Chris Matthews began his interview of Dan Bartlett by singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in his honor. He ended with an apparently heartelt plea that Bartlett, who today announced that he will be leaving his position as counselor to President Bush, not join Fox News.View video here.
Bartlett was a guest on this afternoon's Hardball. In a segment beginning at 5:24 pm EDT, Matthews first sparred with Bartlett over the rift between President Bush and his conservative base over immigration reform. At the end of the interview, talk turned to Bartlett's future plans.
HARDBALL HOST CHRIS MATTHEWS: What job are you going to take now? What have you got in your mind? You must have some big vision of greatness out there.Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
PRESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR DAN BARTLETT: I've got a vision but it's not reality yet. Because, the bottom line is that it's too hard working within the West Wing to actually try to seek a job on the outside. Now that I've said I'm going to leave I'm going to pursue some opportunities. Don't know specifically what they may be. It may keep me here in Washington, it may take me back to Texas. But I look forward to taking on a new chapter in my life.
MATTHEWS: Well, don't go work for Fox, OK?
BARTLETT: Or MSNBC.
MATTHEWS: No! We might be offering a job right now to you! Come by and talk to the "peeps" here.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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How many ex-Dem staffers are
June 1, 2007 - 17:11 ET by mattmHow many ex-Dem staffers are now media-ists as compared to ex-Repub staffers? I'd like to know...
mattm,That is a good question
June 1, 2007 - 17:15 ET by msh1973mattm,
That is a good question.
Its as incestuous as a royal
June 1, 2007 - 17:22 ET by USA4freedomIts as incestuous as a royal wedding.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
matt,Good question. Follow up
June 1, 2007 - 17:31 ET by Chris Normanmatt,
Good question. Follow up question: How many are masquerading as "neutral" observers, analysts, and reporters, like Stephanopoulos, Russert, Cuomo, et al. At least Fox News puts ex-staffers on as commentators in things like debates. They don't pass them off as non-partisan analysts.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
You can start with former Dem
June 1, 2007 - 20:35 ET by Gat New YorkYou can start not only with former Democrat staffers Tim Russert and George Stephanopoulus, but also Chris Matthews.
Somehow I think Matty would already have that info
June 1, 2007 - 17:44 ET by SportPoliticsSomehow I think Matty would already have that info readyif it were the case that MSNBC was thinking of offering Bartlett a job.
I suspect if Bartlett talked to the "peeps" they would barely be able to contain their disdian and laughter.
The worst part would be 14 years unblemished from scandal. That's probably an immediate disqualifier since there is no angle to threaten compliance with.
interesting
June 1, 2007 - 17:47 ET by LionKingWhy would MSNBC be interested in hiring a conservative?
I find this very interesting.
LK
June 1, 2007 - 17:51 ET by SportPoliticsObviously it was Chrissy coverup for his FoxNews quip.
Why would MSNBC be interested
June 1, 2007 - 18:02 ET by Chris NormanWhy would MSNBC be interested in hiring a conservative?
Because every Conservative they've hired - like Scarborough and Carlson - has become a "Moderate". Apparently, MSNBC is a giant brainwashing machine. :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
too funny, chris
June 1, 2007 - 18:08 ET by LionKingThat's too funny. It would explain a lot though.
Just think what would happen
June 1, 2007 - 18:13 ET by Chris NormanJust think what would happen if they hired every person in the Republican Party - why, there'd only be Democrats, after that! It'd be like an episode from the Twilight Zone... :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
movie time
June 1, 2007 - 18:18 ET by LionKingCheck out the movie Idiocracy . It kinda predicts the future if dumbocrats are left in charge...an unintentional slap at them, probably part of the reason it did not do well. Well, actually, it wasn't that great a movie, but the premise is pretty damn funny.
Wow. Was it even released or
June 1, 2007 - 18:27 ET by Chris NormanWow. Was it even released or did it go straight to video? I don't even remember seeing it advertised. I was thinking something along the lines of The Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man", or even better "The Stepford Wives". Maybe we could call it "The MSNBC Conservatives"...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I saw the segment, actually i
June 1, 2007 - 18:47 ET by sarcasmoI saw the segment, actually it ended after what's quoted above, and Matthews said something very nice about this guy not-having any scandals for 14 years or something. I'm not sure this one's a mediabias home-run (see, Dave Johnson & James Boyce? NB can't even be "silent" about THIS, despite the empty words of unintentionally-funny lefties like you guys!).
JMR
If you check the video link
June 1, 2007 - 19:10 ET by Mark FinkelsteinIf you check the video link I provided, you'll find Matthews' sign-off where he mentioned Bartlett's unblemished 14-year record.
I'm on dialup at the moment
June 1, 2007 - 23:08 ET by sarcasmoI'm on dialup at the moment, but I believe you. My point was, your written transcript's sudden stop before the actual end/signoff makes the Fox/MSNBC job suggestion seem less like the joke it seems to be in the video, and more like something Chris actually cares-about -- and even there, as far as we know, Chris could actually just be reacting to a network that keeps Olberloon around despite low ratings. But for sure Matthews was very nice to this guy, and if all the blatant mediabias that's equal to this IMO friendly Fox-joke you see as a "heartfelt plea" against "my" guy had to be mentioned 'round these parts, it'd be "all Ron Paul all the time" on NB, instead of silence punctuated by the occasional difficult-to-rebut swipe from the "editor's picks" section.
JMR
"Hardball With Dan Bartl
June 1, 2007 - 19:52 ET by Teamcheeser"Hardball With Dan Bartlett" -- I LIKE IT!
Chrissy has peeps? I didn't k
June 1, 2007 - 19:59 ET by Airforce_5_OChrissy has peeps?
I didn't know he street cred.
Like Karl Rove rapping, middl
June 2, 2007 - 08:37 ET by Roger the ShrubberLike Karl Rove rapping, middle-aged white men should not be using black slang.
It is embarrassing.
Chrissy is just jealous....
June 1, 2007 - 21:39 ET by charlietexasChrissy is just jealous......CAUSE he has no ratings and Foxnews would hire him for janitor.....loser
I was thinking the same thing
June 2, 2007 - 08:36 ET by Roger the ShrubberI was thinking the same thing. It would be yet another person that would kick Chrissy's chubby pale, white ass in the ratings.... I mean, how long can a list get? haha
admendment to one line of the
June 2, 2007 - 09:05 ET by OklahomaIsShapedFunnyadmendment to one line of the transcript;
MATTHEWS: Well, don't go work for Fox, OK?.... HAI!!
anyone got any better spelling suggestions for that odd bird-call-sounding noise matthews makes?
"everymorning and everyday, I bossa nova with you"
Matthews and Bartlett
June 3, 2007 - 15:44 ET by CellaI can't watch Chrissy for more than a few minutes. For some reason I watched this discussion and my straw was finally snapped once again when I heard his insane plea to Bartlett.
Matthews is completely unhinged.