Think Progress

‘I don’t have my glasses on.’

By Nico Pitney on Mar 21st, 2007 at 10:42 pm

‘I don’t have my glasses on.’»

Markos highlighted this exchange from Tom Delay’s appearance today on Hardball:

Matthews grilled DeLay about passages in his book where he apparently ripped into fellow corrupt Texan Dick Armey, eventually asking the Hammer about describing Armey as “drunk with ambition.” DeLay denied writing that. “I wrote that he was ‘blinded by his ambition.’” Matthews starts flipping though the book and finds the “drunk with ambition” quote and reads it to Bug Man. And DeLay keeps denying it. Finally, Chris hands the book to Tom and tells him to read it himself. DeLay looks down, pauses, and says “I don’t have my glasses.”

Watch it:

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76 Responses to “‘I don’t have my glasses on.’”

  1. Karp's disciple Says:

    Sounds to me like Jake, patrick1, roger-roger and all the other trolls who can’t ‘fess up to facts.


  2. -epm Says:

    It’s like a scene for Alice in Wonderland. As cliché as that is, I’m at a loss for a better analogy.

    And, dear God! Exactly WHAT does a Republican have to do to NOT be treated as a legitimate spokesman for ANYTHING to do with news, journalism or the advancement of the public dialog?!


  3. Zooey Says:

    Awwww, did Tweety break up with the Bug Man?

    Say it ain’t so!


  4. dlet Says:

    DeLay should check his ass for his glasses.


  5. Augustus Says:

    What is most telling is not that discrepancy in the wording, but the complete and total unwillingness to admit any error, any mistake, no matter how small, no matter how dead-to-right you’ve been contradicted.

    It’s frightening that so many Republicans who are just like him in that regard have any power whatsoever. Inhofe (the Republican senator from Oklahoma who believes Global Warming is a hoax) is another example. It’s worse than arguing with Holocaust deniers because that harm has passed; if these people get their way, our nation will be bankrupt and the planet we live on will increasingly uninhabitable.

    I doubt God has ever cared much about politics, but I’m increasingly starting to suspect that there’s a special place in hell for these people and their supporters.


  6. zappodave Says:

    How dare you all! Of course Delay is telling the truth when he says he doesn’t know what he wrote in “his” book, he had a ghost writer. If Matthews was an actual Journalist, his next question would have been if Delay actually wrote his own book or had a ghost writer. (He finally admitted to having a ghost writer on his blog)

    Bravo! For Tom Delay embracing honesty and telling the truth that he doesn’t know what’s written in his own book.


  7. brad Says:

    Why is this indited con man on TV at all! Why when he is on does no one bring up his ethics violations. He was on meet the press telling exmilitary officers that they are unpatriotic and hurting the nation, like violating congressional ethics rules is really good for the nation. They should not let him host a birthday party at burger king let alone be on a MSM TV show.


  8. Wayne Says:

    Awwww, did Tweety break up with the Bug Man?

    Say it ain’t so!
    Comment by Zooey

    LOL

    And they made such a nice OK butt ugly couple too.


  9. joe cantwell Says:

    tom’s a perfect fit for fox news channel.


  10. Wayne Says:

    DeLay should check his ass for his glasses.
    Comment by dlet

    He didn’t write the book, could tell that for sure.


  11. DoingNuance Says:

    Drunk with vs blinded by - is this really such a hot catch? Is this substantive? We can find better things to attack Delay on.


  12. gummitch Says:

    He didn’t write the book, could tell that for sure.

    Comment by Wayne

    That was my immediate reaction. He might have read it, though, or at least the dirty bits.


  13. Rocks911 Says:

    What an asshat!
    The perfect posterboy for the perpetually confused neofascist world domination wannabe’s, can’t recognize his own mental vomit.

    Go away old man your time has passed.


  14. Wayne Says:

    Bravo! For Tom Delay embracing honesty and telling the truth that he doesn’t know what’s written in his own book.
    Comment by zappodave

    Hahahaha…….

    I laughed so hard watching that clip.


  15. Devil's Advocate Says:

    DeLay cannot even acknowledge what is written in his book? He is obviously totally demented.


  16. Ancient Purple Says:

    Drunk with vs blinded by - is this really such a hot catch? Is this substantive? We can find better things to attack Delay on.

    Comment by DoingNuance — March 21, 2007 @ 11:03 pm

    No, the difference is not the big catch. The big catch is that DeLay, even now, can never admit that he is in the wrong. His ego is so inflated he can’t possibly ever see himself as a human being capable of mistakes.

    Why would anyone want that kind of hubris in a so-called government servant?


  17. Zappatero Says:

    ‘member when Chris said “I owe you one.”?


  18. n69n Says:

    doesnt have his glasses but *does* have his wig.


  19. GSD Says:

    Delay needs his glasses in order to see the truth. Haaaaa…

    -GSD


  20. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid. Says:

    “Never Surrender.” … except when confronted with the truth.

    What a spineless worm!!


  21. AboveTheClouds Says:

    Matthews is such a shit–he gives airtime to Delay who is pimping his book “No Retreat, No Surrender” that details his defeat and surrender–and it turns out Delay doesn’t even know what’s in his own damn book. There must be something VERY BIG coming with this US Atty mess because if all the GOP has to push in front of the TV camera to defend their cause is disgraced Republican ex-Congressman Tom Delay, they are screwed.


  22. Tom Says:

    Little Tommy hasn’t been able to find his glasses for years. They are lost in his dresser drawer . . . along with his moral compass.


  23. VerbalKint Says:

    We should recruit Tom to join Team Troll here at TP. He would fit right in.


  24. klaus Says:

    sneer. How pathetic the GOP looks without power.


  25. Zooey Says:

    He didn’t write the book, could tell that for sure.
    Comment by Wayne

    Hell, the Bug Man didn’t even READ the book he didn’t write.


  26. AboveTheClouds Says:

    You would think Delay would have at least read the damn thing before he handed out copies to his close friends like Matthews who reads and talks about this kind of shit for a living. Delay was acting surprised that Matthews actually asked him questions about the book–at FOX they just fawn over and give him the victim status that he hides so well behind.


  27. Wayne Says:

    We should recruit Tom to join Team Troll here at TP. He would fit right in.
    Comment by VerbalKint

    Think he may already be here posting under Patrick1. /snark


  28. shane Says:

    His ego is so inflated he can’t possibly ever see himself as a human being capable of mistakes.

    Why would anyone want that kind of hubris in a so-called government servant?

    Comment by Ancient Purple — March 21, 2007 @ 11:08 pm

    On the plus side it will make it more fun when he finally goes to trial. I’m thinking Jack Nicholson in a few good men. teehee


  29. shane Says:

    We should recruit Tom to join Team Troll here at TP. He would fit right in.

    Comment by VerbalKint — March 21, 2007 @ 11:17 pm

    It seems like he can’t write or read so he could have problems.


  30. AboveTheClouds Says:

    Delay on trial? And you thought Libby’s attorneys had a hard time finding a friendly jury.


  31. buzzbomb Says:

    We should recruit Tom to join Team Troll here at TP. He would fit right in.

    Comment by VerbalKint

    Apologize to Patrick1, RogX2, and Jake. Making them work with Delay, thats just mean.


  32. buzzbomb Says:

    I wonder who many houses Delay poisoned in his days as bugkiller. The reason he joined politics is because the government was banning his favorite chemicals.


  33. Fred Says:

    “No Retreat, No Surrender” From the guy who quit his term before it ended, only to have his seat replaced by a democrat. the only better was on election night it was his seat that make the democratic majority official… announced live on Faux news. It was something I’ll never forget.


  34. Robert Says:

    Rules of “I did not Write My Autobiography Club”

    1. You really should read the book before it gets published.
    2. If you disobeyed #1, you really should read the book after it gets published.
    3. If someone reads from the book and it doesn’t sound quite right - too late - you can’t deny it.

    Three strikes and you are OUT.


  35. Mike Politik Says:

    I am glad the Dems like Boxer are revoking these guys man cards (Ahem, Imhofe lost his today). They really have no balls. He cant even man up to his own claims on national tv.


  36. AboveTheClouds Says:

    Delay is a mess. Matthews fawning all over him is a disgrace–just like flies on dogshit. Delay on TV should tell you all you need to know about the shape of the GOP today. And Bush wonders why his approval rating is stuck around 30%.


  37. Lora Says:

    DeLay cannot even acknowledge what is written in his book? He is obviously totally demented.
    Comment by Devil’s Advocate

    It’s quite possible that all those bug poisons he used professionally caused a bit (or more) of brain damage.


  38. Fred Says:

    I just searched 45 pages of pictures on google… someone find me a single picture of tis asshat wearing glasses.


  39. DM Says:

    It was a funny clip, but unworthy of slamming DeLay.

    Not that you need new material to do that. He’s a human bullseye.


  40. JPark Says:

    Why is he on Matthews (pun intended) and not in prison?


  41. JPark Says:

    #39 DM, he refused to admit what he “wrote” in his book? He is a liar. Why is that unworthy of slamming Delay?



  42. Christian in NYC Says:

    Some of the most skull-clutching-est pathetic moments of a Republican on TV since. . . uh, when was that Bush press conference? Yesterday?


  43. hterrya Says:

    I have this sneaking suspicion that DeLay knew that his ghost writer had called Dick Armey (I’m sad to say that that Dick was my so-called representative for several years) a “drunk with ambition.”

    I think Hammerhead was depending on Chris to be in such a druken stupor himself that he couldn’t find the passage before Hammerhead’s little act was off the air. And, that would have been a good guess on his part. At this point, Chris was coherent enough to find the passage. Chris - 1, Hammerhead - 0! (Truth - 1,000,000, Chris - 1!)

    Sadly, the Bug Man’s comment in the book about Armey being a “drunk with ambition” (even if written by someone else) is DeLay’s first truth EVER!


  44. Gregor Samsa Says:

    Seems to me the trolls here at ThinkProgress went to the Delay Academy of Higher Troll Learning.

    They have the same MO of denying the painfully obvious.


  45. ManipulationNation Says:

    Tom DeLay was on Meet the Press this past Sunday. Russert asked him a softball question about whether the Iraq War has been worth it so far, and DeLay answered by saying that it’s been four years since we were attacked by terrorists. The transcript of the question and answer is below.

    It’s incredible to me that DeLay, in broad daylight, would give an answer that so directly links the 9/11 attacks that took place 5 1/2 years ago with Iraq when that link has been completely discredited. Even Bush said so directly.

    Either (a) he thinks that his audience is people who don’t pay attention to politics (but those people probably don’t watch Meet the Press), (b) he thinks people will believe him simply because by virtue of his looks and force of personality, or (c) he is showing the same arrogance that he showed on Hardball. Regardless, the truth be damned; he’ll say whatever is most expedient.

    Transcript:

    MR. RUSSERT: And we’re back. Welcome all. The war in Iraq four years old, and let me show you some of the numbers after the first four years. U.S. troops killed, 3,192; US troops wounded, 24,042. The cost is $351 billion. If you include budget requests, it would be about $500 billion. And the Iraqi civilian deaths, some 54,000.

    Congressman DeLay, is the war in Iraq worth the cost in life and treasure?

    FMR. REP. TOM DeLAY (R-TX): Well, you said it yourself, Tim. It’s been four years since America has been attacked by these terrorists. We seem to forget that we are at war, and when you’re at war, you’ve got to fight that war to win rather than fight the war for political posturing. We have been fighting that war. Sure, it–it’s been tough. We’ve had to write a complete new war manual on how to fight terrorists that want to kill women and children. If you compared that note to, say, the Vietnam war in the same period of time, you’re talking about much more in casualties and, and relative spending. I think if we keep our eye on the ball, and that is to put terrorists in a cell or a cemetery, no matter where you find them, I think we are winning this war.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17628142/page/2/


  46. Topper Says:

    Don’t you wish that Tweety would spend his time and energy grilling thugs about more important issues than wording, as amusing it is to see that DeLay hasn’t read his “own” book. This is another example of the triviality of the press and TV media: Oooh! Delay said something nasty about Dick Army….Cat fight!” The MSM is obsessed with this kind of side show, and we all suffer.


  47. Heynow Says:

    Dumb ass fools…


  48. Americans for a Republican Irrelevancy Says:

    I think Matthews point is very telling. It’s the Wingnut approach to facts - if I close my eyes (or don’t bring my glasses) it doesn’t really exist, right?


  49. Red Bear Walking Says:

    You have to give the Bugman his due, his book is selling better than Boortzs’ literary washout,Delay’s book dropped from a high of around #38 Monday, to #87 today on Barnes and Nobles Hourly 100. Boortz on the other isn’t even ranked in the top 100!


  50. DRxJ Says:

    This brings up a very good point. Even when presented with facts that reveal a lie, the republicans still try to cover their a$$, no matter how childish it appears.
    It’s obviously their M.O.A.
    Case in point 1) Why can’t Rove and Mier testify under oath, if they’ve nothing to hide?
    Case in point 2) How can President Dubya declare executive priviledge, when he knew nothing about the firings?

    It is quite a joy, though, to observe this train wreck of an administration slowly crash and burn. It almost (key word, almost) rectifies the 2004 presidential elections


  51. DM Says:

    #41 I think it’s silly to assume that he wrote it. Celebrities rarely write their own books.


  52. otilie Says:

    They are dorks.


  53. Tsop Says:

    Can you imagine that this lying criminal was the Speaker of the House? More and more he is looking like a bad cartoon character.


  54. veritas Says:

    Yowie! What a buffoon extraordinaire!! What I believe Demented DeLay intended to say was that he didn’t have his “brains on”…. He didn’t know what he had written? Either it’s senile dementia or this thug didn’t write his own book. I suspect a combination of the two.

    What’s an indicted criminal doing parading before the people? John Couey certainly didn’t make the talk show circuit. Get this guy in the slammer and keep him there. He doesn’t deserve to be out gadding about town after all he’s done.


  55. veritas Says:

    #54 It’s only now that the bulk of the american people are beginning to realize and see the dispicable individuals who were running this country when this gang of criminals (Rethugs) ran the congress. Wow! What an eye opener? I suspect that NO Republican will be elected to office now for at least a decade or two.
    And that means ALL REPUBLICANS - unless/until each one of them separate themselves by using their conscience instead of party politics - and soon. Those with the courage to stand up for truth and represent the majority of americans may be spared and allowed to continue to serve; the others like Inhofe and his sorry, dinosaur-ilk will be swiftly ejected when their term expires.


  56. Rocks911 Says:

    ManipulationNation,

    I’ve gotta say that “(a) he thinks that his audience is people who don’t pay attention to politics (but those people probably don’t watch Meet the Press)” is correct.

    I work as fireman in a Dallas suburb and have for twenty years. I mention that because I think we are a pretty representative group of mostly WASP’s that consider themselves informed. But I must say that the apparent level of understanding of issues facing this country as exhibited around the kitchen table is frighteningly ignorant. For the most part (almost entirely) if a T.V. is on, it’s on FOX news and my fellow firefighters spew out just what the talking points are.

    Rupert Murdoch is an evil genius.

    I happen to have liberal leanings, although when compared with other Texans that means that I might hesitate before crucifying someone for not having a W sticker on their bumper, which is to say that on a continuum I’m left of center but how much is debatable.

    I was actually asked by a younger firefighter, a firefighter in his 30’s, “whats the difference between Democrats and Republicans anyways?” I asked if he had been voting his adult life and he said that he had. I asked how he decided who to vote for and he responded that he has always voted Republican because his parents always did. THIS GUY IS 35!

    I walked in to the station a couple of days ago and an older firefighter, one the guys respect, was spouting the FOX line, looking all indignant he was ranting that “Clinton did it” in reference to US attorneys firings, and continued to rant about the congress. It never occurred to anyone in the room that using US attorneys as political operatives might be a bad thing for our country. It’s just sooooo disheartening.

    So yes I think that those that see themselves as being represented by Tom DeLay are inclined to support him regardless of their ignorance of politics or more specifically his potentially illegal acts.

    Sheep, man sheep, being spoon fed by a tyrant named Murdoch.


  57. mroom Says:

    By his own admission, Tommy boy can’t write very well. He leaves that to other people. (he said this when he started his “blog.”) It’s no surprise he doesn’t know what’s in his book. He’s probably never read it either. He has people to do that for him, too.


  58. Com-n-sense Says:

    I fired off a email to MSNBC the minute I saw DeLie was a guest. I am simply amazed that anyone still invites this maggot of a man on their shows as anyone that has any credibility at all. Why DeLie isn’t in jail is a mystery, let alone he’s STILL being toted as a voice for the “right”.

    Oh well, so be it … if the repukes want this maggot as their spokesman I guess they can have him. He certainly falls into the same class (or lack thereof) as ann (hate speech) cuntler, rush (pill-popper) limpballs, glenn (WTF did I say) beck, bill (call me ) O’Lielly and mike (yes I am) savage.


  59. Zeke Says:

    Is anyone really surprised by this?

    This is one of the first things taught in Republican 101.

    Lie, Lie and Lie again. And when you’re caught in a lie, lie your way out of it. Even if the truth is as handed to you, in your own words, printed in YOUR book in black and white, change the subject, say you don’t recall, say ANYTHING, do ANYTHING just DON’T even think about admitting that you lied.

    It’s worked well for them for years so why change the playbook now?


  60. Marie Says:

    The former bug man pays a ghost writer to pen a book in his name, so he can go on the usual shows to promote it. He doesn’t read it but likely relied upon a summary and the “faithful” ghost writer.
    I am furious that Matthews and others are legitimizing crud like Delay, but I take some satisfaction in seeing Delay displaying himself as a jackass.


  61. Jamie Kinstle Wapakoneta OH Says:

    Its obvious that the leftwing publishers manipulated the text to make Tom look bad. After that frame job the libs did to him on campaign finance they try this crap. He told it like it was though - Dems are the enemy!


  62. Marie Says:

    Matthews much prefers to steer his show toward gossip, sex and manufactured catfights between candidates — he is no better than a pimp for the whores he features as guests. Ever see how he drools and fawns over Norah O’Donnell and other pretty women in the news?


  63. big papa Says:

    Tom Delay has the kind of smug arrogance…

    …only prison and poverty can erase…

    …they can’t convict and imprison this criminal fast enough for me…

    …look up “louse” in the dictionary…

    …and Delay’s picture is there…


  64. big papa Says:

    Ever see how he drools and fawns over Norah O’Donnell and other pretty women in the news?

    Comment by Marie #62

    Norah O’Donnel is NOT “pretty”…

    …she’s pasty and translucent…

    …and inwardly…

    …shallow and overly ambitious…


  65. EPF Says:

    More like Pakistani eye goggles, I’d gander, eh Tom?


  66. theRealist Says:

    Where are the trolls on this one?

    Speak up! I need a laugh!

    Did you hear DeLay’s interview on NPR? This man makes me sick.


  67. R Says:

    I love it when bug-eyed malcontents are put on the spot and thier head is made to spin uncontrollably. Why isn’t that putz in jail, yet? Some of the boys were saying that thier conjugal visits were denied and they’re looking for a little, in-house action to relieve some of the in-house stress. -heh- Hey, Tom, bend over and pick up that piece of paper, would you?


  68. swordsbane Says:

    “Never Surrender.” … except when confronted with the truth.

    What a spineless worm!!

    Comment by And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid. — March 21, 2007 @ 11:10 pm

    Apparently it’s: Never Surrender…. EVEN when confronted by the truth.

    …their own little world….


  69. tom baker Says:

    What’s next for Matthews - an exclusive O.J. Simpson interview??

    How’s the bottom of the barrel lookin there, Chris??


  70. Tom DeLay Says:

    I meant to write that Dick Armey was “blind drunk” with ambition.


  71. Parrotlover77 Says:

    HAHA. I’m surprised I didn’t hear him say “I was clearly told by my editor that he–I mean I– wrote he was blinded.”


  72. Raymond Funamoto Says:

    READ’EM AND WEEP, DeLay, YOU REPULSIVE VERMIN!!!!! Armey IS A repugnant-repub rightwingnut crank fudge-pachyderm BUT AT LEAST HE’S THREE TIMES THE MAN YA ARE, AND THAT’S NOT SAYING MUCH!!!!!


  73. circusfifthfloor Says:

    How bloody stupid are the people in his district to have elected him again and again? Amazing!!!!!


  74. later Says:

    The man is a piece of work. I mean completely entertaining. Keep him going, please. He does far more good for the cause of the sane these days.


  75. Liberals deserve death (at the very least) at Antony Loewenstein Says:

    […] Republican clown Tom Delay - a man with a fondness for corruption - has just released a book (what, the man can write and embezzle funds at the same time?) During his book tour, virtually […]



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