Chris Matthews was in full flight on today's Morning Joe, vividly expressing himself on everything from the historic shockwaves that an Obama Iowa victory would send, to Media Matters's role as a Hillary front, to the attitude of NewsBusters. But the Hardball host was especially animated in describing the way the Clintons use intimidation to keep people in line.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: In the world, in the universe, the biggest American political story of modern times if Obama wins the Iowa caucuses. It will be all over the world; it will sweep the headlines in every newspaper in the world: friend, foe or neutral. It will be the Third World story of the century, of the last century [Barack's Time Machine?], the biggest story of modern Third World history, really, if Obama wins the American presidential caucus in Iowa.
View video here.
A bit later . . .
WILLIE GEIST: Let's say [Hillary] does win [Iowa] though. Does she get her inevitability back?
MATTHEWS: Yeah, that's what they want. Then the intimidation and the fear factor, where everybody in Washington politics, in national politics, is scared to death of the Clintons, and they all jump in line and do what they're told because they want to be part of the winning operation.
MIKA BRZEZINKSI: And because they manipulate things that way? Or what are you saying?
MATTHEWS: They intimidate. You get little messages here [picking up Mika's Blackberry] from people in that organization.
BRZEZINKSI: And they're not all that nice at times.
MATTHEWS: And I get them from all the campaigns. And I was telling our bookers, wouldn't it be great if every night we celebrated the calls we get from the campaigns. Because if they think the press is tough and ruthless, which we're really not, they should hear the campaign flacks: "We're going to remember that as long as this campaign lasts. We heard what you said: we'll never forget that!"
And you say the most innocuous stuff. I can go on Hardball at night and knock every one of the candidates, and each candidate only hears the knock on them. And then Media Matters -- the Hillary website -- goes on every night "you know you hurt our feelings again." And NewsBusters comes on and says "you hurt our feelings again." Every day you get this . . . crap. Am I allowed to say that? Because that's what it is: c-r-a-p. That's nonsense!
Note that Matthews blithely describes Media Matters as "the Hillary website." Unsurprising, considering she has claimed credit for creating it. While Chris claims that NB also kvetches nightly, note that he does not associate us with any one campaign. We're proud to be equal-opportunity critics of the liberal media!
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.





















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And then Media Matters --
December 26, 2007 - 10:46 ET by motherbeltAnd then Media Matters -- the Hillary website -- goes on every night "you know you hurt our feelings again."
Media Matters...the Hillary website....right from Chris Matthews' mouth.
Gotta love it!!! He'll hear from them tonight for sure!
Note to Chris
December 26, 2007 - 11:27 ET by drillanwrHave somebody else start your car for you ...
Good advice!
December 26, 2007 - 14:23 ET by motherbeltdrill......ROFL!
WOW!
December 26, 2007 - 10:57 ET by iveseenitallWOW! Four geniuses around a table and we get to watch. I'm so impressed, I need to take a deep breath. And that Matthews comment about how an Obama win will be like the Second Coming...Oh-My-God! I'm thrilled. YUK!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
P.S. What ever happened to "race doesn't matter"?
Ouch. Waaaahhhhh!
December 26, 2007 - 10:55 ET by ThisnThatAnd NewsBusters comes on and says "you hurt our feelings again."
My feelings are upset just reading this. I thought we were all good friends with Chris. Why does he want to hurt us so? It's not fair. *Sob* I can't continue. I've run *Sob* *honk* out of tissues again *Snif* Bye *Hoooonnnnnk - Snif - Sob*
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Come on, TnT, get a grip!!
December 26, 2007 - 10:59 ET by motherbeltCome on, TnT, get a grip!! it's not only NB...he apparently hurts Media Matters (the Hillary website!) feelings too...that proves he's "unbiased"...he gets hit from both sides! LOL
I really can't believe he said half that stuff...he's really going to get it now...spilling all those "trade secrets".....
Give'm enough rope, and.....
December 26, 2007 - 11:01 ET by ThisnThatHope they keep this up!
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Actually if you follow that
December 26, 2007 - 15:37 ET by Right2thePointActually if you follow that site, just look at the number of Hillary specific stories they do and how long they stick by stories that have already been taken to pieces elsewhere on the web.
Plus their action emails trigger blog floods from all the usual suspects on the left within unusually short time frames of each other.
At times I wonder if the set the whole game up in advance and have an embargo time limit set so everyone can get their post pre written to fit the story line rather that observe what they have done and post a unique reaction to it.
Sometimes you can look at several different blogs over there and almost do a cut and paste between them and not even know anything has been altered.
Mark
December 26, 2007 - 11:41 ET by Noel SheppardMark,
The most amazing thing about this clip is Matthews suggesting that the biggest moment in modern third world history would be Obama winning in Iowa!
Are you kidding me? That would be the biggest moment? Really?
Honestly, sometimes these folks' grasp of history is as appalling as their bias! ns
Scale and proportion has
December 26, 2007 - 15:39 ET by Right2thePointScale and proportion has never been their strong suit. Over the top whipping the troops into a frenzy seems to be the way to go for them.
Hey, Mark and NB Company -
December 26, 2007 - 11:51 ET by drillanwrAnd NewsBusters comes on and says "you hurt our feelings again."
How about listing all these episodes of NBs actually stating "you hurt our feelings again." I don't seem to be able to recall ...
"The intimidation and the fear factor . . . ."
December 26, 2007 - 11:54 ET by BourbeauHow lovely is this; a presidential campaign where we have campaign punks who disperse intimidation and fear without an ounce of concern about being exposed. And a press who refuses to expose them, or the money and people behind them. Oh, that's right, they all do it. Hmmmmm, I wonder what they'd be saying if Bush did it? There's more to this then what Matthews is saying; he's providing cover for the Clinton campaign that has the reputation of being ruthless when required (read into that what you wish). I'd love to hear the 'rest of the story' regarding that GQ article that got spiked. I mean, why hasn't that columnist been inundated with invites to tell all? What a country; we sit here and criticise the thugs around the world, you know the Chavezes and the Putins for seizing authority, and here we sit with our own electoral thuggery and the MSM says not a word.
Bourbeau -
December 26, 2007 - 12:04 ET by drillanwrWhat a country; we sit here and criticise the thugs around the world, you know the Chavezes and the Putins for seizing authority, and here we sit with our own electoral thuggery and the MSM says not a word.
Touché !!
Old George Strait song!!
December 26, 2007 - 12:12 ET by PawpawNThe Dims get by because as the old George Strait song says, "I've Come to Expect It From You", the Dims that is. So no one is surprised and let them get a free pass!!
Not scared...
December 26, 2007 - 14:07 ET by celatorIt's not that we are "scared" of the Clintons, it's that their track record is so well known. It's clear that the story of their professional political and personal lives is that they go from one mess to the next mess to the next mess.
Well, lots of people live like that, so what's new?
The issue with these two buffoons is that they drag everyone else around them into the messes they create (and the country as well, one example among hundreds: Clinton's cooperation to allow the Communist Chinese to have missile guidance systems on missiles now aimed at us.) Who can deny Billy's utter incompetence as president, and his refusal to address early Al Quaida attacks on US personnel and assets, etc?
These two clowns are extremely dangerous to the safety and security of the country. They need to be stopped. That's not being scared, that's common sense.
There was a long winded
December 26, 2007 - 15:44 ET by Right2thePointThere was a long winded blog poster today over at HuffPo touting the greatness and advantages of open marriage and how it works so well for her.
I almost wonder if the story was posting up for the story itself or timed to do a bit of subtle channeling to minimize the negatives of the Clinton family chronicle of events.
Could be
December 26, 2007 - 20:40 ET by celator"I almost wonder if the story was posting up for the story itself or
timed to do a bit of subtle channeling to minimize the negatives of the
Clinton family chronicle of events"
Would not surprise me a bit, though it's hard to see what other "creative" approaches to marriage the Clintons can concoct. From an outside prospective, it looks like it's been an open marriage for a long time. Ugh.
Change
December 26, 2007 - 15:03 ET by SouthernRootsWouldn't it be better for the country if we could retire the Clinton's and Bushes and have someone else in the White House for a change?
At this point in time, there are probably no more divisive political "dynasties" than the Clinton's and Bushes. There has been almost a whole generation of this crap and it really is getting old.
Time for a change of blood(lines).
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. - J.B. Books (John Wayne)
Clintons and Bushes???
December 26, 2007 - 17:44 ET by ThisnThatThis sound like sour grapes and moral equivalancy. People are tired of the Clintons because of what they do (lie and give false pretenses like his Lewinsky affair and her "experience"; parden political cronies; give secrets to China; ignore terror; the list goes on) and who they are (smoking but not inhaline; abhoring the military; raping women).
As for President Bush, people are tired of the unfair and constant carping from the Dims, Libs, and MSM. But you can't equate Bush with Clinton's actions and policies. President Bush has stood firm on the War on Terror; his has great instincts and morals; and he is an actual leader. Neither Clinton can make these claims.
So if we're at a point where people are saying "throw them both out", then the MSM has accomplished their goal.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
No comparison
December 26, 2007 - 21:40 ET by SouthernRootsGWB doesn't need to be thrown out, he is leaving office in less than 13 months. Like his father, and very unlike Carter or Clinton, he will probably retire quietly and make few public appearances. Jeb isn't running (yet) so "Bushes" isn't the issue. I put that in because of the left's BDS - it is wearisome. I am actually curious as to what they will hide behind when GWB leaves office. Who will pick up the blame?
Once GWB is retired, the media will be in a "blame the previous administration" mode for a period of time, hopefully a short period of time, but there will be nightly newscasts and news magazine shows that continue the BDS.
GHWB was elected in 1988, Clinton in '92. GWB in 2000. It is time for a change. We need BDS out of the news cycle and one of the best ways is to keep Clinton out of the White House, for anytime something doesn't go as planned in a Clinton White House, BDS will surely be raised.
A new president with few links to either may help clear the air, or at least replace it with some other form of air that may get us moving forward.
With the current false bipartisanship the Democrats have shown, I highly doubt we will bo moving anywhere any time soon.
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. - J.B. Books (John Wayne)
"The End of Freedom"
December 26, 2007 - 15:36 ET by w0tmI don't believe I'm overstating what I see coming but I pray I am. There has to be the "last" one of everything. Nothing lasts forever. It's a basic law of physics. Assuming the "Clinton Machine" regains ownership of government, this time they will never let go. Never, ever. Future elections will, at first, be called one-time anomolies of fraud but it will then become apparent we have lost our freedom forever. All for the sake of the few demagogues who seek absolute power at any cost and the "huddled masses yearning to breathe - servitude in exchange for the proverbial free lunch".
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched
refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the
homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!"
Is inspiring when read on a stone tablet at the foot of the Statue of Liberty but, alas, it is just so many words to be tossed aside in exchange for hollow promises. Each civilization goes through four stages in its life. We are now well into the final stage and the 2008 election will mark the "no turning back point".
Read the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire", substitute "America" for Rome in the text, add 2,000 years and you have reality today. Nothing lasts forever. Including our great civilization. At least we were all fortunate to have lived during the glory years of the greatest of the great civilizations of all time. We should be happy with that as there will be much in the future to regret. But remember the past and remember how wonderful life based on personal freedom once was. It will come again -- but not for another 2,000 years.
Felons associated with the Clintons??!!! Tell me it's not true!
December 26, 2007 - 15:56 ET by Prester JohnThis is rather amusing.
Two felons are removed from Clinton committee
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has revised its list of Tennessee supporters on its statewide steering committee to remove the names of two convicted felons.
http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/NEWS0206/712250345/1321/MTCN06
I have a better idea, why don't they just name the people who AREN'T felons--it would probably save everybody some time.
Heh.
Shocked!
December 26, 2007 - 20:42 ET by celatorI'm shocked! Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!