Filling in yesterday for Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball, Mike Barnicle showed what an understanding, compassionate fellow he can be:
We have some sad news to report this evening. Columnist Bob Novak has announced he has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He is retiring from the “Chicago Sun Times” to focus on his treatment and recovery. Bob Novak, despite your ideology, is a terrific guy, a good friends of ours. We certainly wish him all the best.
Novak is widely viewed as a conservative. Yet, despite that, he's still a terrific guy in Barnicle's opinion. Apparently, being a conservative and a terrific guy are mutually exclusive most of the time.
Chris Matthews must be reassured. His show's in good hands with Barnicle.
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Chris Matthews must be
August 5, 2008 - 19:03 ET by Chris NormanChris Matthews must be reassured. His show's in good hands with Barnicle.
I'm sure we all feel better knowing that at least one conservative has the liberal OK. I guess it takes being seriously ill to get it.
McNotObama '08
Matthews
August 5, 2008 - 19:16 ET by Mike BatesI know I'll sleep a lot better tonight knowing about the liberal OK.
There's nothing like getting
August 5, 2008 - 19:28 ET by Chris NormanThere's nothing like getting a liberal blessing to know that you're really an okay person. It's like being absolved of your sins.
McNotObama '08
Actually
August 5, 2008 - 21:57 ET by Matthew Sheffieldonly Obama has that kind of authority.
I take offense at your implication otherwise!
I'll take a different path
August 5, 2008 - 19:18 ET by GregEI'll take a different path on this one as a very high possibility, based on Barnicle's wording.
Something to ponder here. When he says "Bob Novak, despite your ideology, is a terrific guy....."....is he talking to the viewer? Is he saying to the viewer to look at Novak as a terrific guy despite what your [the viewer]'s ideology is? The reason I say that is that instead of Barnicle saying "your ideology," he would have said "his ideology" if he was referring to Novak. Based on the wording, it almost appears to me that maybe he was telling the viewer to set aside the ideology and view Novak as a great guy. He could have worded it a little differently for there to be no doubt in his meaning, but as it reads, it appears to me as I've described.
Just a thought.
Different path
August 5, 2008 - 19:22 ET by Mike BatesGood point. When I saw the program, it seemed to be as if Barnicle were directly addressing Mr. Novak "Bob Novak, despite your ideology" and then switched to describing him in the third person.
I could be wrong. Won't be the first time. Thanks.
M. Bates... I watched it
August 5, 2008 - 19:30 ET by bigtimerM. Bates...
I watched it live and took it as you did.
The ideology didn't need to be put in there...it was done intentionally in my opinion...I have never heard the msm say despite your "ideology" Ted Kennedy...blah blah blah...just an example.
These leftists that work at msnbc have a reason/agenda for everything they do and say.
Just my two cents.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Or maybe he just started to
August 5, 2008 - 19:24 ET by Chris NormanOr maybe he just started to say, "Bob Novak, despite his ideology, is a terrific guy" and just misspoke.
McNotObama '08
That was my take on it,
August 5, 2008 - 19:45 ET by motherbeltThat was my take on it: a verbal mixup.
But there was not a single reason to bring ideology into it. That's the liberal reflex of always having to get in a "dig." Gotta have that little insult in there, even when someone might be terminal.
So I would say that Mike Barnicle, perhaps because of his ideology, is a "no class, all A$$" guy.
Grudging and qualified
August 5, 2008 - 20:00 ET by Chris NormanGrudging and qualified graciousness, MB. I have never heard a television host address the viewers directly en masse as being of one ideology. It sounds too clumsy to ring right.
McNotObama '08
An astute observation. If
August 6, 2008 - 08:52 ET by Hero SquadAn astute observation.
If that's what Barnicle meant, he should've then said "...regardless of your ideology."
"Despite" carries with it a negative connotation.
One other possibility, and since I didn't see it I don't know the full context: Do Barnicle and Novak have a history of banter with one another? That sentence could be taken as someone making a playful dig at a friend. I don't think that's likely here, but just a possibility I thought I'd mention.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
It's funny how so many libs
August 5, 2008 - 20:05 ET by mattmIt's funny how so many libs seemed so surprised to find out conservatives are nice people.
They've been so brainwashed into thinking conservatives are evil, rather than just people with a different viewpoint, that they are stunned when they actually discover that conservatives are just as nice as anyone else.
Truth be told, they'd be more likely to find an ogre among the lefties.
We are nicer in fact,
August 5, 2008 - 20:15 ET by general companyLibs only believe what they are told to.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
And By The Way
August 5, 2008 - 20:24 ET by dunnro1Mike Barnicle, in spite of your inability to put forth an original thought given your plagiaristic past, you're really an ok guy too (was that sincere enough?)
Is there a video link to
August 5, 2008 - 20:36 ET by GregEIs there a video link to this somewhere?
I think Chris
August 5, 2008 - 20:41 ET by Delsamust HATE the fact Barnicle is doing his show!
It will be the last time he is the guest host!
RE: Novak? Barnicle has it exactly right.
I took it as
August 5, 2008 - 20:44 ET by Delsaa pluse Branicle thought Novak a nice guy?
I have to watch the clip.
If you are all right on the take of Barnicle's comments then I guess Matthew's is OK with Barnicle at the helm while he is gone.
Oh gee...What a guy Barnicle is!!!
August 5, 2008 - 22:22 ET by PrairieSkyHow magnanimous he is!!! Bob Novak, bless his little heart, is a great guy, even though he's a conservative... Good lord! It's as if Barnicle was equating having a conservative ideology with being, for example, an ax murderer! "What a great guy he seems to be, despite the fact that he's an ax murderer!" With this kind of thinking, Matthews better watch his step...Barnicle may take his job away from him!
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
I know this statement was
August 5, 2008 - 22:35 ET by fitzfongI know this statement was extremely obnoxious and insensitive, but give Mikey a break. After all, just like everything else he "produces", this wasn't his original thought.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
My opinion of Mike Barnicle
August 5, 2008 - 23:15 ET by maggieqpublicMy opinion of Mike Barnicle was much influenced by this Mark Finkelstein piece from Jan 2007.
http://newsbusters.o...