Matthews on Boehner: ‘You Can See This Man’s Greatness’
Matthews on Boehner: ‘You Can See This Man’s Greatness’
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews conducted a hard-hitting interview tonight with House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH). The most aggressive line of questioning Boehner faced was over the hotly-debated question, “Is Hillary Clinton a socialist?” which Matthews asked three times. The segment concluded with Matthews declaring, “You can see this man’s greatness.”
In an interview in today’s Washington post, Matthews provide another subtle hint about his political leanings. Matthews said “I do make that old mistake of calling [Anderson Cooper] Cooper Anderson. Where I grew up you had a first name and last name and now you’ve got all these guys who have two last names…I’m more in the tradition of Bill O’Reilly. Sean Hannity. Chris Matthews…”
Full transcript below:
MATTHEWS: Is she a socialist?
BOEHNER: Uh, no. I’ve worked with her on a number of issues —
MATTHEWS: Well, on the issue of health care, is she a socialist?
BOEHNER: She would be to the left of most people I know.
MATTHEWS: But not a socialist?
BOEHNER: I wouldn’t go that far.
MATTHEWS: You wouldn’t go that far? What stops you?
BOEHNER: I don’t like labeling of people.
MATTHEWS: You call her a liberal. You called it Hillarycare.
BOEHNER: I don’t want to call her a socialist.
MATTHEWS: Could she carry Ohio in the general?
BOEHNER: I don’t think so.
MATTHEWS: Who could beat her?
BOEHNER: Anybody.
MATTHEWS: Anybody. Strong words. We’ll be right back with House Majority Leader John Boehner. You can see this man’s greatness.
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163 Responses to “Matthews on Boehner: ‘You Can See This Man’s Greatness’”
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shouldn't anything relating to "hardballz" or "tweety" be under humor?
come on, this is GE, the weapons folks, they don't love anything as much as the billions this jerkwater administration is going to give them. So fuck liberty as far as they care, they are making a profit.
"follow the money"
March 6th, 2006 at 6:10 pmIn other words, Chrissy, you are a bully, a hypocrite, an asshole and a pompous jerk. In other words, a RepubliKKKan.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:11 pmWith O'Reilly imploding on Fox, Matthews realizes that this is his opportunity to make his move to replace O'Reilly.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:11 pmWhat a worthless interview. The newly elected House Majority Leader is on Hardball and they play bash the Democrat?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:11 pmWe’ll be right back with House Majority Leader John Boehner. You can see this man’s greatness.
It is not clear from the transcript but, did Matthews bow down, kneel, and kiss Boehner's feet while saying that?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:15 pmSo, I could be wrong here, but...
I grew up in a country where "socialist" isn't a dirty word. WTF is so wrong with these people that they consider it to be one?
Is "Communist" too distant now so they are using "socialist" instead ...
Z.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:15 pmFirst of all, Matthews, "Anybody" is one word, not several "words". And it isn't all that "strong", either. It was an off-handed attempt to deflect the question and not give a definitive answer (like a name of someone who could beat Sen Clinton in Ohio.) Why didn't he just go onto commercial there with, "While you watch these commercials, I'll be under the table seeing the man's greatness for myself."
March 6th, 2006 at 6:17 pmNo, physically impossible - Tweety could'nt do that with his lips constantly and firmly sucking Boehner's Boner.
------------------------------
March 6th, 2006 at 6:19 pmIt is not clear from the transcript but, did Matthews bow down, kneel, and kiss Boehner’s feet while saying that?
What I don't get is how Matthew's can talk at all while he's got Boehner's dick in his mouth...
March 6th, 2006 at 6:20 pmBTW, Tweety is a national disgrace... wait, Tweety is a disgrace to homo sapiens.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:21 pmis that a boner or are you just happy to see me?...sorry I couldn't resist. Another blogg is asking...'Is tweety gay???...he kissing up to boner.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:22 pmSo which is worse, MSNBC or FOX?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:23 pmMatthews is trying very hard to be worse than
the FOX dopes, but can he do it?
It looks like he is up to the challenge.
tweets is still on a high from the india nuke giveaway that his g.e. paymasters were salivating over:
Reuters July 23, 2005
With Bush's help, GE courts Indian PM, nuke sector
In-Depth Coverage By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just over an hour after the White House's surprise pledge to help India develop its civilian nuclear power sector, the head of General Electric, the American company that could benefit most from the policy change, sat down for a celebratory dinner.
The host was President George W. Bush; a few feet away was India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his top aides. GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt, a contributor to Bush's presidential campaigns, had a coveted seat at the president's table.
Bush's announcement on nuclear trade with India -- followed by a formal dinner in the State dining room -- was not just a victory for Singh. For GE, the only U.S.-owned company still in the nuclear business, it marked a possible turning point in a years-long push to re-enter the Indian nuclear power market, which it was forced to leave in 1974 when India conducted its first nuclear test.
"In the short term, it's really business as usual. ... But if things unfold the way it looks they may, then clearly it is a significant opportunity for us," said Peter Wells, general manager of marketing for GE Energy's nuclear business.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050723-ge-india-nuke.htm
March 6th, 2006 at 6:26 pmDon't ignore the balls, Chris.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:27 pmMatthews is disgusting -- an ass kisser masquerading as a journalist. Time for more letters and Emails to MSNBC to dump the jerk.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:27 pmHang Hillary around their necks.
This is one of the attack vectors the GOP is going to use in November. Time we hung every f**king corrupt republican around their tiny eunuch balls.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:30 pmHannity and O'Reilly? He's not just a Republican, he's a right wing nut case.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:30 pmi like erroll's idea @3 - if matthews goes to faux, then maybe more like olberman at msnbc will make that network more worthwhile...
March 6th, 2006 at 6:30 pm#15 Marie,
Maybe we should start a petition to dump Matthews and replace him with Phil Donahue.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:31 pmIn other news, is Bush insufficiently neocon for tolerating Mexican border perfidy? Could Joe Lieberman be doing more to not be a Democrat -- and what's his secret, Marxist reason for holding out? Why hasn't Zell said anything mendacious about his party today, has he gone Situationist?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:32 pmThe inexplicable TP fascination with Chris Matthews continues.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:32 pmI am going to Email MSNBC right now,
March 6th, 2006 at 6:32 pmbut I wanted to post this off-topic tidbit regarding Trent Lott who is refusing home heating assistance for the poor (found on Raw Story):
http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2006/03/lott-on-low-income-heating-pleas-i.html
Do I Hear A confused sexual person trying to squeeze to outing?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:33 pmWayne #19, I did suggest that very thing last week in an Email to MSNBC boss. Great minds, huh? Now I am seeking his Email address -- I hope I saved it.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:39 pmIt is obvious Chris's religion didn't last until the New Testament. A cursory glance would have given him a clue that he is not in the same league as O'Liely and Hannity. With Mark, Luke, and John I think Matthew is a front name. It is with one of my Grandsons. Besides, before he starts bragging about his manhood he should pay attention to the NeoCon Creed: If Gay were good God would have named the first pair Adam and Chris.
March 6th, 2006 at 6:40 pmHe's changing the name of the show to "Hard Boehner"
March 6th, 2006 at 6:42 pmthere you go, wayne s. @19 - excellent idea!
March 6th, 2006 at 6:42 pmWith O’Reilly imploding on Fox, Matthews realizes that this is his opportunity to make his move to replace O’Reilly.
As chief loon?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:43 pm#21- As does Chris Matthews' with the Republican party, no ?
March 6th, 2006 at 6:48 pmWhat a pathetic suck-up. Someone needs to get Chris's medicine's under control. I've never seen such a case of bi-polar disorder like his. Totally disgusting that he carries a grudge against the Clinton's going on 14 years now.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:02 pmThe name of the show ought to be changed to "T-ball." Watch Chris place his questions on the "T" and let his Republican guests whack the hell out of it.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:02 pmWhy can't we have a new "Equal-time Law." That is Reagan's worst legacy.
Thank you Republican's. With the new voting machines and your track record over the last 30 years, we are no longer a "Republic" or a "Democracy." And to think we fought the "Cold War" for this?
God help this country...
Catch the subtitle under this dudes mug. Now that is classic. Copied and saved.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:03 pmFunny thing is, I know a bunch of people who actually describe themselves as socialists, argue politics from a pure socialist perspective and, whenever possible, vote for socialist party candidates (there's a couple). None of 'em like either of the Clintons. I never have figured out how the wingnut intelligensia decided Hillary was three steps to the left of Mao just because she wanted to make health care more affordable. She may be to the left of most folks Boehner knows, but given the current status of the guy's party and the general lunacy of the GOP on a national level, that ain't saying much. Barry Goldwater is probably to the left of most folks this yay-hoo knows.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:10 pmbetter question
Is Matthews a fellateur
March 6th, 2006 at 7:12 pmSocialist is a bad word for most conservatives. Calling Hillary Clinton a socialist is a way to damage her politically. It has nothing to do with her actual political views.
I have noticed that Bush supporters like to call names as much as possible, communist, socialist, traitor, facist whatever. these titles don't have to connect to anything real.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:16 pmHate to tell ya, Hardball dude. But "Chris Matthews" is basically two first names, also. Matthews is more of a first name-sounding name than "Cooper."
Is he high or something?
March 6th, 2006 at 7:22 pmI use to watch his show and sometimes he do ask hard question but the thing I don't get is why in the Hell is he so obessed with Hillary. I mean on Hardball and the Chris Matthews Show he talk about her everyday everytime his on the air its all about Hillary. Hillary says that Karl Rove is obessed with her add Chris Matthews on that list.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:23 pmSocialist is a bad word for most conservatives. Calling Hillary Clinton a socialist is a way to damage her politically. It has nothing to do with her actual political views.
Comment by Krazny — March 6, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
In other words, it is an attempt at a smear. In the US, "socialist" (or "socialistic") is a dirty word and an insult.
But then anyone who doesn't advocate 19th century-style capitalism (think Charles Dickens) is a "socialist", or "radical left".
March 6th, 2006 at 7:30 pmAsking Boehner three times if Hillary is a socialist?? Only three??? That's the way "hard-hitting" TV personalities try to pump up their ratings - having a "label" foist on poor Hillary. I don't know why Boehner flinched - Hillary should be proud of the label - after all she's going to need to tilt left to accomodate her base. (Those fine prog/socialists have been disappointed by her convenient, if not consistent, stances on the war.)
March 6th, 2006 at 7:35 pm#38 - "In other words, it is an attempt at a smear. In the US, “socialist†(or “socialisticâ€) is a dirty word and an insult." Comment Grgrrrr Samsa
March 6th, 2006 at 7:38 pm******Very good, Greg. Couldn't pull one over on you.....
[...] Another hard-hitting (*cough*) interview by Chris Mathews. [...]
March 6th, 2006 at 7:41 pmBy asking if Hilary is a "socialist" she is tagged one regardless of what she is or is not. The word "liberal" is losing it's flavor or isn't damaging enough for Mr Clean. Now Hilary can defend being both liberal and socialist making her the issue and not the issues the issue. I know. It's semantics. That's all we've had since Regan, as in, "go ahead and make my day." Wasn't that a Clint Eastwood line?
March 6th, 2006 at 7:50 pmCheck out my home page if you have a minute.
It seems to me that Matthew Chriss is projecting a bit there no ?
March 6th, 2006 at 7:55 pm`Why not take up a collection to send Tweety to Faux. His repugnant mind set has him half way there already. As for his Hillary bashing, he is living proof "Born and idiot, die an idiot."
March 6th, 2006 at 7:59 pmAs I've said repeatedly, Matthews has sold out. All he cares about is trying to make the money that O'Reilly and Hannity do. He will say anything in pursuit of that goal.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:13 pm"If any look upon us, asking why we kneeled down,
Can we not say we acted with all our power
To rid us this murderer of countless man
Whose sword slaughters from within?"
full poem> ... Unknown Liberty
March 6th, 2006 at 8:16 pmThe more I watch Hardball, the more obvious it becomes:
Chris is one helluva Republican suckup, with more compliments of manly features than I knew were possible. A once respected( at least by me) news show host who is sooo taken by Republican politicians that he describes their appearance in "glowing" terms while ignoring their policies.
WHAT A PATHETIC REPUG KISS UP
March 6th, 2006 at 8:21 pmHillary not being in Congress when Hillary-care was sought is no defense of the "socialist" label. When her hubby, Mr. Cigar, put her in charge of the whole monstrosity, he was well aware that one of her greatest political idols was Saul Alinsky, author of the political tome, "Rules for Radicals". Maybe she'd rather be called a radical than a socialist.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:21 pmOh God, this was truly gagworthy. I hope you enjoyed it John Boehner, you can zip up now.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:24 pmYes, Tweety's a conservative. He's a Bill O'Reilly dirt bag. Let's just accept that and treat him like we would any other conservative. I'm tired of us pretending he may be/may not be. He is the enemy. End of debate.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:24 pmIt really is way beyond a fetish the drooler has for Hillary.
There is no question about his politics - he admitted voting for the Chimp.
If you ever write him mention Tip O'Neil rolling in his grave like Tarzan hanging onto a crock.
It upsets him and it is true.
This country is tubes.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:40 pmConservative punditry sells...just like sex.
But with all this water Chris Matthews, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc. are carrying for this administration, the ship is still sinking.
Propping up the President isn't working anymore. The only thing they can do is try to tear down the opposition.
I just about laugh my ass of when Boehner starting going off about the awful health care systems around the world. After all, our system is workng so much better with 45 million+ people uninsured.
I'd love to see the contributions he's getting from the health care industry.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:40 pmFu@k Hillary (strong words- I know)
If the dems run her they're ruined.
A good debate might be in why "the right" fears her so much though.
BTW- Mighty, care to continue on the Think Fast thread? There are other alternatives Halliburton my dear.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:41 pmGreat men in Republican cult world hand out the payoff checks on the floor on congress.
Great man indeed.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:42 pm[...] hope Olbermann picked up on it because you, my friend, are one of the worst people in the world. Permalink| [...]
March 6th, 2006 at 8:53 pmDid I miss someone or was Al Sharpton the only Democrat on Chris's stage full of Republicans?
March 6th, 2006 at 8:54 pm[...] hope Olbermann picked up on it because you, my friend, are one of the worst people in the world. Permalink| [...]
March 6th, 2006 at 8:59 pmWhat do you expect from a toad looking for "Boner" to pass him a check? The eternally tanned, special interest pimp is expected to get tweety hot. I hope Tip is proud of him.
March 6th, 2006 at 9:07 pmhehehehehe -- he said "Boehner".
March 6th, 2006 at 9:16 pmGive me a break. This man hasn't done anything that I'm aware of to deserve the "greatness award". Who is Chris Matthews anyway?
March 6th, 2006 at 9:24 pmThis is another obvious set up for the cons.The title "Choosing the Next President" and the rejoinder "all the republicans coming together" sickens me.Likewise the assumption that Hillary will be the Democratic candidate. This boehner dude is a patsy because you know delay is still calling all the shots.Something that has me more worried than all this frantic happy crappy is the passage of the patriot act and the new policy of punishing whistle blowers and journalists.Some Pakistanis who were interviewed said they prayed for Americans that we would get a better leader.Please God answer their prayers.
March 6th, 2006 at 9:38 pmTweety's younger brother Jim is the Republican running mate of Lynn Swann, the PA GOP's candidate for governor. In another case of "Do as we say, not as we do" smoking is allowed in congress and Boehner is a chain smoker.
March 6th, 2006 at 9:39 pmhttp://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-smoking19feb19,0,7986499.story?coll=la-home-headlines
matthews is a clinton hater from way back. he will do and say anything to destroy them and keep hillery from being president. he never tries to hide his hatred of her
March 6th, 2006 at 9:40 pmLOLLLLLLLLOLLLLLLLOL.HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAA!!!!! STOP IT, Tweety,you're killing me!!!!!!!!!!
March 6th, 2006 at 9:40 pmHarper’s Magazine discussion/forum on IMPEACHMENT
March 6th, 2006 at 9:43 pmSam Seder is moderator
c-span 2 on NOW
Caption Contest;
"You want me to check the oil Andy?"
March 6th, 2006 at 9:45 pmAt the end of his program, Matthews showed utter repugnance at the Oscar winning song, "It's Hard Out There for a Pimp" -- was that because the job he does for the Bush administration has been exposed and set to music.
March 6th, 2006 at 9:45 pmMATTHEWS: Anybody. Strong words. We’ll be right back with House Majority Leader John Boehner. You can see this man’s greatness.
Strong Words?
I dont. I dont. I dont. Anybody.
BuhGawd dat mans a Genie-Usss!
Can't you feel the greatness of those words?
March 6th, 2006 at 9:49 pmWoooOOoooOO!!
Sorry to note this but Chris was cut off he intended to say, Boehner is a great big Arsehole.
March 6th, 2006 at 10:12 pmUm, did Chris have anything to do with the young girl who was dumped near JFK, because he's sure acting like someone under threat of blackmail. The Stepford Anchor.
March 6th, 2006 at 10:39 pm#67
I was glad that song won the Oscar. I'm pretty sure that Chrissy would be offended by a 30 plus old classic that would make that RepubliKKKan nose of his twitch. A little thing called "Shaft".
Which is what Chrissy Matthews is doing to the progressives in this country.
March 6th, 2006 at 10:40 pmNow that Bush's numbers are down and his flight suit retired, Matthews needs a new Republican dick to lust after. Looks like he found the Republican Boehner he so desperately craves.
What a loser.
March 6th, 2006 at 10:44 pmJust out of curiosity, how did Chrissy Matthews get to be called "Tweety"?
March 6th, 2006 at 10:46 pmIt's kinda HARD not to see his swollen throbbing greatness when it's right in your face winking at you, eh Chrissy?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:28 pmDon't you think he looks a bit like Tweety Bird?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:29 pmBy the way, Shaft is certainly an appropriate tune, JIMBO.
Is this question part of the current GOP talking points that Matthews must apparently be required to follow in order to please his benefactors?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:45 pmWHOA, FOLKS...I just watched the 8pm broadcast (in Portland, Oregon) of Tweety interviewing Boehner...I was looking forward to getting all pissy about what a sicko Tweety is, and looked forward to vomiting at the "You can see this man's greatness."
Those words were not spoken. The "Anybody. Strong words" were said, but what followed was not even remotely like the purported transcipt posted above. I was so shocked I can't make a decent approximation of what was said, but it was basically some typical patter about what we're gonna see after the commercial break.
Mr. ThinkProgress, you have a serious credibility issue here. Your purported transcript is not only wildly wrong, but appears crafted to enable a point you want to make.
Tell me I'm wrong, somebody, but my lying eyes watched the TeeVee, and it ain't nothing like what our dear TP asserts.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:47 pmWhaat happened, JimmyJeff?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:52 pmI saw the program in the midwest at 6PM CST and it was exactly as the transcript above indicates.
The paragraph about names (Bill, Sean, Chris) was obviously not in the program (it was a report in the WaPo)but I guarantee you that I saw what is reported here.
JimmyJeff the second show was in different sequence than the first so it might have been edited for content too, they do it on their website, why not in rebroadcast?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:58 pmyou can watch the clip right here...click on "Watch it"
March 7th, 2006 at 12:13 amno "serious credibility issue" here...
You know, I live in the heart of the Deep Red South, and down here, the "two last names" thing is pretty damned common.
One way it happens is for family names (often maternal family names) to be used as middle names; from that point, all it takes is someone who goes by their middle name, and boom! -- the Strom family name becomes known around the world as a first name thanks to James Strom Thurmond, for instance.
Needless to say, there are examples of this same transformation that don't involve famous segregationists.
So anyway, if Chris thinks he's knocking some kind of elite Northeastern liberal naming practice, he is, as usual, completely mistaken.
Yeah, I know. Big surprise there.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:26 am*sniff sniff*
I smell ... taint.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:56 amTweety is dragging out right-wing SOP. Now we're socialists. By summer, we'll be communists again. By early fall, we'll be space aliens.
Just remember that republicans plotted to overthrow FDR early into his first term, 1933, and replace him with a Mussolini-style dictator. But for Marine General Smedley Butler, they'd have succeeded.
March 7th, 2006 at 3:42 amMatthews will do ANYTHING to avoid talking about the rampant corruption in the Republican Congress, particularly matters involving Jack Abramoff. You saw how he cradled Tom Delay in his bosom just a short time ago. Matthews actually seemed intimidated by Boehner. It's clear this new guy is a major league asshole. He bullied Chris around and I think Chris liked it.
IT ALL GOES BACK TO MATTHEW'S OWN TIES TO JACK ABRAMOFF AND OTHER REPUBLICANS AWASH IN CORRUPTION:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/3/14210/21317
YOU GUYS MUST WRITE MSNBC AND NBC EXECS AND DEMAND THAT THEY COME CLEAN ABOUT MATTHEWS INVOLVEMENT WITH ABRAMOFF!
March 7th, 2006 at 6:10 amChris Matthews has his nose so far up the RNCs ass that he has to be Pinocchio.
March 7th, 2006 at 6:25 am“We have to address the fact that the president has broken the law.†— Senator Russ Feingold
March 7th, 2006 at 6:53 amLast week Matthews said there would be riots if we don't sell our ports to UAE. It was threat to Americans, not an observation.
March 7th, 2006 at 6:56 amNow this.
He knows we blog him. He's become O Reilly-lite.
I hope his career and entire existance suffers.
But it is entertainment after all...
“You can see this man’s greatness.â€
March 7th, 2006 at 7:14 amChris Matthews describing an encounter with John Boehner in the steam room.
I am very serious when I say that Chris Matthews has a mental illness. I have done a lot of research on it. He is actually afraid of women's vaginas. That is why he is obsessed with Hilary Clinton, a very strong women. He is completely off his rocker when it comes to strong women. He hates them and fears them at the same time. In short, he's insane.
March 7th, 2006 at 7:33 amChris Matthews on 'Lard Ball'.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:21 amBut can he claim the knee pads as a tax deduction?
March 7th, 2006 at 8:29 amtweety is just positioning itself for a job at fox to be closer to its brother coulter.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:33 amChris Matthews sold out to the extreme right a long time ago but continues to pretend he is a moderate with left leanings. He is a biased disgrace.
March 7th, 2006 at 9:11 amIt seems that neither conservatives nor "progressives" want to claim Matthews. (see refences below) Interesting. Next I guess I'll start hearing that Olbermann is a raving conservative and that the left can't get a fair shake from the main stream media, with it's obvious right-leaning bias! ;-)
compiled via a quick search:
March 7th, 2006 at 9:23 amhttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_30_06_JL.html
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004202.htm
http://www.californiaconservative.org/?p=668
I received an EMail reply to my complaint about Matthews from NBC news producer. I don't know if it was a form letter - a copy is being sent to MSNBC also.
March 7th, 2006 at 9:45 amWith wanks like Tweety filling the airwaves, it was an easy decision for me to pull the plug on cable TV a few years back. Why spend my hard-earned money to subject myself to this kind of toadying bullsh!t that amounts to nothing more than commercials for America's corporatocracy?
March 7th, 2006 at 10:00 amChris + Matthew(s) = 2 FIRST NAMES!
what is this guy talking about...judging the transcript, was he really suppossed to be having a political discussion?
March 7th, 2006 at 10:01 amThe only Hard Balls CM likes are Jeff Gannon's.
It's so sad. Maybe at one point he could have rightfully called himsef an independent middle of the roader, prior to the Clinton Administration, MAYBE.... But in the last 10 or 15 years he's pretty much been nothing but a talking head republican fluffer. It's just gotten so obvious of late.
Him calling himself a Democrat is like Phaux Pnews calling itself "fair & balanced".
March 7th, 2006 at 10:13 amRemember what Ross Perot said," I hear a giant sucking sound". Keep sucking up Chris, because otherwise who will come on your show.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:16 amI don't even bother watching this guy anymore. His program is a waste of time. I don't know why Democrats continue to watch people like this and then wring their hands and have such angst over what they say.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:23 amHe is obviously being paid per comment by some RNC briber... Is no one looking into this?
March 7th, 2006 at 10:32 amCall the man a Boner because that is what he acts and looks like > lol. He is a Republican fool who uses Viagra for sport!
March 7th, 2006 at 10:33 amNote that the title to Matthews' coverage of the upcoming Republican gathering in Memphis is 'Picking the next president'
Sheesh.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:34 amchris matthews is a phony. he trys to garner the right wing audience by kissin up to republicans. the truth and the country be dammed. keith olbermann's countdown has the best political analysis. hardball is in my recycle bin!!
March 7th, 2006 at 10:35 amI remember a few years ago hearing Tweety complain on the air that he couldn't get any Rethug guests, especially from Bushco to appear on his show – now he obviously has. Open mouth, insert c*ock of Rethug, pretend it's a microphone, and mumble his way through the interview. So it doesn't do any good to call him a c*cksucking wimp because that's what he sought all along: Public recognition.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:48 amOkay, I'll admit that I'm a proud liberal so I do have a bias against Matthews. He really is in the same idealogical league with O'Reilly and Hannity. Last night after watching him kiss Boehner's butt and try to put words into Boehner's mouth I wanted so much to bitch slap that little, wimpy, weasel to show what a wussy he is, I could hardly contain myself. He's like so many of the faux tough guys who proudly proclaim that they're "conservative Republicans". When you get one of those wimps on the street they show just how cowardly they really are because they can only bully women and old people.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:55 amDON'T WATCH MATTHEWS
His ratings have been going up and he feels powerfull. He has always been a Repuglican. He voted for Bush in 2000.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:58 amHe only voted in 2004 against him because of the Iraq War.
That is the only thing that he did not support. He is not a reputable journalist. He is a political insider who spends too much time at Washington parties. Don't watch. Read about it in the blogs. You arn't missing anything. Watching and e-mailing only adds fuel to his fire. He is looking to be the next O'Reilly.
Matthews is a suck ass.........
March 7th, 2006 at 11:11 am"You can see this man's greatness."
March 7th, 2006 at 11:15 amIf you look carefully, you can also see Matthew's lip prints on the Boehner's butt-cheek!. Someone probably already said this (I haven't read the comments yet) but Matthews has a boner for Boehner!
You've got to hand it to the Tweets.
Rude, always at max volume, a sycophant, and still he's a ratings celler-dweller.
I'm in a sloppy cable market in which 'Hardball' always comes on late, late, late; and am forever remembering Fitzgerald, as I grope for the meaning of Matthews, "In the deep dark night of the soul, it's always three o'clcok in the morning."
March 7th, 2006 at 11:20 amMarch 7th, 2006 at 11:25 am
March 7th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Greatness????!!!! You've got to be kidding me!!
Oh, Chris.... please just stop. The comment was obviously partisan and unworthy of anyone claiming to be a "journalist". If anything, it smacks of hero worship by the press of the strongmen in power. If Matthews had worked for Pravda back in the day he would probably have used the same line to wrap up an interview with Stalin.
Sycophant much?
March 7th, 2006 at 11:34 am"We’ll be right back with House Majority Leader John Boehner. You can see this man’s greatness.
It is not clear from the transcript but, did Matthews bow down, kneel, and kiss Boehner’s feet while saying that?
Comment by Gregor Samsa — March 6, 2006 @ 6:15 pm"
While he was kneeling, I don't think he got as low as Boehner's feet.
Tweety is completely shameless. He's trying to become the GOP's prison beotch...
March 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am[...] Also, you guys could learn from One Good Move, and Think Progress in how they display links to multimedia graphically. You always want that visual hook to draw people in. [...]
March 7th, 2006 at 11:47 amI watch Matthews every evening,while eating dinner,and during the past few weeks I noticed, with guests, he had aggressively taken the Republicans and the administration to task on a number of issues. (was I the only one who noticed?) So when he spoke of Boehner's "greatness" I actually dropped my fork! I've never seen him suck up like this before last night.
March 7th, 2006 at 11:48 amAnyway, I caught only part of Lou Dobbs last night, but I swore he was saying something about CNN receiving heavy pressure to shut him up--Dobbs, I mean. And he seemed pretty indignant.
I also saw a portion of Wolf Blitzer (spelling?) in Dubai praising the UAE's security in that country's ports, describing the tech marvels, etc., that they were using to screen out problems, which I assume was meant to calm our fears about them managing our ports.
The point I'm making--these three incidences coming together in the same day, does it mean the administraion is in some manner threatening CNN? I mean, Chris Matthews was so weirdly obsequious last night, I was expecting him to finish with "It's Saturday Night Live!"
Am I imagining that CNN is caving in to pressure?
"another subtle hint"
subtle?
subtle?
subtle?
March 7th, 2006 at 11:52 amChris Matthews has the personality of a groupie. He seems to get wet over "tough" conservative for some reason. Maybe he's a male version of a "security mom."
He sure acts the part.
As to his venue and the one he's alleged to be interested in, the ratings at both MSNBC and Fox are declining, and they enjoy less and less credibility every day.
Progressives seem to have caught on to the need to disabuse the base of the notion that any cable news is worthy, just as right wing radio has done so successfully with the old "liberal news media" tag applied to middle of the road news outlets.
March 7th, 2006 at 11:54 amWill someone please answer why he's called "Tweety."
March 7th, 2006 at 11:54 amwhy do we even pay attention to this fool?
March 7th, 2006 at 12:07 pmthe more attention we give him, the higher his ratings will go.
just ignore him, quit watching him.
turn off nbc.
Why doesn't Tweets just get down on his knees and blow this guy on air? Then we'll know where he stands without his having to try to form a credible story.
March 7th, 2006 at 12:19 pm#89 Erica
March 7th, 2006 at 12:23 pmYou can add Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman to the list for this mental illness. They shake in fear of the word, Vagina.
They are cowards and fear strong women.
On the other hand, Ken Mehlman just hates vagina anyway,he is gay ya know!
Don't call it Hardball.
It's Brokeback Matthews.
March 7th, 2006 at 12:27 pmwhile Mathews very often disappoints, and I was disgusted by the Boehner interview, I do commend him for being a pitbull about Libbygate, Quailgate, and Rove-hole. I think he is probably right of center, but at least he does very often voraciously criticize the Repuglicans. Having said that, what is up with his lopsided weekly Friday night panel- Scarsborough, Tucker & Cosby?! All three from the right!
March 7th, 2006 at 12:57 pmChrissy is a democrat like crazy Zell is. What an asshole.
Grommyko.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:00 pmEverybody...get off Chris's back. I am an out-and-proud liberal Democrat who watches HARDBALL everyday. I truly believe he is one of the only pundits who are truly fair to both parties (or, in other words, I don't always agree with him and that's why I like him). I hate to admit this, but the new GOP Leader gave a very impressive interview. He talked very fairly and seemed MILES away from the partisan hackery of Delay. I even said to myself, "Hell, I like this guy." If Chris admires him, that's OK. That's not an endorsement of the Republican party, but admiration of a particular figure. Chris has also shown a lot of admiration for people like Joe Biden, Barak Obama, and pundit Bob Shrum...who are all on our side.
If anybody (and I mean ANYBODY) has been watching HARDBALL lately, you'd see how Chris has been aggressively going after this adminstration for all their mistakes...he talks about their incompetence every single day. For someone to say (like I saw in an earlier post) that he's trying to be the new Bill O'Reilly...that's about the most ridiculous comment I've ever read on these blogs!
March 7th, 2006 at 1:21 pm"You can see this man's greatness."????? What can possibly make this idiot say something like this? Oh wait, I know---because he said that "anybody" can beat Hillary Clinton, who is Matthews' bitch goddess obsession.
Thank you , oldtree, for helping me see how it can be that MSNBC keeps veering to the right whenever things get scary: it's owned by GE. Of course!
March 7th, 2006 at 1:22 pmWhat do you call a person who pleasures others for money?
March 7th, 2006 at 1:26 pmI do grant you all that he is obsessed with Hillary though. Don't know where that comes from.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:32 pmFor Chris Matthews, "interview" (with Republicans) has become synonymous with "blow job." Jeeze, being turned down as press secretary in the Clinton administration must have traumatized ol' Tweety to the point where he'll betray his country and even common sense to get revenge.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:36 pmComparing Chris Mathews to Keith Olberman is tantamount to comparing an amoeba with a multi-celled organism. Hell, Mathews is really more like a Hydra. The Hydra is an organism which eats and excretes out of the same orifice. That, is the real Mr. Mathews.
Intrepid Liberal Journal
March 7th, 2006 at 1:52 pmAnother reason I stopped watching Hardball and sent emails to MSNBC letting them know why. Matthews is an idiot! I can't wait till we get a Democrat congress, and/or President. Of course, he'll spend all his time then trying to tear them down. Moron!
March 7th, 2006 at 2:05 pmI've read several of these comments wondering why Chris seems to have such an obsession with Hillary. I too, was wondering the same and have sent several emails to his show asking him what is it so horrible about Hillary that he seems to be constantly obesessing about? I asked why because maybe he knows something I don't know about her. Obviously, it's just that he's an idiot. I never got an answer. Maybe he's a gay Republican and has a mother issue :-)
March 7th, 2006 at 2:10 pmI regularly watch Hardball and find that Chris goes schmoozy with the 2nd rate politicians - stroking their huge egos to get then talking.
If you saw him shut down Torie Clark a couple weeks ago you know he has no future at the FOX Propaganda Channel.
March 7th, 2006 at 2:29 pmI stopped watching Matthews for good about two months ago. He finally went over the edge for the final time in my book. (And, I had watched him for years.) Every time I read a report like this, I'm happier with my decision.
Trust me, you can get all the real news about his crap remarks on the web. You don't need to watch. So, I recommend that everyone STOP WATCHING HIM. If he loses his viewership, he'll change his tune and be fair-minded again, or he'll go off the air. Either way, it's a win for those who are sick of hearing about his school girl crush with Republicans.
It's just like voting -- but with your remote control.
March 7th, 2006 at 2:42 pmI'm curious DS...what caused him to go over the edge to you a couple of months ago?
March 7th, 2006 at 2:55 pmHardball? Chris Matthews did all but kiss Boehner's ring. See this man's greatness? - You have got to be having a laugh! We'll see how many lobbyist reforms get thru under this Republican crook. Boehner is proof that there should be term limits.
Gee Chris - we all know how worse off the USA would be with EVERYONE entitled to affordable health care a la Hillarycare. You & Boehner are just 2 typical ball-less Republicans who feel manly bashing Hillary. Why don't you both take a viagra?
March 7th, 2006 at 3:00 pmEverybody's a socialist. Mankind is essentially social. Anybody who believes in working for the benefit of society is a socialist. Anybody who wants to help other people. Anybody is a socialist if they believe in cooperation.
Progress is social. War is anti-social.
March 7th, 2006 at 3:02 pmI am beyond disgusted with this type of talking head bullshit. Why they even pretend that they are anything but completely partisan is beyond me. They smile and laugh at all of us dummies out here in the real world who think that they are prejudiced and partisan when the only thing missing from their shows is campaign buttons or posters and T-shirts for their favorite party.
March 7th, 2006 at 3:07 pmRelax and leave off all the graphic hate-er-ating. I watch Matthews regularly and, as some posters have mentioned, he is mad as hell about and obsessed with the warantless wiretaps; he rode DeLay's indictment for a long time, spending multiple segments a night on it; he spent countless days covering Scooter Libby's indictment and Rove's role in the Plame affair; etc. etc. etc.
Whoever equated him to Zell Miller must not know the history. Matthews, who used to work for Jimmy Carter, berated Michelle Malkin on the air when she wouldn't back up the point she was trying to make; Zell Miller subsequently challenged him to a duel for treating her so rough.
As for his atrocious Friday night panel, I hate it too, but you'll notice they are the other three prominent MSNBC talking heads. It's about corporate synergy and cross-promotion (not that that's good journalism), not promoting a right-wing agenda. When Ron Reagan is working for MSNBC he gets a lot of play on Hardball too. Matthrews also speaks up for David Gregory, about how proud he is to be a colleague (of sorts) with the NBC reporter, because of the way Gregory pounds Scott McClellan into the podium every day.
Finally MSNBC is not gonna dump Matthews. And if they did, you all would hardly have improved the channel by leaving it to Rita Crosby and Joe Scarborough.
March 7th, 2006 at 3:13 pmI’m more in the tradition of Bill O’Reilly. Sean Hannity. Chris Matthews…†He is not talking about ideology there. They are all Irish guys with a clear first name and last name. That is a very dishonest pull from the story.
March 7th, 2006 at 3:56 pmI'm 62 years old, and I can say with confidence, "Tip would be so ashamed of Chris Matthews."
March 7th, 2006 at 4:00 pmMr. Hahdball is cut from the same cloth as Tim Russert. Afraid to ask the hard questions. At least Russert doesn't run off at the mouth like Cris does. What a waste of time these guys have become.
March 7th, 2006 at 4:06 pmre: "The name of the show ought to be changed to “T-ball.â€
Comment by c u n d gulag — March 6, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
or maybe, spitballs, cuz he has a lot of trouble 'saying' it without 'spraying' it.
.
.
re: "All he cares about is trying to make the money that O’Reilly and Hannity do."
Comment by Rich — March 6, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
he actually stated, on the very same show, something to the effect of 'i am...er...was working class myself'
i wonder how his newly-obvious partisanship will play out when or if he tours college campuses this year like he did last year?
March 7th, 2006 at 4:30 pmI was wondering, now that Matthews brother is the Republican candidate for PA Lt. Gov, how long before he went in the tank for the Repubs.
I guess we know now. Those commenst and his Friday shows with Carlson & Scarbough attackin anythin remotly non Republican.
March 7th, 2006 at 5:06 pmPoor Chrissy Matthews. No matter how she slanders her nemesis, Chrissy can't quite give herself permission to hit a girl.
Push her in the mud, call her names, lie to her friends, sure! But, if poor Chrissy up and pastes Hillary a good one, the boys won't ever let her in the treehouse.
March 7th, 2006 at 5:20 pmWhen are we going to be rid of tweety? A boycott of MSNBC and their sponsors, protesting outside his mansion, or is it a penthouse? He's become nothing more that a tv Limbaugh! Enough is enough!
March 7th, 2006 at 5:47 pmNatives, of course MSNBC won't dump Matthews aka Tweety. They want him to go down with the ship. MSNBC is in the crapper and sinking fast.
March 7th, 2006 at 5:51 pmfor a real look at boehner and the greatness he achieved by giving his buddies at sallie mae a sweet deal on student loans that eliminated competition, go to studentloanjustice.org.
bring your pepto.
March 7th, 2006 at 6:17 pmMatthews in his eternal search for greatness in the GOP-might as well look for virginity in a cathouse
March 7th, 2006 at 7:11 pmyep. you could see john boehner's greatness on display when HE WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HANDING OUT CHECKS FROM LOBBYISTS TO HIS REPUBLICAN BRETHREN.
that's greatness.
and the right doesn't fear hillary so much as they hate her. they know the rules - there's no such thing as bad publicity. they want her to win the nomination in 2008, because they know, as all democrats should know as well...
HILLARY CAN'T WIN!
this 'angry' hillary thing - it's a ploy. they're giving her all the talk and attention so she'll be the obvious frontrunner.
but...
HILLARY CAN'T WIN!
(not that i have anything against her personally)
March 7th, 2006 at 7:27 pmThanks for the tip, Joe -- I went to studentjustice.org. Wow. I also went to generationdebt.org. This makes me sick. Looks like that student loan legislation was bought and paid for and on John Boehner's watch! I have a kid in college and I just realized that if the parents of the 30 million college kids out there had given Boehner a nickle, we could have outbid Sallie Mae and prevented ourselves from being screwed! I wonder if it's too late for us to buy our own legislation......
For the record, I am a republican.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:08 pmIs Hillary a Socialist?...
One of my readers sent a link to this....
March 7th, 2006 at 8:45 pmChris Matthews has severe issues with the Clintons,Both Hillary and Bill. If he only knew how to be objective!!
Bill CLinton probably will be re-elected, if he could run.
Chris; It is onething to be critical, and another to be just ignorant. It would be best for you to come out and admit you hate the Clintons and just leave it at that rather then constantly being obssessed with them. IS Rove a relative or a paying customer? He is obssessed with Hillary as well
March 7th, 2006 at 8:57 pmSO shut the fuck up Chris
Matthews often brings up the name of Tip O'Neil (sic) as a way of trying to present himself as an objective commentator although he really leans to the right. Yes he is hard on Bush and the competence of the admin but it is not too hard a call to make if you want to appear somewhat sane. He leaves the hard insantity to the Fox group of idiots with their mistress of the night Anne Coulter. Wolf Blizter and Andrea Mitchell are two others that try to appear as objective journalist commentators but really are closet righties. Thank God for Jack Rafferty who really should have a longer program but the corporate media seem to tolerate him in their pursuit to fool the public again that they are objective. And people have the nerve to lambast the "liberal" media. If you say it often enough people will believe. One has to accept this as a truism as enough people bought into it as they bought into electing Bush for President (talking here about the second time).
March 7th, 2006 at 10:34 pmYou could not see it but after the segment was over Boehner zipped his fly and miss criss got up off his knees!
March 7th, 2006 at 10:35 pmMatthews also divulged in today's episode of "Hardball" that he doesn't support abortion rights.
How does anybody get away with trying to pass him off as a liberal?
March 8th, 2006 at 2:41 amIt makes me wonder where all these Republican ass kissers will go after the elections in Congress this year. MSNBC has been going Conservative for a long time now. They don't report the news, they invent it. Matthews will be flip flopping after the elections and you can tell him to keep on kissing the Republicans asses then.
March 8th, 2006 at 9:36 amI used to like Matthews but my God--the man has become another Rebublicon/Busite, ass kissing, Kool aide drinking fool and another RNC hack portraying a "journalist.'
I came up with a funny little line about faux news: "FOX News--not a real news network but it plays one on television."
March 8th, 2006 at 11:46 amUhhh, isn't "Chris" and "Matthew" two first names? Sure, he adds an "S" to the last name, but is that really any different? And both "Anderson" and "Cooper" have been first names since colonial days.
Hardball has never been that hard for the RightWing. Chris serves up softballs to the criminals on the Right and then sends them off with a BJ.
Where were the tough questions on lobbyists (Boehner's whole family are lobbyists) or any of the ethical issues that sunk his predecessor? No where. If he'd asked something hard hitting, he'd stop getting people on his little show.
He's a coward. I haven't watched him for years.
March 8th, 2006 at 5:19 pm#126 - Futureboy
March 8th, 2006 at 10:50 pmYou are in the wrong place. This isn't a home to reason, only anger and hatred for not towing the socialist line. Freedom will not be tolerated!
I enjoy your show most of the time. I just wish you woud give your guest time to speak before you cut them off. YOU COULD STILL KEEP THE SHOW MOVING. Does anyone else out there feel the same way?
March 10th, 2006 at 1:56 pmThanks for a lovely site, I am very impressed :-)
February 16th, 2007 at 11:58 am