Joe Scarborough has escalated his running war with the conservative blogosphere. Clearly stung by being branded a RINO—among other things—Scarborough lashed out at "conservative bloggers" this morning.
Springboarding off his handicapping of the GOP presidential primary, in which he asserted that only Romney, Gingrich and Huntsman have a shot, Scarborough said: "I'm right all the time. And I know my Republican party better than you know your Republican party and it pisses you off and I understand why it would. Because you're always calling me a RINO and I'm always right about my party and you're always wrong." Video and more after the jump.
WILLIE GEIST: Who on that scorecard--we keep talking about an anti-Romney candidate--who is it?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Here's the top three; it really is. You know, the thing is, Perry is, Perry's finished. Huntsman's sitting at 1% in South Carolina, he's sitting at 1% nationally, he's at 5, 6, 7, 8% in New Hampshire. He's got to catch fire in New Hampshire, got to catch fire in South Carolina. But, I've got to say, those [Romney, Gingrich, Huntsman] are the only three that can go the distance. Maybe Huntsman stays at 1%--but he's got a shot. Gingrich: I think Gingrich now is moving in as we said a couple of weeks ago; he's moving in to that second spot.
Those top three people on that list are the only people that can win the nomination. Mark it down--I know it's going to tick a lot of people off. I'm sorry: that's the reality, and I hate to tell you the truth when it upsets you so much--I don't want to screw up your morning. I'm just always right and that offends you too--but go ahead. I'm talking to right-wing bloggers now. Nothing personal. Right-wing bloggers, I know it drives you crazy: I was right about Bachmann. I was right about Perry. I'm right all the time. And I know my Republican party better than you know your Republican party and it pisses you off and I understand why it would. Because you're always calling me a RINO and I'm always right about my party and you're always wrong.
MIKE BARNICLE: The people who are going to get upset, and you know, start Tweeting from the basement--right now, they're Tweeting --
SCARBOROUGH: With the Cheetos --
BARNICLE: Yeah. Should take a look at the calendar, because with Christmas and New Years in effect you have six weeks. Six weeks to do this: come on!
