Morning Joe to Maddow: 'You've Got the Clinton Cackle Down'

Morning Joe to Maddow: 'You've Got the Clinton Cackle Down'

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
July 4, 2008 - 05:51 ET

New chapter in the lack-of-love fest between Joe Scarborough and Rachel Maddow. As noted here and here, the pair have clashed in the past. The GOP-congressman-turned-MSNBC-host and the Air America personality got into it again on last evening's Race for the White House, with Joe [guest-hosting for David Gregory] eventually accusing Rachel of perfectly capturing the Clinton cackle.

View video here.

The point of departure was Maddow's insistence against all evidence that Obama hasn't softened his out-of-Iraq-in-16-months position.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: The exact quote here, Rachel, and again, Rachel, you are obviously the only person here that did not hear this quote from the campaign manager, quote: "we will be --

Cut to Maddow, laughing heartily.

SCARBOROUGH: -- out of Iraq at 16 months, at the most." And then [Obama] went ahead and said yes, "because I'm the Commander-in-Chief, but I will still listen" --

Back to Maddow, literally doubling over in laughter.

SCARBOROUGH: -- "to the generals when it comes to tactics." It would strike me as funny, too, if I had no response to that.

And a bit later . . .

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JOE SCARBOROUGH: The exact quote here, Rachel, and again, Rachel, you are obviously the only person here that did not hear this quote from the campaign manager, quote: "we will be --

Cut to Maddow, laughing heartily.

SCARBOROUGH: -- out of Iraq at 16 months, at the most." And then [Obama] went ahead and said yes, "because I'm the Commander-in-Chief, but I will still listen" --

Back to Maddow, literally doubling over in laughter.

SCARBOROUGH: -- "to the generals when it comes to tactics." It would strike me as funny, too, if I had no response to that.

And a bit later . . .

SCARBOROUGH: Alright, show of hands, show of hands, we have to go to break, but show of hands--we did this last night we're going to do it tonight--how many agree with Rachel that Barack Obama was not saying we're going to get out of Iraq in 16 months to Charlie Gibson? Raise your hand if you agree with Rachel.

No hands go up among Tony Blankley, Michelle Bernard and Noah Oppenheim.

SCARBOROUGH: OK!

MADDOW: The next time it's one against four, me with four conservatives, I won't expect to win the next vote either.

NOAH OPPENHEIM: I'm a centrist!

SCARBOROUGH: Well, I don't know if this has anything to do with conservatives or liberals—it has to do with the English language, and it's certainly --

Maddow again dissolves in gales of laughter.

SCARBOROUGH: -- clear enough to me—you can keep laughing all you want—but here's the exact quote again as we go to break: "we will be out of Iraq in 16 months at the most," that's his campaign manager. I would say most Americans of most ideological stripes would say that's exactly what he meant in that answer.

Yet more guffaws from Maddow.

MADDOW: You're so wrong, I can't even hold it together. You're so wrong.

SCARBOROUGH: You might support Obama but you've got the Clinton cackle down, Rachel. I'm proud of ya.

Note: Maddow complained about being outnumbered 4:1 by conservatives. But Oppenheim described himself as a centrist and Bernard rarely seems to say anything controversial. Compare and contrast with the liberal-heavy Wednesday line-up, also hosted by Joe: Michelle Cottle of the New Republic, Olbermann fave Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, WaPo columnist Eugene Robinson and John Harwood of CNBC/NYT. When Maddow herself guest-hosted on Monday, the line-up was Harwood, Robinson, Bernard and Jay Carney of Time. Where was Maddow's concern for a fair-and-balanced panel then?

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

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It Does Not Matter What Obama Says

July 4, 2008 - 06:19 ET by allanf

It Does Not Matter What Obama Says. He is a religous movement, and cult leader to the press.

He's their man

July 4, 2008 - 09:31 ET by iconoclast

It makes perfect sense to me that they give him a pass on everything. The goal of the msm is to put a liberal in the white house and they choose him. Too late to second guess themselves now. For good or bad, they are stuck with him.

Whoa, way to go Joe! THAT

July 4, 2008 - 06:24 ET by motherbelt

Whoa, way to go Joe! THAT shut her up! LOL!

I especially love the way she decided it was because she was up against 4 "conservatives" that no one agreed.

Uh, yeah, Rach, because the know that "words mean things" (Limbaugh)....they don't mischaratcterize statements.

I also think it was neat how all the other guests just sat there quietly, just letting Maddow make a fool of herself.

Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson

----

July 4, 2008 - 06:44 ET by dahliatravers

we will be out of Iraq in 16 months at the most

How can that be taken to mean anything other than, "we will be out of Iraq in 16 months at the most"??

Libs have mental problems.

July 4, 2008 - 07:02 ET by dronetek

Something similar happened on Morning Joe the other day. When Pat brought up Obama "throwing his grandmother under the bus" and "typical white person". The whole liberal panel just started laughing and Pat just sits there saying , "What? Its true". They just kept laughing and acting like he was nuts. It was REALLY weird.

When liberals don't have a

July 4, 2008 - 07:33 ET by motherbelt

When liberals don't have a cogent argument, they fall back on ridicule.

Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson

→ BOZO dies

July 4, 2008 - 07:09 ET by Cool Arrow

No, not Carl Mauldin, Larry Harmon at 83.

Open gig for Bill Clinton?

LYDSEXICS UNTIE

You know Cool

July 4, 2008 - 13:23 ET by Delsa

The first Bozo the clown in Washington DC was Willard Scott.

He had a radio show on ABC raido too. Ed Walker was his long time partner for many years was blind. They were called "the Joy Boys of radio"

Most folks today remember him as the NBC Today Show weather man.

A great friend of my dads, and we just knew him as Uncle Willard

Wow!

July 4, 2008 - 16:24 ET by doug1950

I haven't heard or thought of the that in many many years. "The Joy boys of Radio". My family lived in D.C. when I was in my cavity prone years. There was a little ditty with those words in it that was sung too at the opening of the show. Of course that title and song today would invite all kinds of ridicule and scorn plus an invitation to be in the Gay parade every year.

Doug1950

July 4, 2008 - 22:10 ET by Delsa

Something like

We are the joy boys of ra d o we chase electrons to and fro o o

I remember my dad was on his way home from the office and Willard mentioned he wished he had some ice creme. Dad went to some ice creme place and brought a huge amount tub to the station.

They were very good friends. A story I remember.

And we actually went on the Bozo tv show. Had a tour of the station too.

like the song says, "Memories like the corners of our minds"

Naturally, Joy boys had nothing to do with Gay.

And you are right. They couldn't sing it today.

Hell we used to call cigarettes Fags.

Laughter

July 4, 2008 - 07:28 ET by Gat New York

When people are caught lying or they know they are wrong they tend to laugh. Listening to Maddow (and the New Mexico turncoat - Richardson) you would think that Obama has ALWAYS had this policy. You can play the hundreds of video clips of him saying he would "end the war in 2009" and they would still say he never said that.

McCain better get his act together and start calling him out on each one of these opportunistic lies (let's stop calling them flip-flops).

2010?

July 4, 2008 - 07:42 ET by okiehawk44

For those who have publicly opposed our Iraq efforts, I want to suggest that you are either liars or fools or both.

To wit: March 19, 2003, America enters into war with Iraq. BO and others who were or began to be against America's involvement in Iraq promised to get troops out on many, many occasions and often used the excuse that you didn't control the purse strings. Then in November of 2006, you swept into control of the House and the Senate thus ensuring your control of the purse strings and yet nothing occured. In fact, just last month you allowed the funding to continue through President Bush's last year in office and into the late Spring of 2009. For the past year+, BO has said he will have American troops out within 16 months of assuming office. That is January 2009, and 16 months later would be what, July 2010?

So, all your lip flapping about how you are going to do this or that and patting yourselves for your courage etc, you may, MAY be out of Iraq -- the centerpiece of your entire party -- 7 years and 4 months later?

That's what you Democrats call action? If I ever was tempted to believe that you folks ever knew what you were doing, that in itself would convince me otherwise, and it scares me to death to listen to your promises to lead America out of any problem. You are not leaders, you are blatherers and mystic followers. Scary!

What, no love to Bigtimer

July 4, 2008 - 07:49 ET by Roger the Shrubber

What, no love to Bigtimer for posting this early yesterday evening? I demand justice!

Why thank you Rog... I am

July 4, 2008 - 16:48 ET by bigtimer

Why thank you Rog...

I am just now going through all the posts on some of the threads...I already posted below way before I saw your wonderful comment here...

No love indeed...

Sniffle..sniffle...

Mark....I just know you got that from me...lol!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Independence Day...

Btw Rog...I know you know very well how all this goes with the NO Love thing from your own experiences....hehehee...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

BT, you're one of the best

July 4, 2008 - 17:25 ET by Mark Finkelstein

BT, you're one of NB's best, and I'm happy to give hat tips, but I hadn't seen your mention of it. I watched RFTWH last night and was just too lazy to post on till this morning!

Hey Mark... I hope you

July 4, 2008 - 17:31 ET by bigtimer

Hey Mark...

I hope you know I was just kidding...

I thought about letting you know about this all, since I know you watch msnbc and keep us informed...but I was too lazy also.

Btw...what is RFTWH? This inquiring mind doesn't know..or better yet it would take too long for me to figure it out today.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Wasn't sure--many a truth is

July 4, 2008 - 17:46 ET by Mark Finkelstein

Wasn't sure--many a truth is told in LOL. Thanks for clearing it up.

RFTWH = Race for the White House, the David Gregory-hosted show that replaced Tucker.

Mark...oh okay...well then

July 4, 2008 - 18:07 ET by bigtimer

Mark...oh okay...well then we are talking about the same show...(I think)

Btw...when I posted the show wasn't quite over yet anyway and there would not have been a link yet even if I had wanted to send one.

I was very glad you had this on here when I came on early afternoon...it was the best laughter I had in a long time from msnbc.

Scarborough was fabulous...just fabulous.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

From Left To Right

July 4, 2008 - 08:25 ET by Cella

I cannot watch "Race to the White House" because it is so stuffed with left wingnuts. I could extend this metaphor on and on.

So as a result I missed this one show that has the right flank covered.

It was so good to view this video and watch Joe "go to the wall" to smack and flatten the smarty-pants Rachel.

What a phony broad

July 4, 2008 - 08:59 ET by Mrltavern

This Maddow broad is such a phony. I've seen her not only here but whenever she's losing an argument she does this. Laughing and then saying "OH you're so off the mark" or "you're so wrong on this" and blah and blah. She does that to keep the attention on herself and to entertain the idiot leftist sheep who are at home who do not listen and DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!

As far as I'm concerned MSNBC is a Frankensteinian organization. I say Frankenstein b/c I don't know if anyone remembers what Rachel Maddow used to look like a couple of years back. At worst she looked like a Bridge and Tunnel Dyke at best she looked like a boy.

My what a little hair style and rouge has done for you Ms. Maddow.

Mrltavern

July 5, 2008 - 00:32 ET by Rush Fan

Phony she is. I'm not familiar with the phrase Bridge and Tunnel Dyke. But as Seinfeld would say: Not that there's anything wrong with that.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm voting for Barack Obama now that an AP poll shows people would rather barbecue burgers with Barack Obama than with John McCain. http://news.yahoo.co...

Mr... Oh I remember well

July 5, 2008 - 00:47 ET by bigtimer

Mr...

Oh I remember well what she looked like before the make-up, hair-do remake the whole she-bang...she was on CNN before msnbc a lot....

...those shirts she wore with her foot-ball shoulders, and her hair was so butch...ect...and she was proud of it to-boot.

You are exactly correct on how she attempts to make distractions when her argument is getting blown out of the water...

That is exactly why yesterday so special...

I have waited a long time to see what I saw...

Who knew? I just happened to be lucky enough to catch it all live and laugh out loud for so long...

Scarborough was precious.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Rachel Maddow

July 4, 2008 - 09:01 ET by zachlind

I think she's a guy.

Its like putting lipstick on a pig.

July 4, 2008 - 10:21 ET by dronetek

She was better at pretending to be a man.

YOU ARE CATCHING ON PEOPLE...

July 4, 2008 - 14:41 ET by danybhoy

Ok NBers, we usually see Rachel here in stories about Olbermann(I'm not sure I can call him BathTubBoy anymore), & now people are understanding why I refer to her as Keith's "main man" or his "go to guy". Because I almost mean it. As for me calling her "the ever so sexy" Rachel Maddow, I'm trying to annoy/make sick/make laugh as many as I can at the same time.

"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth

Good-by Joe

July 4, 2008 - 09:30 ET by pilsener

If the feud reaches a point that only one can stay at MSNBC - it will be good-by to Scarborough.

The network keeps moving farther left and Rachel Maddow fits the target audience perfectly.

Does this statement worry anybody else?

July 4, 2008 - 10:11 ET by c5then

"We will be out of Iraq at 16 months, at the most. Because I'm the Commander-in-Chief, but I will still listen to the generals when it comes to tactics."

Obama actually thinks that the President should make tactical decisions "after listening to the generals"!!??? He actually believes that the President of the United States decides which platoon deploys to which area and which route they use to get there, etc. etc.???!!!

This statement proves that Obama should NEVER be allowed to be the commander of anything, let alone Commander-in-Chief.

It also is added evidence that he is really running to be dicatator, not President, IMO.

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.

c5then

July 5, 2008 - 03:29 ET by Rush Fan

I don't see anything wrong with Obama's statement that "I will still listen to the generals when it comes to tactics." Some famous leaders come to mind who were deeply involved in the tactics of war. Why weren't both Hitler and Mussolini tacticians? Look where that got them (thankfully).

Can you imagine a person who volunteered for the Military to honorably serve and, if necessary, die for their country having to salute anti-military Commander-in-chief Barack Obama? Especially if Obama happens to be standing next to his friend, the radical terrorist William Ayers. Enough said! You get the distasteful picture.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm voting for Barack Obama now that an AP poll shows people would rather barbecue burgers with Barack Obama than with John McCain. http://news.yahoo.co...

Maddow Disease

July 4, 2008 - 12:09 ET by Barker

Symptoms include laughing instead of listening, and shaking one's head 'no' when confronted with reality. In severe cases, the Maddow Disease sufferer will stick their fingers in their ears while shouting 'la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.....'

When Joe said that

July 4, 2008 - 12:34 ET by Delsa

I could not stop laughing.

Talk about being in the tank for SOBama. Geeze

I almost caught a glimpse of the old conservative joe during that exchange.

Oh where oh where did our little joe go???

We need to call it

July 4, 2008 - 13:11 ET by Delsa

Mad-Dow disease

Maddow = Keith Olbermann in drag...

July 4, 2008 - 13:16 ET by CT

...or is it the other way around?

Maddow vs Scarborough

July 4, 2008 - 13:59 ET by bigtimer

Lol...I commented on this yesterday on OT right after this happened...

I was laughing so hard when all this was happening...anyway...here is what I posted....

July 3, 2008 - 19:18 ET by bigtimer

I just listened to msnbc with Joe Scarborough taking Gregory's place tonight...the most hilarious thing happened with him and Maddow..I absolutely loved it..there may be a link later...I don't know...

Nevertheless the panel was talking about Obama's flip-flopping again today on withdrawing from Iraq during his Press conference or whatever you want to call all the BS...

She was the only one on the whole panel who kept defending him, even Joe brought up, I guess it depends on the definition of what is is...

anyway, she kept cackling when others would say different about Obama flip-flopping, plain and simple, each time she laughed loudly...

Finally Joe said something like "Rachael, I got to hand it to you...you have that Clinton Cackle down to perfection...."

I about died laughing...

It was the best!!!

Oh he got her good...

Like they say...pay backs are hell...

He walked off the set if memory serves me as a panel guest with her on as a panel guest not long back.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

She is a common sub-species of liberal

July 4, 2008 - 14:03 ET by Jonah Johansen

I am sure we have all tried to have a conversation with one of these.

No matter what argument you put forward or evidence you bring up, they
refuse to engage you in debate or dialogue because they act as if they possess knowledge
and intelligence that is so superior to yours; that it is beneath there
dignity to even respond to your ignorant nonsense.

The only rhetorical tool they have is ad
hominum mockery of you or anyone who disagrees with them.

It is important to not let them get away with it,
and Joe's response is a good example of how to deal with these anti-intellectual
hecklers. You stay on topic and you keep pressing them, you expose their
shallowness, you keep the focus on their non argument, their non responsive
mocking.

How to speak opposites

July 5, 2008 - 08:58 ET by ChuckM from PA

It's called "compartmentalizing". Being able to believe two opposite statements as being both true at the same time. That is what people who believe Obama doesn't flip-flot are doing, compartmentalizing. These opposite statements lie in different sections of their brain and are not connecting through rational thought processes. So, naturally, they are irrational in their thoughts.

→ Compartmentalizing

July 5, 2008 - 09:05 ET by Cool Arrow

See also "situational ethics", "flip-flop","pander", and of course my personal favorite as it includes a double entendre' of its own "going both ways".