Chris Matthews, on the syndicated "The Chris Matthews Show" over the weekend, likened Dick Cheney's recent media appearances, to defend the Bush administration and to criticize Obama on national security policy, to Glenn Close's stalker character from the 1987 film "Fatal Attraction." Before playing a clip of the movie Matthews made the cinematic comparison: "Well some say Cheney's refusal to move on reminds them of Groundhog Day but you could also say it's like that more frighteningly relentless Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction.' Like Cheney she was not gonna be ignored." After playing the clip in which the Close character utters the famous quote, "I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan." Matthews then threw it to Newsweek's Howard Fineman:
MATTHEWS: Howard what do you think? Cheney? "Fatal Attraction?" What do make? Will not be ignored, this guy.
HOWARD FINEMAN, NEWSWEEK: Ha, ha. Yeah, yeah I don't think he's going to boil the rabbit. Let's put it that way.
MATTHEWS: Or come out of that bathtub like that other scene in that movie! Everybody is gonna go see Fatal Attraction again.
The following is the full exchange as it was aired on the May 17 edition of "The Chris Matthews Show":
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Before we break a lighter note. One thing is clear about Dick Cheney. He's redefining what it means to be a former vice president. When Cheney left office the world was his oyster. He could have gone the corporate route like Al Gore. He could have played golf like Dan Quayle or he could have held court, out in that GOP stronghold of McLean, Virginia hosting Republican soirees like Perle Mesta used to do for the Democrats back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. On his way out Cheney gave no clue that he had a brand new view of life after the vice presidency. That he was not taking his 19 percent approval rating and going home. Now he keeps making it very clear he ain't getting off the stage.
DICK CHENEY ON "FACE THE NATION": If I don't speak out then where do we find ourselves Bob? Then, then the critics have free run and there isn't anybody there on the other side to, to tell the truth.
MATTHEWS: Well some say Cheney's refusal to move on reminds them of Groundhog Day but you could also say it's like that more frighteningly relentless Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction." Like Cheney she was not gonna be ignored.
(Begin clip from "Fatal Attraction")
MICHAEL DOUGLAS AS DAN GALLAGHER: I don't know what you're up to but I'm gonna tell you it's gonna stop right now.
GLENN CLOSE AS ALEX FORREST: No it's not gonna stop. It's gonna go on and on until you face up to your responsibilities.
GALLAGHER: What responsibilities?!
FORREST: I just want to be a part of your life.
GALLAGHER: Oh this is the way you do it, huh?! Show up at my apartment?!
FORREST: Well what am I supposed to do. You won't answer my calls, you change your number. I'm, I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan.
GALLAGHER: You don't get it, you just, you don't get it.
(End clip)
MATTHEWS: Howard what do you think? Cheney? "Fatal Attraction?" What do make? Will not be ignored, this guy.
HOWARD FINEMAN, NEWSWEEK: Ha, ha. Yeah, yeah I don't think he's going to boil the rabbit. Let's put it that way.
MATTHEWS: Or come out of that bathtub like that other scene in that movie! Everybody is gonna go see "Fatal Attraction" again.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
crissy matthews is accusing
May 18, 2009 - 15:41 ET by Texasteachercrissy matthews is accusing someone of being a "stalker"?????
"Hi Pot, this is Kettle - You're black."
What's funny is that little crissy doesn't have the balls to have Cheney on his show to talk about it.
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Hi Tt... I, for one, would
May 18, 2009 - 15:46 ET by bigtimerHi Tt...
I, for one, would hope that Cheney would never, ever step foot on Matthews show.
We all know he would wipe the floor with Matthews and have plenty to wring out after the mop up...but please don't bother even going on that low-life slug's show.
Just my opinion.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
You would think Matthews
May 18, 2009 - 18:19 ET by kgYou would think Matthews would realize that Democrats who still wants Bush hung and wouldn't move on are the people that started this whole mess.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
kg... Exactly. Doubling
May 18, 2009 - 18:35 ET by bigtimerkg...
Exactly.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Please
May 18, 2009 - 21:41 ET by Texndoc"Democrats who still want Bush hung..."
Please remember in the future the correct phrase would be "Democrats who still want Bush hanged...." We don't need "hung" in any Chrissie "tingles" post.
ROFL Tnd... Uh-Oh...another
May 18, 2009 - 21:55 ET by bigtimerROFL Tnd...
Uh-Oh...another non-PC snafu...
Right you are...
'Hanged' it is...we wouldn't want Sissy Chrissie upset.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Cheney worries
May 18, 2009 - 15:49 ET by 10ksnookerpissy ...
Does Matthews Broadcast From A Lunatic Asylum?
May 18, 2009 - 15:53 ET by rammingspeedThis analogy doesn't even make sense. But who cares? It's progressive TV, where you can say anything you want. Chris Matthews is getting more and more stupid, and it seems as though he's doing it on purpose. Wait, MSNBC's ratings and reputation are in the crapper? Guess Matthews is just fighting for his professional life. Who can blame him?
This is where Matthews
May 18, 2009 - 15:54 ET by QueenMumThis is where Matthews shows he doesn't understand anything about a man who actually cares about his country and keeping it safe:
"One thing is clear about Dick Cheney. He's redefining what it means to
be a former vice president. When Cheney left office the world was his
oyster. He could have gone the corporate route like Al Gore. He could
have played golf like Dan Quayle or he could have held court, out in
that GOP stronghold of McLean, Virginia hosting Republican soirees like
Perle Mesta used to do for the Democrats back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. On
his way out Cheney gave no clue that he had a brand new view of life
after the vice presidency."
Corporate route "like Al Gore"? Oh yeah. Al Gore is completely off the stage and busy attending to "business". Ha!
You wish Dick Cheney would just go away, Matthews. That would make it a lot easier for you to do the bidding of the Obama adminstration.
GO CAVS!!!!!
Exactly QM...plus Matthews
May 18, 2009 - 16:00 ET by bigtimerExactly QM...plus Matthews has such a personal vendetta against Cheney it is sick...I mean mentally sick...the only place he has ever wanted to see Cheney go is behind bars...he has been on a one-man band at times to see that is done, and he has failed every step, every word he spews along with his spittle is pure madness when it comes to VP Cheney...it has been disgusting to watch over the years.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Uh oh
May 18, 2009 - 15:59 ET by SickofLibsDoesn't Tingles know by now that 'bathtub' comments on NBC are strictly verboten?
This moron wants to be taken seriously?
May 18, 2009 - 16:11 ET by mattmWhy not play a clip of Cheney and try to refute what he says? Why not have Cheney on your show? What, are you afraid that tingle will turn into a sting when Cheney cleans your clock?
Oh, and about that remark "Everybody is gonna go see Fatal Attraction again." Everybody? Ya mean all six of your viewers?
tingles is afraid of cheney.
May 18, 2009 - 18:59 ET by puredmashieif cheney ever appeared on his show, chrissy would need a fresh diaper.
swing hard in case you hit it.
Cheney is Smarter
May 19, 2009 - 06:53 ET by rightwingidiotCheney is a thousand times smarter than crissy. In a battle of wits between Cheney and Matthews, Matthews would be coming unarmed. He's got a head full of whipped cream.
And, where's crissy's chin?
Oh, I see it, it was covered up by Obeyme's balls.
Matthews the Court Jester
May 18, 2009 - 16:31 ET by GalvanicThere seems to be no limit to how ridiculous this fool can get.
If he had any analytical skills, he'd realize that like him or hate him, Cheney has almost single handedly halted Obama's attempt to hold the Bush Administration solely responsible for the EITs.
Firing shots across their bow and eventually directly into their hull, Cheney has gotten the White House to back off from releasing damaging photographs, and turned cold on a so-called Truth Commission. Moreover, he's set up Pelosi, who's been caught in a lie.
But Matthews has become just another 'useful idiot.'
What a Dummy
May 18, 2009 - 17:11 ET by jdlybrand"Everybody is going to go see "Fatal Attraction" again."
No Sissy,
It ain't on at the theaters anymore.
You know the times at MSNBC
May 18, 2009 - 17:47 ET by Chris NormanYou know the times at MSNBC are bad when they sit around and laugh at seriously non-funny "jokes". Yikes, this is what they're doing over there?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Getting bored w/ simply calling opposition "racists"?
May 18, 2009 - 18:46 ET by krendlerWow. Cheney has a difference of opinion w/ Obama (and a very well thought out position) and dares to express it. He must be psychologically unstable and a stalker. Brilliant.
Maybe these Obama Cultists like Matthews are simply getting bored with their own knee jerk "this is about racism" reaction to any and all heresy by Non-Believers.
I liken Chris Matthews to a barking puppy dog who...
May 18, 2009 - 19:25 ET by jawebster1follows his Master around (Obama) and yelps at anyone who doesn't follow the Liberal "tingle up my leg" line. To be yelped at by the likes of Chris Matthews is a badge of honor. Cheney is a good man. Matthews is a good lap dog. If not for NewsBusters, I would not realize Matthews was still around. Jim Webster
"Maeh. I won't be IGNORED.
May 18, 2009 - 19:45 ET by balboa"Maeh. I won't be IGNORED. Maeh."
-Dick Cheney as Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction."
Haha, that's funny Tingles!
May 18, 2009 - 23:00 ET by Trix RabbitI always pictured you as Stanley Spadowski on UHF. A dunce with a mop who got his own kid's show.
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Chris Matthews probably has
May 19, 2009 - 00:00 ET by RR GOPChris Matthews probably has a collection of BHO's boxers.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Well, thank God former Vice
May 19, 2009 - 08:08 ET by nadadhimmiWell, thank God former Vice President hasn't interjected himself into politics after he left office. Or tried to tell me how to live, what car to drive or what temp to keep my house, or what to eat. His house is so COLD in the winter, he drives only in micro cars, doesn't fly private jets and he is so thin and trim I yearn to follow his dietary dictates. Yes, Al Gore is sure a good guy. I wonder if Chrissy gets a tingle in his nether regions for ole Al. He sure stands at attention for our Savior Lord Barak. But then, Al was only Vice Prez.
Obviously...
May 19, 2009 - 09:25 ET by StCroix64Chrissy knows there is some truth to what Cheney is saying...or the "media", such as himself could silence him by not reporting what he said.
Chris Matthews: Please Fired the NBC 2nd time.-
May 19, 2009 - 18:58 ET by Charles H. GarridoHello! Mr. Dickens, Again for your column thanks.- 5/19/09. 18:15 Hours.This Mr. Matthews and Colleague regarding about his film with Douglas and excellent Mrs. Close "artist film Fatal Attraction" your NBC such a waste of "garbage".- Our Vice President Mr.Cheney can get his little finger. He will spread that butter Up around this fellow individuals Matthews. By Chris, why FIXED feel up from both your legs.-- By Maher you told us that when yo see Mr. President you feel your skin get op from up his legas.- Thanks & Cooperation, Charles H.Garrido Miami Fla.-