampshire, being indited , Lewis (Scooter)Libby (R)former Chief of Staff for Vice President Dick Cheney (R)under indictment for perjury, David Sarafan(R), former head federal procurement office, indited for lying to federal prosecutors and obstruction of justice, under investigation, Bill Frist(R) majority leader United States Senate, Tom DeLay (R)former majority leader Republican Party United States House of representatives, Bob Ney(R) congressman from Ohio, chairman House Administration, Karl Rove(R) deputy Chief of Staff of the President of the United States, John Doolittle(R) congressman from california,Douglas Feith(R) former assistant Secretary of Defence, outside of Washington; under investigation Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) Kentucky, William Weld (R)former Gov. Mass. currently running for Gov. NY
On the other hand Congressman William Jefferson(D) of Louisiana is under investigation for kickbacks and corruption in Louisiana
February 7th, 2006 at 8:48 pmHack Alert!
February 7th, 2006 at 8:49 pmIf we are being ignored, then why are the media talking about us and why are you here posting.
Please start ignoring us.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:00 pmChris Matthews is still the fakest man alive. He’s a millionaire who has no interest in upsetting the current Beltway clique. When you get to vacation in a $4 million get-away on Nantucket,life is good.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:07 pmEvery one of these tv pundits are the ultimate reactionaries who have only their interests at heart. The status quo is what they seek. Who would want to change the system when it pays off like this?
http://openlettertochrismatthews.blogspot.com/
February 7th, 2006 at 9:19 pmi see we have a few filthy repub robots here trying to stir things up. I also see that the folsk who are regulars here are smart enough to ignore these rightwing Punks.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:25 pmFirst Russert punks Obama. Now Matthews.
Then Chris goes on to yuck it up with Kate O’Bierne over the horrors of a black funeral.
Does NBC News have something against powerful black people?
mtp@nbc.com
February 7th, 2006 at 9:27 pmhardball@msnbc.com
Flamethrower,
February 7th, 2006 at 9:32 pmMaybe that’s something we should ask, en masse, to MSNBC…. see how quickly they change their tune….
Obama attends Mrs. King’s funeral and yet McCain can’t even think about having the balls to do the same. Maybe he’s afraid that the sight of a Black man who’s smarter than him will cause him to get violent.
Matthews is a damned idiot. He forgets today is an important day as we say goodbye to a Civil Rights hero and yet he already is condemning a successful, intelligent Black man for attacking a status quo which is partisan.
I can’t wait to see if the subject will be brought up in the Open Letter to Chris Matthews site.
BTW Chris was also covering the funeral. I switched to CNN
which had better coverage and at least to republican talking heads (shocker). Earl Graves of Black Enterprise and the other was a professor at Spellman College. Matthews had a Black conservative writer in the Washington Post and that bimbo from the National Review. Both of Matthews’ guests were kissing King George’s ass as usual. Graves, on CNN, wanted King George to bring up his imperfections, but was disappointed when Bubble Boy spoke as it was scripted for him.
I’m sending another e-mail to Chrissy and I suggest we do the same and condemn him for not listening to the other side of the story. I guess it’s typical of the GOP: A good Black activist is a dead one.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:33 pmFlamethrower,
Yeah, I heard the laughter too. It’s too bad that Hardball doesn’t have a call-in segment. If there was, I would have called in and the language that I would spew out would not be pretty.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:35 pmJimbo,
February 7th, 2006 at 9:44 pmTwice just now I tried to write an apologetic note to you.
But when I looked it over, it seemed… wrong.
I can’t try to sympathize with you, because I have no clue…
So I deleted both times and offer you this….
Matthews is a dick.
We should all email MSNBC and DEMAND his resignation.
True Blue,
Exactly, e-mail Chrissy and MSNBC everyday as we should be doing. That way we can put extra extra pressure on the little shit and the cable station carrying him.
But, if there’s anyone who lives near where Chrissy is based, I recommend that they should gather some people and picket the studio where he works and put 3 times the pressure on him.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:52 pmIn reference to #73,
I spoke too soon on whether the subject would be on that Open Letter website. It’s there.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:54 pmI’ve already done it, Jimbo… and will continue everyday.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:00 pm:-)
We all need to stop this pr*ck… excuse my language, but that it just LOW….
Gotta go to sleep now, Jimbo.
See ‘ya tomorrow!
I used to hold out hope for McCain…but he is a weak link in any sense.
I don’t get this sense of ‘respect’ he culls for himself, from repubs and dems.
Why is he so deserving? Kind of sick of the air of being above reproach he is given.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:01 pmChris is an obvious partisan. His transition to the dark side is complete. Karl must have the goods on Chris, too. Probably stored in the same safe where he keeps McCain’s dirt.
I gave up on Hardball years ago. Chris plays softball with the Republican Syndicate and throws spitters to the Democrats. He and his ilk can take their rightful share of credit for enabling the political criminal class who are actiively taking down this country.
55. The fact is that the ethics problems in Washington are mainly from the Democrat side. The Democrats want to ignore the corruption of Nancy Pelosi, Bill Jefferson, and Jim Clyburn.
Stop it! You’re killing me! You’re a hoot. Really, I hope your getting stiped by the RNC. If you’re giving it away for free, you’re dumber than than this delusional statement indicates. But you are an entertaining Beta-Monkey……here’s your virtual banana —> (
February 7th, 2006 at 10:06 pmI strongly suggest people listen to NPR Terri Gross interview with Biden. Goodnight everyone.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:25 pmWhy does anyone even pay attention to a slimeball like Matthews? McCain obviously missed a day of his meds and the vicious piece of human garbage that he really is stunk up the whole room.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:25 pmWhy does anyone even pay attention to a slimeball like Matthews?
February 7th, 2006 at 11:02 pmThe GOP began going after Clinton when he was just an early term Arkansas governor–who was they guy? Died young of cancer, expressing regrets for how he had run political attacks? Drat…anyway, he noted Clinton as one of the possible Dems who could win nationally, natural politician, began attempt to find dirt on him to keep him from running for president. Sort of behind the Richard Scaife hounding of the Clinton’s at a very early time. IIRC.
Same being done to Obama.
What’s absolutely amazing is that McCain’s doing the dirty work.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:11 pmMatthews is such a whore , no more no less than O’Reilly or Amstrong Williams all sucking on the Repub band wagon. That band wagon in sinking fast and they’ll go with it like a pack of rats.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:18 pmYeah but, Clinton did it too!
February 7th, 2006 at 11:20 pmmr mcain says in about the 2nd or 3rd paragraph, this;
And we all know that we have to work together, and so I responded, and Senator Obama and I had a conversation, and we agreed to move on.
Matthews wide trout mouth pickle like slurping
February 7th, 2006 at 11:30 pmhis opinion gain an gain whilst Mcaim slobbers equally
useless tripe.
#Yeah but, Clinton did it too!
Comment by I’m just a troll whose intentions are good — February 7, 2006 @ 11:20 pm
he did not in sert errr smoke, inhale that is, that cigar, uumm doobie. =)
February 7th, 2006 at 11:32 pmThey ought to Call HardBall
Huevos no mas
February 7th, 2006 at 11:36 pmhe did not in sert errr smoke, inhale that is, that cigar, uumm doobie. =)
Comment by mr ho — February 7, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
Yea, but even if he did, it would have been legal cuz he’s the president. Oops, I mean if Bush did it, it would have been legal.
February 7th, 2006 at 11:48 pm((who was they guy? Died young of cancer, expressing regrets for how he had run political attacks?))
That would be Lee Atwater –ran Bush I’s campaign in ‘88; political godfather of Karl Rove; once had Ken Mehlman’s job. I have to laugh, remembering this, when people cluck cluck about relatively mild-mannered by comparison Howard Dean being an attack dog.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:16 amMcCain and Matthews are both old white guys who are on the threshold of soon-to-be has-beens. That’s why McCain likes Fox, MSNBC and NBC – that’s where all the angry white guys hangout, living in the past. And when the rest of the county has moved on, they will all still be there on cable, ranting in an echo chamber.
McCain isn’t presidential material, never was and never will be.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:38 amThat is the truth, Val!
February 8th, 2006 at 12:47 amLee Atwater’s protogee` Rove is much worse than Atwater ever was. I don’t see Rove expressing remorse for anything on his deathbed. As for Mehlman, he’s young — give him time. He’s well on his way.
I hope you are right, Martin Ostrye.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:51 amA lot of people still like McCain, but I lost all respect for him when he let Bush crap all over him and his wife and family, then hugged him and supported Bush for president. The man was deserving of a lot of respect, if for nothing more, his life story, but after all he’s been through, he rermains in the party that disrespects veterans, applauds a guy who went AWOL on a cushy job in the National Guard, and obviously cares not a bit for McCain himself but for what they can use him.
All I can think about is that “Fun With Real Audio” bit on Saturday Night Live with McCain crushing stress balls in his trailer in between having to suck up to Bush on the campaign trail. He’s a jackass.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:58 amMcCain = The Manchurian Candidate. The man is so insane I’m surprised he can tie his shoes.
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Plato the Lapdog VS the Illuminati
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February 8th, 2006 at 2:54 amplatothelapdog
February 8th, 2006 at 3:05 amThanks for posting the cartoons. Haven’t been able to see them anyplace else.
I thought I could vote for Senator McCain in 2000. But after watching holding up GW’s arm, in a sign of unity, during the election of 2004, after what GW did to him in 2000, I was appauled, to say the least. And now this! He (Senator McCain) has proved to be just as partisan as the worst of them in Washintion DC.
I have a hunch that rightwing America fears the popular freshman Senator, Barak Obama. I could see him easily finding his way onto a presidential ticket in 2008. Somebody is diggin’ for a scandal. Don’t be fooled by it.
February 8th, 2006 at 6:39 amI’m sorry, if I had seen Booby too’s #43 post yesterday, I would have said something. Now i will , this is the vile scurrilious tripe that should be shamed instantly. TP has allowed slander of one of the only truly living people who have actually suffered for this country. TP has turned a blind eye to this shameful attack. Letting that sewer drivel taint a real conversation is iresponsible and disgusting. I have one of the higher levels of tolerance about free speech but that was like yelling fire in a theater.No Neccisito. Sincerely, The Fly-man060208
February 8th, 2006 at 7:03 amI wonder if Sen. McCain sent one of those snarky little apologies to GWB after he learned about the Signing Statement he (Bush) added to the Anti-Torture bill, reserving the right to torture, if he thought it was needed. Somehow, I doubt it.
February 8th, 2006 at 7:29 amThe comments on this topic explain why Democrats cannot get traction even against this corrupt and incompetent Administration. John McCain is a hero and an honorable man. And there are very few of them in American politics. From appearances, Obama broke his word to McCain and that is dishonorable conduct. When Democrats get this they will begin to understand why they lose elections based on “values.”
February 8th, 2006 at 7:40 amThe comments on this topic explain why Republicans continue to make traction with this corrupt and incompetent Administration. John McCain is a liar and a crook. And there are many more of them on the Republican side of American politics. From appearances McCain stated he was trying to be bipartisan, which eveyone knows, Republicans are not and that makes McCain a liar and that is dishonorable conduct. Republicans get this and that is why they win elections based on lies.
February 8th, 2006 at 8:23 amWTF is up with Tweety? Oh, that’s right–he works for corporate media and pulls down a hefty salary. Can’t bite the hand that feeds you, right Tweety?
What a worthless POS.
February 8th, 2006 at 9:12 am“Brilliantly angry”? It was sarcasm, sarcasm that’s better done by Jesus’s General and your truly.
What McCain was basically saying to Obama was, “Thanks for not being a fucking doormat for our joke of a reform package. I always thought that bipartisanism meant agreeing to not disagree.”
Don’t forget, this GOP gasbag was clapping like a chimp with cymbals at the SOTU in the middle of Bush’s sentences.
February 8th, 2006 at 9:32 amGross ass-licking of the highest order, Tweety sure is a pro.
February 8th, 2006 at 9:35 amMatthews is an asshole.
February 8th, 2006 at 10:10 amEven on the level McCain is trying to bring it to, this is ridiculous– like we’re all so shocked SHOCKED that democrats are going to use republicans’ ethics problems to promote their own agenda!
But on the depper level, this is clearly just dirty politics on McCain’s part. His letter was completely uncalled for and shows a lack of class. Unfortunatley, Mccain has built up this great (false) reputation for speaking the truth, and so doesn’t get called for his crap.
February 8th, 2006 at 11:01 am“John McCain is a hero and an honorable man.”
Not.
He is two-faced rethuglican scum.
February 8th, 2006 at 11:03 amGlad people are waking up to Mcain I did denfend him but more and more I see a nother REPUBICAN mud slinging . I don`t think it will work against Obama as he is well liked . Watch people who smiles a lot.I see Liberman chose his side.Chris think that makes him look good to the Repubican doing what he does to the Dems .
February 8th, 2006 at 12:49 pmIs there a more vile creature on television than matthews? I think not. I find it repulsive to watch matthews constantly fellate McCain on national television.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:51 pm[...] But now his ship is sunk after he went on Chris Matthew’s show to trash Senator Barack Obama – check it out at ThinkProgress, and make sure to read the letters sent back and forth between the two. I thought I was pretty good at passive-aggressive writing, but I don’t have anything on McCain. [...]
February 8th, 2006 at 2:32 pmMatthews has lost his soul. So has John McCain. They sold them to the Bush Cabal.
February 8th, 2006 at 2:55 pmFebruary 7, 2006
McCain rebukes Pentagon for emergency funding requests
By Megan Scully, CongressDaily
In the strongest public rebuke yet from a Republican lawmaker over the Bush administration’s policy of using supplemental appropriations to pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Tuesday that continued reliance on emergency spending provided an “end run” around authorizers.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=33353&dcn=todaysnews
Oh YaY IRI the great fiscal conservatives oh YAY!
Blessed be Exxon and halliburton Privatized security shooting at marines
Mercenaries attack Marine outpost
In Falluja, on May 28, Marines of Regimental Combat Team 8 spotted a convoy of sport-utility vehicles firing at Iraqi civilians. A few hrs later a Marine patrol was fired on . Later in the day, a Marines observation post came under sniper fire. Once Marines realized the firing was related to the civilian convoy the Marines had to take action, Lt. Col. Lapan said.
As the convoy tried to flee Fallujah the Marines laid spike strips on the road exiting Fallujah. Marines from an observation post stopped nineteen employees working for a contract security firm. Marines surrounded the armored SUV, and the mercenaries quickly surrendered. They were handcuffed and vehicles searched.
Marines detained the contractors and later impounded several anti-tank weapons, hand grenades, as well as a AK-47 assault rifle, according to Lt. Col. Dave Lapan. They were brought to Camp Fallujah, where they were questioned about what they were doing in Fallujah, and about the attack on the Marines. They refused to speak and were detained for three days. Their passengers were from the Parsons Corporation.
All of them were deported out of Iraq.
heckuva job
The Mercenaries’ story
The Marines dragged us out of our vehicles, kicked us to the ground, called us names and ripped off our religious necklaces (Star of David). “They were calling us a rogue mercenary team.”
These particular Mercs are paid $350,000 a year to work in Iraq!
All of the men have since resigned from Zapata Engineering, company executives said.
February 8th, 2006 at 3:30 pmSTOP WATCHING HARDBALL!
February 8th, 2006 at 3:33 pmThis is how we win. Half of hardball watchers are Liberals watching to see if he finally comes around. He isn’t. Mathews is so deep in the pockets of this administration that he is beyond reasonable expectation of salvation.
Don’t forget…THE ASPENS ARE CONNECTED AT THE ROOT AND ALL TURN AT ONCE.
When this administration goes down, Mathews is revealed for the PAID SHRILL SHILL that he is and he no longer has a career pretending to be an actual journalist. Therefore, he will go down with the other aspens, connected in his corruption and deceit.
DON’T GIVE HARDBALL THE RATINGS. I know…it’s like looking at a car-wreck, you just have to see it even though you expect it to be ugly. Resist this temptation, turn the channel and wait for Crooksandliars to show images of the car-wreck that is Chris Mathews.
BOYCOTT HARDBALL!!!
February 8th, 2006 at 4:31 pmI couldn’t agree more. Chris Matthews is nauseating.
CNN rocks!!!
“Copulate violently” John “Savings and Loan Swindler” McCain!
This unethical, untrustworthy, thieving bast*rd and his co-conspirators are trying to preemptively undermine Barack Obama’s popularity and tear down his clean image…
But everyday the people are recognizing more and more who their REAL enemies are…
Bushiva, L’il Dick, McCain and the inbred traitors are all going to be brought to justice…
…No doubt Cap’n…
February 8th, 2006 at 8:27 pmDid Tweety read Sen. Barama’s letter? Oh wait, silly me, that would require research and integrity; sorry-silly question….move along, nothing to see here….
February 8th, 2006 at 9:58 pmWho is Chris Matthews?
February 9th, 2006 at 12:15 pmMatthews is a lapdog to the republicans.
Mccain is one of the Keating 5…..and a manic/depressive.
Hang in there Barack….good to see someone with backbone
February 9th, 2006 at 4:28 pmand cahones….
Mathews is such a sham and a shill. The thing about it is he doesn’t even do a half good job of covering up his bias. The best was him interviewing Hillary Clinton, So tell me Hill, id it tough being so darn cute as a botton? Is it? Huh? is it? Ahhh, thats so cute the way you crinkle your little nose? Can I tweak it?
September 1st, 2006 at 6:35 amHard Hitting isn’t he???????