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Matthews Insists Guest Agree this the Beginning of a "Big, Bad Year for Bush"
MSNBC/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 02/17/2006 6:52:24 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

February 17, 2006

It wasn't enough for Chris Matthews to analogize the Bush administration to a family of Mafia killers. He had to call President Bush "Fredo," the weak brother. Matthews' theory was that Bush was unable to control Cheney's handling of the shooting incident in a manner similar to which Fredo was unable to control his wife.

As he amply demonstrated at his press conference today, Harry Whittington is not on life support, but Matthews was working as feverishly as an EMS on a heart attack victim to keep the Cheney story alive. And in doing so, Matthews managed to be ungracious to perhaps the most gracious man in America, the very same Harry Whittington himself. Said a sneering Matthews:

"They dressed up Mr. Whittington rather well with a lot of make-up he looked great, I'm glad he's back, but he walked right back into the hospital again. What was that? "

Chimed in a 'helpful' Margaret Carlson: "I think he had his PJs on underneath."

Matthews stuck his dagger a little deeper: "He reminded me of Chernenko [the moribund Soviet leader] voting a couple years ago in Russia when the guy goes into a room next door, they made it look like a voting station, and the guy goes right back to bed."

So intent was Matthews on spinning current events into an omen of an impending annus horribilus for President Bush that he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer from his other guest, Mike Allen of Time magazine.

Matthews tried painted a grim picture: "This sixth year [historically for presidents] is the real sixth year problem and here we have it being kicked off with gunfire, the Vice President shoots someone, by accident, and with lots of questions lingering about it. Is this the beginning of the big, bad year for Bush?"

When Allen answered "not necessarily," Matthews cut him off: "don't say that. Help me out here!"


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: cheney; chrismatthews; hardball; margaretcarlson; mikeallen; msnbc; shooting; whittington
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To: MurryMom; Liz; Howlin
...and with lots of questions lingering about it. Is this the beginning of the big, bad year...?

The official White House lawyer was found dead in a park. Were there ANY questions like this? I fergit...

81 posted on 02/17/2006 8:19:08 PM PST by Libloather (I maybe a little off. I've got a touch of that bird flu...)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

We programmed MSNBC off our tv, so I don't even see previews. I haven't missed anything either. lol


82 posted on 02/17/2006 8:19:26 PM PST by petitfour
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
He made some snide remark about the President tonight that just frosted me.

Give me the information, don't get cute!

83 posted on 02/17/2006 8:20:34 PM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
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To: Baynative
Hardball - 219,000 viewers (78,000)
Paint Drying Channel - 310,000 viewers (97,000)
Grass Growing Channel - 222,000 viewers (79,000)
Spin Dryer Channel - 215,000 viewers (81,000)
84 posted on 02/17/2006 8:24:18 PM PST by 6SJ7
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To: OldFriend
I agree with you--Cheney's highest priority was to ensure that his companion got the care he needed, and that included respecting his privacy to the extent that he could. His second priority was to look inside himself, admit his mistakes, and learn from them. Notifying the MSM was a distant third on the list at best.

With regard to stage management, Cheney did have an obligation not to bungle his interaction with the media. And he didn't bungle anything. Waiting made a lot of sense, as did initial disclosure to a regional paper and his appearance with Brit. I know this whole thing was planned--no contingency was on the books for accidentally shooting someone. But, I'm in awe with how well it was handled. The MSM is still in a tizzy, but who cares--other than them? As long as they and the 'Rats are acting as juveniles in public this whole tragic event is working to the benefit of the 'Icans. 'Tis truly a thing of beauty.

85 posted on 02/17/2006 8:33:15 PM PST by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (How long do we have to pretend that Democrats are patriots?)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Did it ever cross Matthews' mind that the President of the United States had more important things to do Saturday night and Sunday morning than worrying about his VP's personal events?


86 posted on 02/17/2006 8:41:31 PM PST by Democratshavenobrains
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Spitting Chrissy likeable? No way........


87 posted on 02/17/2006 8:45:09 PM PST by Shortstop7
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To: Txsleuth; OldFriend

I saw Hardball tonight; it was a LOT worse than this.

He seems obsessed.

His big thing now is that this has "highlighted" the rift between Bush and Cheney.

Last night he said that not holding a press conference was Cheney's way of telling Bush who's boss.


88 posted on 02/17/2006 8:45:17 PM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"When Allen answered "not necessarily," Matthews cut him off: "don't say that. Help me out here!"

Who bothers watching that ass-clown anymore, anyway?

89 posted on 02/17/2006 8:45:55 PM PST by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American (Keep the adults in charge of Congress.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
The MSM is literally at war with this administration.

Just glad FOXNEWS is out there...and thinking that without the internet, President Bush would be Nixonized by now.

90 posted on 02/17/2006 8:49:13 PM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: Howlin

He just wishes that Bush and Cheney were on the outs...I guess so that if impeachment time comes, Cheney will "turn" on Bush....

I just think that Bush treats Cheney like an adult and an equal...and doesn't feel like he has to speak for him...or against him, if the MSM asks him to.


91 posted on 02/17/2006 8:51:56 PM PST by Txsleuth
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To: Jorge; All
YOU guys that can still watch fat chris's twiddle and twaddle are better than I. Just can't put up with it any more all too predictable; get Bush get Cheney, Scooter lied,get Delay, no wmd's blah blah blah.
92 posted on 02/17/2006 8:52:26 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support the New Media and F.R.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
No. Dubya's Michael. Neil's Fredo.
93 posted on 02/17/2006 8:53:30 PM PST by RichInOC (...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just couldn't resist.)
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To: TheClintons-STILLAnti-American

There are a few of us that are making the sacrifice of an hour of our days....JUST so you and other freepers can be aware of the conspiracy theories, the dems talking points...and the upcoming stories in Time and Newsweek..

You should be very grateful...we are warriors for FR, danggit!!


LOL


94 posted on 02/17/2006 8:54:37 PM PST by Txsleuth
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To: Supernatural
Don't those people have anything better to talk about?

Sure, they'll return to Gitmo torture, illegal spying, no WMD's, and all the standard Lib fare.

95 posted on 02/17/2006 9:02:59 PM PST by Cementjungle
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Simply Matthews having a wet dream. I hear he's down to three viewers....


96 posted on 02/17/2006 9:06:59 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: Howlin; Jrabbit; dfwgator

Ah...jeez, WBAP Radio, here in Dallas, an ABC NEWS affiliate is having a "special" about the Cheney shooting...

And Ann Compton just said that there is a lot of strain in the White House because Cheney left McClellan and Bush to answer questions...

BTW.. Mark Halperin will be involved in this...he used to be here in Dallas...was the ABC guy that told the news people to lean to Kerry prior to the election...in that infamous e-mail...

and whose father, is a MAJOR player in the progressive movement.

This is SO tilted against Cheney.


97 posted on 02/17/2006 9:13:42 PM PST by Txsleuth
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To: rodguy911

LOL...rodguy...we do it so you won't have to.

See ya on the Sunday thread...no doubt this will be a big topic since Mary Matalin and Maureen Dowd, David Gregory will be on the roundtable on Meet the Depressed.


98 posted on 02/17/2006 9:15:50 PM PST by Txsleuth
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To: DCPatriot
The MSM is literally at war with this administration.

Literally! I hadn't thought of it that way till reading your post. On the positive side, the MSM is losing badly!

99 posted on 02/17/2006 9:18:20 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: Txsleuth
"You should be very grateful...we are warriors for FR, danggit!! "

And please don't think I don't appreciate your sacrifice, not to mention admire your strong stomach--serially.

100 posted on 02/17/2006 9:21:20 PM PST by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American (Keep the adults in charge of Congress.)
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