Joe Scarborough has offered a graphic variation on the metaphor to depict how the Clinton folks might be feeling this morning. It came at 7:05 AM ET during today's Morning Joe, subsequent to a discussion of Matthews' thrill-up-his-leg line.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Look at these numbers; the percentages of victories. You're talking about feelings? If I were running Hillary Clinton's campaign right now, if I were Howard Wolfson, I might have a feeling actually running down my leg.
A shocked Willie Geist could be heard exclaiming "oh God!"
A bit later, Mika Brzezinski alluded to Joe's colorful imagery.
SCARBOROUGH: I've gotta believe, this is very bad news.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: It is bad news. Momentum and money will come out of this, and a lot of newspaper coverage. But Joe, you certainly have a way of crystallizing the way people might sense that concern.
Crystallizing -- or liquefying?
Update | 11:10 AM: Joe to Wolfson -- Congrats On Still Having Job!
Wolfson was a phone guest during the show's last half-hour. Scarborough sarcastically greeted Hillary's Communications Director.
SCARBOROUGH: Howard, let me begin by congratulating you. You still have your job this morning -- some of your compatriots do not.
Hat tip to FReeper Ken 5050.
UPDATE 12:20 PM: Buchanan Takes Metaphor Major Step Further
At 8:10 AM ET, Pat Buchanan, part of a panel with Mike Barnicle, Chris Matthews and Mika, took the leg imagery a giant step further at Matthews' expense. The Hardball host did his best to fight back.
PAT BUCHANAN: What you guys say is, all I'm hearing from you Chris is, "there's nothing [the Hillary camp] can do, [s]he's gonna lose, this is a wonderful Obama moment; he's rolling on to victory."
CHRIS MATTHEWS: No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is --BUCHANAN [still channeling Matthews]: But it's all running down my leg and all this. For heaven's sakes!
BRZEZINSKI: Oh my God!
MATTHEWS: I don't think that was said. I think, in my case it was coming up the leg. Maybe in your case it was the other way. Maybe your excitement level works differently.
View video here.
As can be seen in the screencaps, Matthews was not quite so amused as Buchanan and Barnicle. Mika was just looking for cover.
Hat tip to reader Meg T.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Up and Down!!!???
February 13, 2008 - 10:11 ET by planetrepublicanChris Matthews has feeling running UP his leg and Joe Scarborough has feelings running DOWN his leg. What the heck is going on over there???!!! If I were Obama or Hillary I would stay out of that studio!
I'm about to feel something
February 13, 2008 - 10:21 ET by mattmI'm about to feel something erupting up from my gut and out onto my keyboard...
Sounds like restless leg
February 13, 2008 - 10:25 ET by AJSounds like restless leg syndrome. But get that checked out before a knee-jerk reaction causes you to kick yourself in the head.
AJ -
February 13, 2008 - 11:54 ET by drillanwrI can't top that ... Nor will I try! LMFAO!!!
When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks
...
February 13, 2008 - 10:26 ET by dervishTo quote Bill Cosby (about car crashes): "First you say it, then you do it."
Crystallizing -- or
February 13, 2008 - 10:28 ET by Hunter12Crystallizing -- or liquefying?
Maybe Joe has some kidney problems. Obama appears to be a stone that will be hard for the Clinton campaign to pass.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
The end is in sight - Praise the Lord
February 13, 2008 - 10:33 ET by Captain RepusCould we finally be seeing the end of our national shame? Will we finally be able to think of our government in terms other than slick or incompetent? Could the White House finally become a place of honor instead of a sleazy hotel?
It is hard to believe that we have advanced to the point where a black man who doesn't have a clue about governing or international affairs or a bitter old corrupt senator with no clue as to how our economy works will be a significant improvement.
The World According to Wally Karbo/or Dan Abrams
February 13, 2008 - 11:11 ET by CaringwhiteguyThe late Wally Karbo was "Commisioner" of the American Wrestling Association based in Minneapolis (I think Jessie Ventura got his start in the AWA). It was Wally's job to promote the grapplers. He stirred up rivalries and controversy to put fannies in the seats and eyeballs on the TV screens. Wally was master of the schlock. One of his favorite tactics was to come on the wrestling telecast and announce, in his squeaky voice, there were going to be "FINES AND SUSPENSIONS" for some wrestler's dastardly deeds.
Meet the new Wally Karbo. His name is Dan Abrams. Since his move to management at MSNBC his "grapplers" have become more volatile, louder and less credible. Whether it's the rantings of Howard Beale Obermann, the spittle strewn rants of Chris Matthews, the screeds of David Shuster or Joe Scarborough's reference to someone peeing down his leg, the level of true reporting versus the level of wrestling-like scripted crap has favored the crap more than ever.
Imus and Shuster got those "fines and suspensions". Will Morning Joe be next? Check the script. Be sure to tune in to MSNBC to find out.
If OBama
February 13, 2008 - 11:28 ET by MivvisP***ed on Matthews leg and told him it was raining I think he would believe it.
Bwaaah!
February 13, 2008 - 13:39 ET by McGruffFunniest moment of the election season so far. Even Mika's reaction was priceless.
I just finished my morning
February 13, 2008 - 14:34 ET by fitzfongI just finished my morning coffee. Where's Howard Wolfson?
fitz... LOL!
February 13, 2008 - 14:41 ET by bigtimerfitz...
LOL!
I can always count on you,
February 13, 2008 - 14:48 ET by fitzfongI can always count on you, BT.
fitz... Well, I was going
February 13, 2008 - 15:00 ET by bigtimerfitz...
Well, I was going to originally say maybe Wolfson was busy changing that ugly so-called good-luck sweater of his...but didn't know if you heard about that...or saw the picture of him in it..nevertheless it sure didn't bring him or Hill luck, he may be fired next...ya just never know, Hill's got to blame somebody else, that is what the Clintoon team does instead of looking in the mirror at their own reflections.
Wolfson always reminded me
February 13, 2008 - 16:16 ET by fitzfongWolfson always reminded me of a more physically and vocally controlled (yet somehow more obnoxious) clone of Jim "Mad Money" Cramer. Both are legends in their own minds. But I agree, the Clintons are going to scorch the earth to get Hillary that job. To borrow the poker cliche, they're going "all in" with a mediocre hand...if they somehow win this hand, they'll have stayed in the game to play another hand, but they won't have won the full pot. Obama has a ton of chips, a much better hand, and is very confident...but he could under or overplay his hand and give the Clintons the opportunity to get back in the game through their classic opportunism. And with "Fast Eddie" Rendell dealing the cards, you never know what scheme is going on under the table...all right, now I've carried the metaphor on too far (especially when anyone who's old enough to have seen first runs of Three's Company would be able to come up with multiple possibilities for "what is going on under the table" when you throw the Clinton name into the mix). So, I'll stop now.
fitz... I think the
February 13, 2008 - 16:26 ET by bigtimerfitz...
I think the Clinton team has a box load of stuff they want so bad to unload on Obama yet but have been afraid to quite yet because to the msm and such, I also think Obama is slowly getting arrogant, just my opinion, but I do keep one eye open all the time as the say...lol...and have watched him and his speeches from the beginning of this campaign...
Anyway, going to be very interesting, and Fast Eddie and others may be the venue the Clinton's attempt to use to get their message out with what she has collected against him.
Time will tell...personally I think she is done...she even sounds like it when she speaks lately like the speech in Texas last night, she isn't showing humility, she doesn't have any of that, she most likely is tired, but I feel a deep weariness creeping in on her and her defeat....and she just knew she would be coronated...it never entered her mind she would not be President, just like she told Katie...why she is owed it!