In response to Chris Matthews' claim that his job is to make the Barack Obama presidency a success, the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau chief Doyle McManus suggested the MSNBC host needs to see a neurologist.
Although I agree that Matthews clearly has a fixation that needs attention, I'm not sure it's physiological rather than purely psychological.
Regardless of the cause, the symptom was the source of discussion on Sunday's "Reliable Sources":
DOYLE MCMANUS, LOS ANGELES TIMES: That is not the job of the reporters covering Barack Obama. Chris Matthews you will recall is the pundit who had a thrill running all the way up his leg when he heard Barack Obama speak, so...
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST: And apparently it hasn't vanished.
MCMANUS: I guess it's still there. I think he needs to see a neurologist.
A few minutes later during a different segment, the Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page also took issue with Matthews:
I think Chris Matthews, reported him earlier, he misspoke. I think he meant to say his job is to support the institution of the presidency. And I think that's the job of all of us. How can that job be done better regardless of who is there.
That's an interesting take, Clarence. Do you think that's what journalists have done to the current president in the past five years, especially since Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and they collectively destroyed his second term by blaming this entire natural disaster on him?
Sadly, Kurtz didn't ask Page such a followup, which didn't surprise me for Howard wasn't his normal self on Sunday. In fact, in an earlier segment about the continued attacks on Sarah Palin, he actually said, with a straight face no less, "I think journalists were reluctant to come out and say just how prepared they thought she was for the vice presidency for fear of looking biased."
Don't believe me? Forward the following video to minute 3:00:
Are you joking, Howard? Since McCain named her as his running mate on August 29, such statements have been 24/7, constant, headline, front-page news.
Where have you been?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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In these heady times for the
November 9, 2008 - 11:15 ET by d1carterIn these heady times for the MSM, Kurtz has lost all credibility as a so called "media critic".
McManus did distinguish
November 9, 2008 - 11:16 ET by Gat New YorkMcManus did distinguish Matthews as a pundit and not a journalist, which allows him to get thrills up his leg.
What McManus overlooks is that journalists have not been journalists. At least Matthews has an excuse for being a propaganda mnister for Obama.
Mathews should check his leg.
November 9, 2008 - 11:33 ET by dammitThat tingle up his leg could bee a rat or a cockroach, given the sewer he lives in.
If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me
Thwap!
November 9, 2008 - 12:56 ET by CellaDammit,
I love your comment. It makes my flesh creep to happily imagine all of the creepy crawlers that could be crouching and creeping up this creep's legs.
The first step to recovery is realizing you have a problem
November 9, 2008 - 11:50 ET by Dee BunkMatthews is closer than these goofs because at least he admits he's in love. Not that I think Matthews will reform, but he's more honest than these people who just want to pretend they are being fair.
Dee
November 9, 2008 - 11:53 ET by Free StinkerJoin us for the Chat please? :-)
"Gov. Palin has been subjected to one of the most massive and dishonest pile-on smear attacks in the history of liberal media." -- Lowell Ponte
FYI - Free & other Chatzy people- just so you know
November 9, 2008 - 13:10 ET by Dee BunkI'm not offended. I know Shawn was just being his normal teenage gossipy girly self & trying to get people to say bad stuff about me. If anyone did - I didn't see it - and I don't care anyway because I know how he manipulates people.
People can say what ever they want behind my back anyway. I don't care. I judge people by how they treat me in person.
I'd prefer to just stay out of the chats if either Cool or Shawn are involved. They need the group acceptance a lot more than I do and I have no desire to disrupt people's fun. I'm the type who has a hard time keeping my mouth shut with their kind of gossipy girly bull so it's best for me not to be there.
There are no hard feelings from me toward anyone who enjoys those people, but I don't.
»→ Wow Dee
November 9, 2008 - 16:07 ET by Cool ArrowHow totally two-faced of you!
Here you are trying to make the following point:
And then you commence to talk about me in the same thread? A thread I hadn't even visited until now.
So much for that virtue about not talking behind others' back
That was tacky and laughably two-faced.
Looks like you're the "gossipy girly self"
~
November 9, 2008 - 16:09 ET by Dee Bunk~
»→ Good answer
November 9, 2008 - 16:10 ET by Cool ArrowDuplicitous behavior as you just displayed is impossible to defend.
Too funny.
Goebbels smiling in hell
November 9, 2008 - 12:54 ET by txtomcat"WHAT GOOD FORTUNE FOR GOVERNMENTS THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK"-- A. Hitler
I'm not sure I agree completely.
November 9, 2008 - 14:11 ET by pbthinkerI'm not sure I agree about Goebbels, but you basic premise is fine. Where I differ is that this campaign didn't need a propaganda minister, our free press did this willingly, of their own accord.
The pity is that, they either keep covering for Obama, as they did during the campaign, or the cover him legitimately. If they cover him legitimately, there are going to be questions, when he screws up, about why we didn't know about his weaknesses before this.
Matthews didn't say anything about the "office" of the presidency, if what I saw, he said this president. No one, in the MSM, has cared one lick about the "office of the presidency" for the past 8 years. There was a brief period, after 9/11, where they stepped back a little but, after the Democrats lost in 2002, many decided they couldn't do it any more and then, after the Iraq War began, more and more decided to get some Democrats elected. By 2006, almost the entire MSM was onboard with the program and of their own volition.
Democrats: Stuck on Stupid since 2000.
Duct Tape fixes EVERYTHING!
November 9, 2008 - 13:34 ET by TN MomDoyle McManus suggested the MSNBC host needs to see a neurologist.
A really large roll of duct tape should do the trick!
Instructions:
1. Place a big piece of Duct Tape across Chris Matthews's BIG mouth.
2. Place several pieces of Duct Tape across the camera lens.
3. Place an entire roll of Duct Tape over the microphone.
Note: May need to reserve some Duct Tape for Kurtz
'he needs to see a neurologist'
November 9, 2008 - 14:04 ET by JDWHow many people in our country suffer from neurological disorders? 12% of the nation is epileptic. How many of the elderly deal with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's every day? How many children live with Tourettes...?
The news media firewalls Obama facts yet is willing to use an innocent unhealthy segment of our society as an ugly comparison.
The 'attention' would not be physiological, but rather psychotherapeutic.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
Excellent point, Noel!
November 9, 2008 - 14:22 ET by GalvanicClarence Page: "I think Chris Matthews . . . ,meant to say his job is to support the institution of the presidency. . . . "
Noel Shapperd: "That's an interesting take, Clarence. Do you think that's what journalists have done to the current president in the past five years, especially since Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and they collectively destroyed his second term by blaming this entire natural disaster on him?"
I used to have some repsect for Clarence Page, but this last election campaign revealed a disingenuous side of him. He knew damn well what Matthews meant.
For me, the unfortunate thing about Page is that I believe his sentiment is the same as Matthews, and I had always thought that he was better than that.
Gal
November 9, 2008 - 14:36 ET by Noel SheppardGal,
Well, I've always liked Page. Yes, he's a lib through and through. But he doesn't try to hide it, and offers some solid opinions despite his biases. Very bright guy.
I met him at the convention in St. Paul, and he's just like he comes across on television, maybe even friendlier. He was just a regular guy interested in discussing politics even with the likes of me. ns
Noel,
November 9, 2008 - 15:37 ET by Chris NormanI'm so burned out that I'm all out of comments, except that I find it perversely humorous that, given the five ton elephant that is liberal bias in the room, these guys (like so many MSM types) will struggle to describe it with any terms other than what it obviously is.
Chris - I know exactly what you mean
November 9, 2008 - 15:54 ET by Dee BunkWhat else can we say or do - they could care less that we know how biased they are.
I'm at the point where I'm close to giving up. It's not worth it. Unless someone with the resources starts organizing people quick, it's pointless to continue to be this frustrated.
Conservatives have to start taking to the streets and protesting in large numbers or nothing is ever going to change. We don't have communist governments or Hollywood stars or Billionaire socialists to fund our protests so it's looking kind of bleak.
db
November 9, 2008 - 15:59 ET by TN MomI'm at the point where I'm close to giving up. It's not worth it. Unless someone with the resources starts organizing people quick, it's pointless to continue to be this frustrated.
We cannot give up...or give in!
consider this notion from Alinksy’s rule #5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.”
Don't worry TN mom - I'll never become a liberal
November 9, 2008 - 16:30 ET by Dee Bunkapologist like some here are. It's just not worth the aggravation of complaining over and over about something that never changes.
I need action. I'm willing to volunteer my time but there is no one organizing people. If I had the money or resources to do it I would.
Once Obama & the dems are in full swing - do you really think they will let massive protests go unpunished? If we don't do something soon it's over.
We had pretty big peaceful protests of the Planned Parenthood facility here and I actually had liberal friends that said they thought it should be against the law for them to protest because abortions are legal.
We are really dealing with a warped mentality. I have never shied away from ridicule - I'll stand up to the biggest of bullies and ridicule them right back. I'm not going to go to jail for it though and unless we do something fast, that is how it's going to be.
db
November 9, 2008 - 16:52 ET by TN MomI need action. I'm willing to volunteer my time but there is no one organizing people.
Both my husband and I have said we're changing to Independant. I just don't want to give the dems anything else to gloat about.
Want Ads:
Republican Leader to take the reigns as Party Leader of millions of conservatives. Must be willing to publically combat MSM's bias and MSM's constant Race Baiting. Must stand up for traditional values and unborn babies. A team-player who will listen to their base. Promote Free Market....Spineless applicants need not apply.
Good want ad TM - I want that too!
November 9, 2008 - 17:03 ET by Dee Bunkwe do need some grass roots movement also though
TN Mom
November 9, 2008 - 17:09 ET by cocodrieI'm going to use that in my letters to the surviving republicans in Washington D.irty C.ity, and in Baton Rouge. Thank you.
Holiday in honor of Obama?
November 9, 2008 - 17:24 ET by motherbeltThere is some organizing going on, but it ain't the kind we're gonna like!!
I just linked to this from Michelle Malkin's site.
Obama Holiday
Obama disciples will have planning meetings until Jan. 13
The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama's honor, to
organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the
200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12
1809. (emphasis mine)
I think I'm gonna hurl.
<sound of duct tape being ripped off roll>
mb
November 9, 2008 - 17:29 ET by TN MomI betcha it passes before he takes office!
A ONE day holiday for the ONE? I was hoping for a Kwanzaa-type holiday where we all could get a much needed WEEK off during the Christmas season!
Attention everyone
November 9, 2008 - 17:47 ET by cocodrieJust in time for Christmas. The new Barack Hussein Obama doll goes on sale tomorrow. Imported by the Kenya based "Yuben Roy Allysc rewdd" Co. actually made in China. No battereis needed. You pull the string and it talks for thirty minutes and says nothing intelligible. It never says the same thing twice. The only accessories are a Michelle doll that is too scary for children under forty and a plugs doll too stupid to speak.
OMG MB
November 9, 2008 - 17:32 ET by Dee Bunkthese people are so nuts
On first day of
November 9, 2008 - 19:25 ET by Ruths husband BenOn first day of ObaMas
My true love gave to me
One empty suit
On the second day of ObaMas
My true love gave to me
Two times the taxes
and One empty suit
On the third day of ObaMas
My true love gave to me
Three entitlements
Two times the taxes
and one empty suit
On the fourth day of ObaMas....
coco
November 9, 2008 - 17:31 ET by TN MomBe sure to put 'Spineless applicants need not apply' in Bold font and highlight in neon!
db
November 9, 2008 - 17:19 ET by TN Momjust give them a few months of an obama admin, surely someone will step up and lead us. Our grass roots movement barely got started when Palin showed up...we just ran out of time. That, and we were fighting 2 wars; Media and the Economy. Joe The Plumber almost single-handedly destroyed obama's message on taxes...but the time clock ran out. McCain was too safe, too nice-TN GOP came out with the first (I think) ad featuring Rev. Wright EARLY in the campaign, McCain TOLD them to take it down. TN GOP was also told not to use obama's middle name-Hussein in ads. Sad thing is were all going to hear the name Hussein a lot over the next 4 years; and our children and their children will read about Hussein in their classroom textbooks.
Oh, hell DB. Now I'm depressed.
Man-crush
November 9, 2008 - 16:06 ET by BeukeboomFace it, folks, Chris Matthews (as "the Beaver"...oh, that was Jerry Mathers, sorry) has a major man-crush on Barack ******* Obama. Unless that tingling in his leg is either a short in his IFB (e.g. - earpiece) cord or he's having strokes.
Ever Notice You Can't See Matthews' Hands When Obama's Onscreen?
November 10, 2008 - 02:07 ET by farstar99That thrill up his leg is probably sexual, but if it isn't, Tweety really should have that looked at, by a psychiatrist.
Journalistic malpractice:
November 10, 2008 - 10:36 ET by marpelJournalistic malpractice: Chris Matthews: Guilty, Howard Kurtz: Guilty, the entire boat load of MSM GUILTY. And they think the public believes what they say.
This is criminal.
Guilty as charged
November 10, 2008 - 10:38 ET by Sergeant ROCKSo then, let the sentencing began!
Alan KEYES 2012