Posted on 06/01/2006 4:01:02 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
June 1, 2006
For the second day running, Chris Matthews has run a Hardball segment entitled "Does Hill Fit the Bill?" It's his way of asking whether Hillary Clinton would make a good presidential candidate, and, presumably, by play-on-words, whether she's up to the political standard set by Bill.
While Matthews hasn't squarely answered his own question, he clearly seems skeptical about Hillary's personal and political qualities.
His first guest on the topic this evening was the urbane Roger Altman, Hillary adviser and a Deputy Treasury Secretary in the Clinton administration. Matthews grilled Altman on Hillary's hawkishness.
Matthews: "A lot of people in her party, maybe four out of five Democrats, especially New York Democrats, are against this war. Think we never should have gone into Iraq. Hillary on the other hand OK'd the president's authority to go to Iraq and has subsequently stuck to that position, that that was a decision that she still honors, believes in, is by most standards a hawK. How can she lead a doveish party as a hawk?"
And later: "A lot of people, especially Democratic activists, who care about big issues like war and peace, are going to remember that when it got to the critical point of decision, she went with the Joe Liebermans and the Jane Harmans, she was one of the hawks, where most of the party stood with opposing the war. You don't think that's going to be a problem for her in the primaries?"
Things then took a more personal turn.
Matthews: "Does Hillary have a sense of humor?"
Altman, the good soldier: "Yes, she does. She has a good sense of humor." End of response!
And then, Matthews: "What are Hillary's hobbies?. I'm sorry, do you have any idea what her hobbies are? What does she do besides think about the public, public policy and issues and politics and all that, does she have some other Hillary world out there that we should know about to understand her fully?"
The guests in a subsequent segment were Dem strategist Hillary Rosen and GOP consultant Ed Rollins, who's working for KT McFarland - who is vying for the Republican nomination to oppose Hillary for her Senate seat.
Matthews panned Hillary's speech at the just-concluded NY state Dem convention: "I thought her speech wasn't too good yesterday. She was unsure how to use whatever notes she had. It just seemed to be be an odd day not to be prepared if it was such a big hype."
He had unkind words for her stagecraft as well. "What's all the dancing and clapping about? Why does she come to the platform clapping and dancing? What's the celebration about?" It does seem that Hillary has all the stage spontaneity of a member of the North Korean parliament.
All in all, it's not too hard to read between the lines: Matthews believes Hillary is out of touch with her party on Iraq, the biggest issue of the day. On a personal level, he apparently sees her as a humorless cold fish whose idea of a fun day off is reviewing Ira Magaziner's old plans for national health care.
But if Matthews is turning thumbs down on Hillary, who's his man to replace her at the top of the 2008 ticket?
Hardball/NewsBusters ping to Today show list.
The Pentagon has confirmed today that Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and al Zawahri have been captured and are being held at an undisclosed location.
NOAA scientist have issued a press release today claiming they have found a simple low cost solution to global warming (rumored to have been assisted by algore).
Greek officials report that Natalie Holloway has been found living on a local oil magnate’s yacht.
A UFO has crashed near Ft Wayne Utah, the alien occupants are alive and being cared for by Air Force personnel.
We’ll have these and other stories, but first, out top story; New evidence has come to light that strongly suggests that Bush did in fact lie about WMD’s!
I’m Chris Matthews, let’s play Hardball.
A person with no hobbies is letting some of the most enjoyable moments of life pass them by.
H. P. Lovecraft comes to mind.
What are Hillary's hobbies? WHO CARES...this is just ridiculous..this woman made a choice as to the life she wanted to lead, and whether you like her or not you have to admire her fortitude in getting what she wants. And as far as enjoyable moments? I think she's probably had quite a few in her WORLD TRAVELS and luxurious living.
i want her (hillary) to run...
I thought Hilly's hobby was befriending hotel maids.
Interesting that you mention travels. Don't know if you caught the segment, but that was in fact Altman's answer. He said that Hillary likes to travel, not just for political purposes. He mentioned that she remarked on her recent trip to Africa with Chelsea and expressed the desire to return there.
I hear she can do wonders with Eye of Newt and Lizard's Breath.
This really is too easy.
They're doing this so they can pretend she is the "comeback" candidate when the campaigns start
She has become so obsessed with aquiring power that she has foresaken everything else.
"Stone Cold Hillary" is my nickname for her.
I was thinking that too. But I do believe that in his heart of hearts, Hillary is not the kind of person Chris would like to go out for a beer with!
Or baking cookies.
I'm surprised Matthews didn't make fun of Hillary's "point and nod".
Clap, clap, clap, point and nod. It's old schtick, and she always does it...laughing like she's seen something really great out in the audience, so she points to it and then nods her approval. I guess the intent is to make her look appreciative of one of the little people out there.
It was always a hoot to watch Hillary, Tipper, Al, and Bill all on stage together, with each one of them doing the "point and nod". So phoney it was funny.
Listening to Hillary is the worst. Thank God she sounds like she does, because she is a major-league turn-off.
That photo still pisses the heck out of me.
It screams "This fake death was done by a person who has no concept of firearms!"
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