H/t FReeper hotshu.
Billed as a roundtable, it played more like a group therapy session for distraught Dems on the verge. Obama's polls dropping. An inchoate sense this might all be slipping away. Chris Matthews and his guests for the show-ending "Politics Fix" on this evening's Hardball were united in bemoaning Barack's plight. The host himself was the ultimate downer, analogizing Obama's campaign to that of . . . Michael Dukakis.
Matthews fellow sufferers were Jeff Johnson, host of The Truth on BET, and Salon.com editor Joan Walsh.
View video here.
Excerpts from the sigh-in:
JEFF JOHNSON: Starting from coming back from Europe, the Obama campaign didn't have the energy. McCain has done a miraculously better job of messaging than he'd been doing before. And lastly I think this last piece, with Pastor Warren at Saddleback, was incredibly more beneficial for McCain, the candidate, than it was for Obama.
JOAN WALSH: Yes, absolutely. I totally agree with Jeff. I think Obama is off his game and McCain is on it . . . Obama said he was going to swing back but really what he's saying is "please don't attack my patriotism." That's not being aggressive. And finally, I was really disappointed with his going to Saddleback, but also his performance there . . . They don't really seem to have a plan to counteract [McCain's attacks].
. . .
JOHNSON: The Obama campaign has not been able to counter the way that they need to . . . The Obama campaign has to find a better message than the one that they're using.
That's when Matthews made the unkindest cut of all.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, I've seen this campaign before: I think it was 1988. We'll be right back with the roundtable. It's what happened to Dukakis. You know, he wouldn't support the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. What's he up to? What's his problem with the flag?
Is Hardball heading into hide-the-sharp-objects territory?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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gotta be tough on Chrissy
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 22:27 ET by Captain Repusgotta be tough on Chrissy to realize that tingling in his legs was just a loose Gerble in his pantyhose
Great line...
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:51 ET by unkeeafThis comment deserves props... A classic...
MSM = PR firm for the Democrat Party
There is some justice after all
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:39 ET by Captain RepusThe thing that is really great about being able to make comments like mine is that I can assure you that all of the mouths on MSDNC read each and every comment in these blog posts that relate to them.
So, even though it is maddening for us to have to watch their endless conservative bashing and Obammy excusing on their shows and not be able to respond short of changing channels, it must be equally maddening to them to read what folks like us opine about their lack of values on blogs like this, and not be able to respond without exposing themselves.
delete
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 06:05 ET by motherbeltdelete
Ha ha ha ha..... You
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 22:19 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorHa ha ha ha..... You know... this would be true, if it weren't so funny.
Give the MSM the middle finger.... vote for John McCain! - BuxomAnnieMcGreggor
I watched this
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 22:25 ET by bigtimerI watched this segment with glee this evening....
Hide all sharp objects mode indeed...now I will await the men in little white coats coming to take them away in a few months....
This is getting to be well worth the infuriating coverage we have all had crammed down our throats for so long now that it's going to be worth watching all the msm melt-down...in living color.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Worth it, indeed, bt!
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 07:18 ET by motherbeltWorth it, indeed, bt!
The look on Matthews' face in that screen shot says it all!
How the mighty (and I'm talking about Matthews and his fellow sycophants) have fallen.
Last time I checked "change"
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 22:31 ET by dmd4jcLast time I checked "change" and "hope" is not a message. SO maybe the empty suit needs to find a message period. I guess infanticide wont work will it.
dmd... He's gonna' be
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 22:45 ET by bigtimerdmd...
He's gonna' be hoping for change... with his poll numbers before the roll call vote on the floor at the Denver convention...
He is reaping what he has sown with alot of words........
As he would say...they're not just words....words mean something....
....and infanticide is one of them.
Pay backs are hell...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Hi bt, I think Barry-O is in for a change in Denver, alright.
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:23 ET by R D HelmBut something tells me it won't be quite the "change" he is seeking. :-O
-Dave.
Vote None of the Above in '08!
There is no joy in Muddville, the Mighty Messiah has struck out
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:36 ET by JayTeeDenverville participants will be arriving on a Wave of MSM coverage that is not big enough to Surf upon.....The MSM Surge Strategy didn't work. The Insurgent Republicans are winning the Poll Game, and the MSM is confused.
While it's still a tight race, there has to be a lack of cheer for the Delegates arriving in Denver. Confidence is no where to be found, the Obama punches are missing their mark.
He needs to go to Europe to draw a Crowd.
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
you're right JayTee
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:47 ET by candanceRush has made the point before that this election should be a no brainer for the DNC. Economy struggling, oil expensive, everything is a mess. This should be a slam dunk. But yet the voters are miraculously shunning Obama.
A friend of mine who lives in the UK predicted that Obama's victory lap in Europe would cost him. Even they could see he was acting like a rock star. IMO this dip is in response to his Berlin speech, avoidance of talking about the surge, and missed opportunity to sound like a leader when Russia invaded Georgia. But it won't last.
Unless conservies grab onto this momentum he'll be back up in a few weeks.
Don't get too smug
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 05:48 ET by motherbeltDon't get too smug guys....no one knows what's going to happen..don't jinx it! Just enjoy it!
I think the O campaign right now is feeling like that villain in the old Bugs Bunny cartoon who says in sort of a Peter Lorre whine: It waaaas too gooood to laaast.
motherbelt and candance, I think Barry-O's poll numbers...
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 22:01 ET by R D Helm...are grossly over-inflated. Not by the pollsters themselves, but by the respondents.
Remember, many of the primary results, particularly toward the end clearly demonstrated that Barry-O's "support" wasn't as advertised.
"White guilt" amongst the poll respondents, ya know?
-Dave.
Vote None of the Above in '08!
Hey Tingles
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:14 ET by candanceIf NB passes the hat to buy you a nice bottle of Shianti you'll be all set.
Life is so hard for these poor little Dems.
bigtimer said:
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:17 ET by superconThis is getting to be well worth the infuriating coverage we have
all had crammed down our throats for so long now that it's going to be
worth watching all the msm melt-down...in living color.
Absolutely.
I can't wait for the convention to start next week.
It will be a disaster.
Ha Ha!
Victory in Iraq.
Liberals suck.
McCain for Preznint.
Let's just keep Fightin'
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:27 ET by neighbOk kids. Let's just not get too far ahead of ourselves. There's a long way to go and we need to realize that we're ahead 2-0 in the second inning....THAT'S IT!! The teams that win it all realize that they have to stay focused, pile on the lead, have a take-no-prisoners mentality, AND CRUSH THE OPPONENT.
I'd rather be celebratin' on November 5th than August 20th.
Resolve that TOMORROW each one of us will speak to two others about what would happen to our great land should Obama sneak in the side doors of the WH. And further resolve that you'll do the same EACH DAY for the next 10 weeks.
Having said all that, I do believe that the left in America doesn't realize one important, important fact: In a post 9-11 world, this is just a tad bit more conservative country, and it's citizens want LEADERS runnin' the show. America Haters soon wither and die on the vine. The average voter gets tired of having ANYTHING crammed down their throats, particularly the biased media's "overfocusing" of Obama, implying that we are not smart enough to make rational, well-thought-out decisions on our own. In other words, a vote against Obama this fall will be by many a vote against the media for insulting our intelligence.
Thanks, neighb
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:46 ET by Cool ArrowCorsi is on H&C calling Obama a liar.
Jill Staneck was on prior to him. Tough story to watch.
I've been pushing the BAIPA story for over a year here at NB, and it pleases me no end to see the gnashing of teeth on the left side.
It is my hope Obama's foolish venture into condoning infanticide is the primary engine in the juggernaut that squashes his hopes.
He quoted Matt: "If you have done it to the least of these, you've done it to Me (Jesus)." I believe he will come to ruin by those words. Life and death were set before us that night. Now we must choose whom we will serve.
I ♣ my seal
"The Obama campaign has to
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 23:33 ET by RESTLESS 1"The Obama campaign has to find a better message than the one that they're using."
That's gonna be tough. You first have to believe in something to message it. Oh, and socialism doesn't count.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
As has often been said ...
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:10 ET by KC Mulville... but deserves repeating nonetheless, the main reason Obama's campaign hasn't fought back is because the accusations are true. They have nothing to fight back with. He really is an empty suit. Obama's ads about the "issues" are nothing more than slashing comments about Bush, followed by vaporous promises for change. The idea that McCain is just calling him names, while Barry is rising above all that and offering substantive treatises on social economics ... that breaks the laugh-o-meter.
Another 'name' for Obama?
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:30 ET by BarkerWhat do they call those who falsify FEC disclosure reports?
WOW Barker
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:36 ET by Cool ArrowJust, WOW.
$850,000 poured down that hole?
Who owns it? ACORN?
$850K POURED DOWN ACORN HOLE
Now that's a headline.
I ♣ my seal
$850K POURED DOWN ACORN HOLE
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:52 ET by BarkerYeah, it is kind of hard to sweep that much money under the rug.
Isn't NoQuarters the same
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 02:21 ET by ckc1227Isn't NoQuarters the same site that said there was a video of Michelle Obama talking trash about America, or white people, or something like that?
Point being, I wouldn't get too worked up over allegations made by them. Not saying this isn't true, but it might not be.
I think you're right.
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 02:41 ET by Cool ArrowPoint being, I couldn't pass up manufacturing the headline.
I ♣ my seal
Yeah, that was my thought
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 05:59 ET by motherbeltYeah, that was my thought too.....I was thinking "Wow!" when I saw the headline, until I realized that it's Larry Johnson flogging the story. The guy does not have a sterling reputation.
The "Great Orator", Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 05:36 ET by KimberlyAs my mom and I discussed, B. Hussein Obama was just running away with this until Rush's "Operation Chaos" and Hillary's refusal to give up the race forced Obama to have to really campaign and really give answers to questions. Suddenly, voters who thought he was such a great orator began to notice that (1) without a teleprompter, he was a stammering mess, and (2) even his best messages were either full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, or contained too much liberalism even for his most strident supporters.
Obama better be up by at least 15 points going into November, or he's going to get swept up in a McCain landslide, and the Dems will once more wring their hands and wonder how it all went so wrong.
The MSM did more than
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:29 ET by maggieqpublicThe MSM did more than promote a liberal candidate. They selected a specific liberal democrat. Their preference may be unelectable.
I sense that Matthews may be having second thoughts about his choice. He doesn’t want to be singled out as being the cheerleader for a loser. (But the next bump-up that Obama experiences in the polls….. Chris will be back on the cheer squad.)
If Obama loses in November,
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 06:21 ET by motherbeltIf Obama loses in November, Matthews will have to take a leave of absence and go into therapy.
Remember when that one professional team lost the championship (I can't remember which, I'm not a sports fan) and they actually set up a help line for their fans to call and deal with their disappointment? The MSM will need that, on a national scale.
Their depression will be palpable. McCain will completely disappear, other than little bites about who he is choosing for which job, as they indulge in an orgy of "How did it all go so horribly wrong?" panel discussions.
The MSM fell for their own hype. They love to latch onto someone. After 1998, they were all agog over Jesse Ventura winning the governorship in Minnesota and immediately started hyping him for a possible third party Presidential run in 2000. (Unfortunately, Jesse self-destructed as Governor and blew their dream)
Take another look at Rich Noyes' blog from yesterday for the rundown of how they started promoting him four years ago! No wonder they are distraught at the thought of him losing!
Speaking Of Dukakis.....
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 00:54 ET by BarkerChris Matthews rots from the head down.
Or is it from the leg up?
Its not about McCain's attacks
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 02:45 ET by Parker1227Its about people finally paying attention to the fact that Obama's philosophy really is far, far, left.
No drilling - even though it is clear that our national security and economy depends on it as one of many things we must do (like more nuke plants).
Abortion without limit - including during and even AFTER birth.
Plays the race card, repeatedly, while pretending to be post-racial.
Caught in a post-modern web of cultural and moral relativism. Slow to make a decision and unwilling to admit a mistake (insecure and arrogant).
Not a freedom fighter. People have the right to live in oppression if they want! And its not our job to stop the spread of totalitarianism (like a farmer refusing to help his neighbors stop a plant blight - pretending it won't be on his doorstep next).
Hardball WOW
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 06:16 ET by Cool ArrowDid I miss some incredibly subliminal digs from Jeff Johnson? Because it seemed to me Johnson from BET was actually fair in his analysis of both campaigns.
I didn't carch Johnson commiserating with the other two shills.
Somebody help me out here.
I ♣ my seal
I don't know about
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 06:39 ET by motherbeltI don't know about "subliminal" but he does refer to McCain's surge as "miraculous" and "incredible." (This is just impossible!)
He also says (paraphrasing) The Obama campaign hasn't been able to fight back the way they need to. (Read: they won't "fight dirty.")
Howver, my feeling is that they haven't been able to fight back because they have nothing to refute with. Maybe that's what Johnson meant, in which case, he actually is acknowledging Obama's shortcomings.
OBAMA” “They made stuff up”
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 07:53 ET by reelman46OBAMA” “They made stuff up”
Say,
you are running for president in late August of 2008. Say a man writes
a book last month that goes to #1 and it really “damages-challenges”
you as a person.
What do you do?
Do you produce a signed press handout refuting factually its major points to blunt the book’s influence?
Do you verbally refute the most “damaging” charges in an exacting way at every opportunity?
Well, being a strident liberal this is what you do…you tell your pandering base audiences…”they made stuff up”.
This is the articulate precise response of the democrat presidential candidate fading in the polls and needing a boost.
Voters are supposed to accept that reply. Its nonsense. The press just lets it pass. That is also nonsense.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
I bet they go home and cut
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 07:57 ET by SRPwrdI bet they go home and cut themselves each night because this isn't a failure of the Obama, that would be impossible, this is a failure of themselves... they can't shape public opinion right like they have been trying to do. Obviously, we need some "Hope" that the big O can "Change" his numbers.
Trading Places
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 07:59 ET by Cool ArrowAnybody get the feeling we've seen this movie script before?
It's like Hillary is Dan Aykroyd and Barack is Eddie Murphy. George Soros and David Geffen are the Duke brothers who have a $5 bet going on the outcome?
Final act, Hillary and Barack team up? I'm just sayin?
I ♣ my seal
Finally Figured it Out
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 13:09 ET by AndyRThese commentators aren't really leftwing. They just figured out how to make a buck off the useful idiots at the expense of our country.
It's like when Ann Coulter called Edwards a girly man and the next day Edwards raised a million bucks by telling the idiots that they need him as President to counter the vast right wing conspiracy.
Ok, granted he wound up spending that on his girlfriend and the kid.