It's an odd natural occurrence when you put MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews and CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer together, but when it happens they seem to draw some obvious conclusions - albeit nearly 10 months too late.
Back in January, Cramer appeared on Matthews' show. They both expressed their concern over the $787-billion stimulus, which eventually passed and asked if it really was stimulative. When the duo appeared together again on Oct. 12, they concluded it wasn't. Cramer was on "Hardball" to promote his new book, "Jim Cramer's Getting Back to Even."
Matthews observed that the stimulus bill passed in January simply wasn't getting the job done.
"Second question, does there need to be a real stimulus package?" Matthews asked. "You know uh, David Garth, the great political consultant, said you have to remove the smell of decay and replace it with the smell of construction."
Based on that view, Matthews asked Cramer when there could be some real infrastructure spending that would put the unemployed back to work.
"We all know what construction smells like: dirt, concrete, cement, wood," Matthews continued. "You can smell it in the streets when you walk by a construction site and you're a superintendent. When is that going to happen? When are the cranes going to go up? When are the highways gonna be re- what happened to the true infrastructure spending that we're supposed to see?"
Cramer said, just as he did in January, that it wasn't there.
"We never really got it. We never got it," Cramer replied. "Even if you look at the numbers initially, they were really just a little bit bigger than the Big Dig."
Then Matthews declared that the stimulus was nothing more than a Democratic-controlled Congress using a bad economic situation to force through items they couldn't get passed with a Republican in the White House and/or the Republicans controlling one of the two houses of Congress.
"But it didn't go to construction projects, which people could smell and see," Matthews said. "I believe that's what bugs people, and that's why Pelosi's not popular. She's not popular because she presided over the creation of a big grab bag of stuff - from condoms to god knows what. No, I'm serious."
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) approaching 10,000 - many on the left think Obama's not getting enough credit for the economy, as a stock market rebound seems to be a good sign. However, as Cramer explained, the president isn't going to be able to take any credit for the economy until there's a clear rebound in the job market.
"Right, we did not get infrastructure," Cramer said. "We're not criss-crossing the country with new highways or pipelines for natural gas. We are not putting people to work. We are still losing jobs. There may be as much as 18 percent is the real unemployment, because if you include the people who have given up. And that's why Obama can't take credit for what's happening."




















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at the risk of saying "we told you so"
October 13, 2009 - 11:30 ET by Candance MooreSome of us predicted this to a tee and are not surprised at all. Had Tingles read any of that "right wing crap" in bookstores he could have predicted this too.
Funny
October 13, 2009 - 12:05 ET by StarAZI liked that one!
Hey Chrissy! Sing along.
October 13, 2009 - 11:37 ET by QueenMumHey Chrissy! Sing along. The Government Can
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
- P.J. O'Rourke
Matthews said this? "Then
October 13, 2009 - 11:40 ET by Guapo DiabloMatthews said this?
"Then Matthews declared that the stimulus was nothing more than a
Democratic-controlled Congress using a bad economic situation to force
through items they couldn't get passed with a Republican in the White
House and/or the Republicans controlling one of the two houses of
Congress."
Whoa Chris. A moment of candor instead of cheerleading? A pig just flew by the window.
But Matthews is incapable of learning anything.
October 13, 2009 - 12:17 ET by RoverI still notice that he said "Second question, does there need to be a real stimulus package?"
In other words, "it didn't work, so maybe we need to try it again."
He didn't learn from this experience, it would seem. He'd vote tomorrow to spend another $800 billion, I suspect.
Rover
Nobody with an IQ above room temperature thought Porkulus...
October 13, 2009 - 11:41 ET by R D Helm...was going to stimulate the economy and create jobs.
It was nothing more than a rape of the treasury meant to benefit traditional dim constituencies.
-Dave
Don't forget
October 13, 2009 - 12:04 ET by StarAZDon't forget SAVE JOBS--that was the really flimsy one.
did pigs fly today?
October 13, 2009 - 11:52 ET by katainkentthis seems like more reality than Chris usually indulges in.
____________________________________________
The Emperor, he has no clothes
Chrissy
October 13, 2009 - 11:59 ET by merlin61What happened Chrissy, is the falling dollar scaring you? It should!!!
"... you have to remove the
October 13, 2009 - 12:12 ET by sergeant stogie"... you have to remove the smell of decay and replace it
with the smell of conservatism."
FTFY Chrissy
Stop Spending MONEY
October 13, 2009 - 12:12 ET by Jeff in Miami BeachSince the "Stimulus Package" isn't working, why not stop spending this money?
Demand the money back from the 9,600 ear marks also!
The reason Nancy Pelosi is not liked is that she is an arrogant, unfriendly, self centered, back stabbing, low down, rich, classless, dirty, b... I know some day I will really say my true feelings.
If you think medical care is expensive now wait until it is free!
Chris Matthews...
October 13, 2009 - 12:16 ET by robertlbryantThis realization of reality may drive Matthews back to the bottle!
Re Bottle
October 13, 2009 - 14:28 ET by slickwillie2001I didn't realize Matthews was an alcoholic. That explains things.
Chris Matthews Promo (with
October 13, 2009 - 12:24 ET by Chris NormanChris Matthews Promo (with spittle flying): "Tonight on Hardball! I'll attack myself as a racist right wing neanderthal who wants Obama to fail!"
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
How does this worthless puke
October 13, 2009 - 14:02 ET by mattmHow does this worthless puke have a job? Can someone answer that?
Tw
October 13, 2009 - 14:34 ET by jessieHTwo more have started to come out of their comas. Quick, give them a shot of Limbaugh, stat! Nurse, have the Beckacillin ready!
Vain One
October 13, 2009 - 14:35 ET by Jerry MackThere is no doubt that Tingles will be summoned to the white house and put back in line. Such thinking like this is not allowed by the Vain One.
Uh oh, Matthews isn't
October 13, 2009 - 15:21 ET by deerjerkydaveUh oh, Matthews isn't getting tinglies up his leg over the Obama anti-stimulus? His network better watch out, they could become the next target of the White House. He better fall back in line or face the consequences.
saving money
October 13, 2009 - 18:03 ET by cajun2Chrissie should be worried. The dollar is falling, NBC is trying to sell parts of its operation, inflation sets in, corporate taxes rise 40% to pay for cadillac health care. NBC is already making a list of employees to lay off. Guess Chris finally put all this together and sees he is at the top of the list. And no, Chris, dont bother sending resume' to Fox.
Matthews, Sir...your head
October 13, 2009 - 21:02 ET by RR GOPMatthews, Sir...your head is so unbelievably far up your behind.
Why do you sit there and berate people who are pointing out the very same thing that you just said?
WTH is wrong with you?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.