Chris Matthews, on Tuesday's "Hardball," mocked former President George W. Bush making his debut as a motivational speaker as he laughed it off as a "Halloween prank, you know like toilet-papering somebody’s house." After taking that jab Matthews proceeded to castigate Bush as "the man who got this country into two wars that feel like Chinese handcuffs right now," and determined Bush's legacy will be as the "reason" people voted for Barack Obama.
The following outburst was aired during the "Sideshow" portion of the October 27 edition of "Hardball":
CHRIS MATTHEWS: We've seen and heard a lot about Dick Cheney since he left office, ya think? But not so much from his boss, or at least that guy who had the higher title all those eight long years. Well last night former President Bush The Younger, made his debut as a motivational speaker. I'm serious about this, although I think it has to be a Halloween prank, you know like toilet-papering somebody's house. Motivational speaker George W. Bush.
Now you might ask yourself what kind of advice could George Bush give to motivate anybody? This is the man who got this country into two wars that feel like Chinese handcuffs right now. He brought our economy to the brink of a second Great Depression and thought it was a good idea to torture enemies. In fact the only thing former President George W. Bush ever did to motivate people was to get them to vote for Barack Obama. Come to think of it, that may well be the reason he goes down in history. Seriously.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Thanks for bringing this to
October 27, 2009 - 16:54 ET by BuffNBoneThanks for bringing this to our attention. I make it a point to never watch "Hairball".
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
When is this clown Matthews
October 27, 2009 - 16:55 ET by stancoyleWhen is this clown Matthews going to get a real job...or at least do the one he was hired to do!!!
Spit Matthews
October 27, 2009 - 17:02 ET by MrShyWho give's a rat's _ _ _ what this spitting, blathering brain cell thinks.
And now back to opinions that are based on something: Bush will make a great motivational speaker, I think. He's actually got some real pedigree.
The only thing....
October 27, 2009 - 17:19 ET by pantrymanthis idiot matthews motivates me to do is put my big muddy boot right in his ass.....
Remember in November 2010
Save your tea, toss out congress
TP for CM
October 27, 2009 - 17:14 ET by sergeant stogieBe kinda funny if somebody actually did "TP" Chrissy's house.
Re TP
October 27, 2009 - 19:24 ET by slickwillie2001Nahh. If they did Matthews would have it investigated as a domestic right-wing terrorist attack, and Coach Napolitano would go right along with it.
"In fact the only thing
October 27, 2009 - 17:15 ET by Insane Chipmunk"In fact the only thing former President George W. Bush ever did to motivate people was to get them to vote for Barack Obama."
So Chrissy admits that Obama had no qualities of his own that got him elected? That would be like me rooting for the Phillies over the Yankees simply because I dislike the Yankees so much.
That would be like me
October 27, 2009 - 18:51 ET by Another Dead KennedyThat would be like me rooting for the Phillies over the Yankees simply because I dislike the Yankees so much.
Except the future of our country is much more valuable than the World Series outcome. What a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad reason to vote for Obama.
Of course, most people are rooting for the Phills because they hate the Yanks - nice comparison.
xoxo - Ted
→ Halloween pranks
October 27, 2009 - 17:17 ET by Cool ArrowI don't know about this prank, but do y'all realize Detroit has never had so many empty buildings and houses as it does this Halloween?
Get ready for Hell Night. And another thing. . . I'll bet the banks have got all their assets insured through November 1.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Cool
October 27, 2009 - 17:24 ET by DoktorFrankenPerhaps Hussein can wear a W mask and be a real President for Halloween.
JMHO, you understand.
If Saul Alinsky owned a news channel it would be MSNBC. ---- Me
→ Got that right Dok
October 27, 2009 - 17:38 ET by Cool ArrowIBut I had him more in the Boo Radley costume, Or put some points on his ears and he's Son of Spock.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Stop Emitting CO2, Chris (it's illegal, you know...)
October 27, 2009 - 17:20 ET by Meredith1966Let's see, Christopher--
...that guy who had the higher title all those eight long years... - Shall we make the same absurd smear at your boy, Clinton, related to Hillary?
...This is the man who got this country into two wars... - And here I was thinking it was those darn exchange students who pulled that neat prank where they hijacked airliners full of innocent people and crashed them into buildings. Now I know. I suppose we should make the same claim about your boy FDR and WWII, how he 'got us into that war'?
...He brought our economy to the brink of a second Great Depression... - And your man (can't say 'boy' here or I'll get in trouble with the Thought Police) Obama is doing everything in his power to push us over the brink rather than practice the economic restraint that we Conservatives were all huffy about because Bush 43 didn't practice it, either.
...thought it was a good idea to torture enemies... - Yeah, Chris, I gotta admit that I don't mind making some pinhead at Gitmo eat 3 squares a day on my dime to get him to 'fess up some of his buddies who are plotting to blow up my wife and kid. Just doesn't bother me. Face it, making those worms eat their own poo three times a day is better than they deserve if it means my wife and son get to wake up safe tomorrow. Your family, too, Chris--stop being such a pansy.
...the only thing former President George W. Bush ever did to motivate people was to get them to vote for Barack Obama... - Wrong again. All Georgie did was focus me like a laser beam on voting for Conservatives only--no more RINOs, no moderates, no so-called Progressives. The Repubs slit their own throats last year by nominating McCain; he turned more off more people on the Right than he turned on, and that was what allowed a paper-thin candidate like Obama to win. Media complicity (you know about that one, Chris) greatly aided Obama's drive to the White House, a drive which never would have succeeded had you bums simply done your damn jobs.
There, I feel better now.
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
→ Meredith1966
October 27, 2009 - 17:43 ET by Cool ArrowIs your ID an homage to James Meredith, who was shot in 1966?
Just wondering. He is a great man who has done little to draw attention to himself, but a titan of the Civil Rights Movement.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Meredith 1966
October 27, 2009 - 17:58 ET by cajun2Well said. Now, I feel better too.
No...
October 28, 2009 - 08:46 ET by Meredith1966No, CA, it isn't, and I agree with you regarding James Meredith and wish I'd been saavy enough to think of that. My ID is actually less intellectual--it is a tribute to Don Meredith, the old Cowboy quarterback who had his breakout season in 1966.
Have a good one, Cool!
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
That is why Matthews gets
October 27, 2009 - 17:34 ET by buddycThat is why Matthews gets the ratings he does.
I heard the "brink of a second great depression". Hell the late 70's though 82 was worse than today. As of December of 2008 I thought the economy was pretty good. For 6 years liberals preached that the economy was worse than the "great depression". They finally almost got what they wanted but not on W's term. They got it under Obama and we still have a lot of tough economic times to face because of Obama's waste of our financial resources.
"Meredith1966"
October 27, 2009 - 17:36 ET by mad53PAI feel better now too!!
Very well stated!!
He brought our economy to
October 27, 2009 - 17:39 ET by scotthHe brought our economy to the brink of a second Great Depression
It never ceases to amaze me that people say this, much less believe it. How does ONE man control the US economy.Congress makes law. They can make bad law that will effect the economy in bad ways. I'd like to ask Matthews what legislation did President Bush push , Congress pass and that Bush signed which brought our economy to the brink of a second great depression?
I know Presidents GET the blame when the economy is bad and get the credit when it does well. Seems to me such a infantile way to look at it.
Easy Scott
October 27, 2009 - 18:04 ET by general companyHow does ONE man control the US economy.Congress makes law.
He lends the Lenders money, strong arms them to suit His needs. Gives away Property via the Lenders He strong armed, causing folks to fail. When consumers stop buying He would lend Manufacturing money, then strong arm Manufacturing, causing folks to fail. Even settling their (now His debt)for pennies on the dollar, further causing folks to fail. Selling Manufacturing's Property for pennies on the dollar, further causing folks to fail.
Starts taxing the folks with Manufactured hysteria of a false pending disasters, causing even more folks to fail. Then stealing the hospitals and clinics and medical suppliers under the guise that they are going to reform it, causing the rest of us to fail
I am pretty sure that will do it
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Maybe we could keep the DC sniper alive a little longer
October 27, 2009 - 19:01 ET by Lord ErondThis man would screw his own mother for ratings.
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge."
Timothy 6:20
Oh Please Chrissy!
October 27, 2009 - 19:15 ET by jarrett.edwardsOh please, Chrissy I know you think you
are all that, but how can you attack anyone else for not being a
great motivational speaker? I was in the unfortunate University of
South Carolina class of 2006, when for reasons I still haven't
figured out, you were given an Honorary Doctorate. You therefore,
also gave our commencement address. Do you really think you were
great? I have news for you, you weren't. We didn't get any tingles up
our legs, instead you put most of the graduates to sleep, the roll
call of names was more exciting! However, three years earlier the
commencement speaker was President Bush, guess what he was great, he
kept the audience engaged and yes motivated them, even ones who
completely disagreed with him. I think you are the one who is a year
round Halloween prank! The only reason you are seen as even slightly
normal is because you are on the same network as Olberman, the Great
Pumpkin would look normal compared to him!
Bush
October 27, 2009 - 19:27 ET by shawn228What a yo yo ride. He was barely voted into office, by the tiniest of numbers and one state and appealed to the moderates that were sick of the hearing about the Clinton scandal. He does not have very high approval ratings after the first 8 months, similir to what Obama has now, then 911 happened. Everybody backed Bush, and it was bad taste to make fun of him at all and the country is United. Bush did a fantastic job of bringing the whole country together and he should get full credit for that.
Bush says we are going to go into Iraq to find wmd, we win the ground war very quickly and Bush is totally loved, then the speech, the the "Mission Accomplised sign" Then the bombings and Americans being killed. The fact it was the official word was no WMD found probably did not help much either. IMO Bushed never had bi partision support again.
He was again treated like a Rock Star to his republican base and beat Kerry in nail biter that came down to Ohio and won over moderate that were nervous about having a weak Dem President during a war. , His AG leaving in disgrace, the deputy Ag leaving in disgrace and I think a few more people down the ladder get axed as well., he added on a ridiculous amount to the national debt "see JWF, I did not say almost doubled" Then his approval rating just took a nosedive.
Bush kept me safe for many years and I appreciate that, but I have to admit nothing else he said really motivated me much
edited for grammar
"I think we're kindred spirits."~Mr Shy to Sergeant ROCK
I quit watching his show
October 27, 2009 - 19:26 ET by bigtimerI quit watching his show for this very example...in fact there are quite a few here today.
Not worth the time of day.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
No half measures
October 27, 2009 - 19:34 ET by MCPO AirdaleI'm old enough to remember when Chrissy was only half-crazy and tried to maintain a veneer of civility. Now, not so much.
Chrissy boy should go down
October 27, 2009 - 19:59 ET by holeinthehullHoleinthehull
Priss Pot Chris has the nerve to say
In fact the only thing former President George W. Bush ever did to
motivate people was to get them to vote for Barack Obama. Come to think
of it, that may well be the reason he goes down in history. Seriously
Imho you have the inability to motivate an audience of more than 150 people to watch your show on any given night. I have no idea why even NB waste their time reporting your ignorant rants and stupidity. Ranting and stupidity is all you have left available to you since there is nothing left of your show!!
The BS is getting deep here
October 27, 2009 - 20:09 ET by slickwillie2001Re President George W. Bush vs the Bamster, you can use this application/article to compare President Bush's polls in the same period of his Presidency as the Bamster, and it shows that President Bush's popularity was comparable to the Bamster's and in fact he was even more popular than the Bamster just before 9/11.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/presidential-approval-tracker.htm
Bush is credible as a motivational speaker
October 27, 2009 - 21:32 ET by nkviking75George W. Bush is a man who had a serious alcohol problem and was adrift in his life, but managed to turn himself around (with considerable help from God and an amazing wife) to become governor of Texas and then President of the United States when lefties wouldn't take him seriously. He then faced the biggest crisis in recent American history. He didn't crumble as certain other presidents might have, but he resolved to face a nearly impossible challenge. He made mistakes and didn't achieve complete success, but he perservered with an optomistic spirit for 8 difficult years. Besides the war, he pulled the country out of a recession and was able to keep it there until very late in his term.
My point: George W. Bush has far more credibility as a motivational speaker than Chris Matthews has as a political analyst.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
The only reason
October 27, 2009 - 21:36 ET by DEVILDOCMOMchrissie feels we are in Chinese handcuffs right now is because bho is too busy golfing to pay attention to our guys and gals who are putting their lives on the line. Cheney's comment of dithering comes to mind.
Matthews is
October 27, 2009 - 22:20 ET by jessieHMatthews is a mockery of the proud sector of journalism. Just kidding, he has no worth at all.
Boiling Point
October 28, 2009 - 00:23 ET by TeamcheeserI'm getting really, really close to boycotting all things NBC and GE.
The peacock is such the perfect mascot for the Obama network though. Can't be a coincidence.
Thanks for..
October 28, 2009 - 02:05 ET by OldJoeReviewing and commenting on the rantings of Chrissie "tingles"... I actually watched about .5 seconds of him... or was it Olbermann? Can't tell the difference..
Matthews--another joke
October 28, 2009 - 05:38 ET by Andrew H.Matthews--another joke brought to the airwaves courtesy of GE.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Bush as a motivational
October 28, 2009 - 13:21 ET by kengieBush as a motivational speaker: "Get some learnin people"!
"He is the blind leading the blind!" ~ Rush Limbaugh