Chris Matthews to Kerry on Today Show: "Open Bush Up Like a Can of Tuna"

The Today Show

[iceskater]

Then there was a clip of VP Cheney wryly observing that "when it comes to foreign policy, Sen. Kerry should stick to windsurfing

Ouch. That'll leave a mark.
Cheney can be sooooo devastating with his turn of phrase.

[Christian4Bush]

Now it is time to close the deal.

I went to a local 7-Eleven store here on the Left Coast (Los Angeles). They are doing some kind of "Rock the Vote" contest, and right below the entry forms is a stack of Voter Registration Forms.

It will be on the way to the CA Secretary of State today.

If Kerry's campaign is indeed on the scaffold, on Election Day we must pull the lever, and finish the job. We know the media will lie. We know they'll try to call states for Kerry that he's not won. We know that they'll cry about a faux disenfranchisement of black people...and so it goes.

For Republicans, the party symbol is an elephant. We need to have memories like an elephant, remembering what Gore and his peeps tried to do four years ago. For Democrats, their symbol is...uh...a jackass...which is what we'll be, if we don't register to vote, actually go and vote, and continue to do so until 8pm Standard Time at the place of our polling.

Let's close the deal in EXACTLY 8 WEEKS FROM TODAY. (not that I'm counting...)

[reformedliberal]

With a healthy heart muscle, the recuperation period is 6-8 weeks. That is cutting it rather fine, IMO.

Also: BJ has now had a taste of mortality. He may really baby himself, avoid stress, concentrate on a healthy lifestyle. IIRC, he is going to not have a sex life for that first couple of months, either. That may be his first priority after the surgery. Of course, he may also be put on meds that will interfere w/his *performance* for some time to come. This may lead to depression. And then we have the real question: does BJ want Kerry to win? Kerry's loss is about the only way BJ is going to return to the WH.

But let's say BJ has a fast recovery and hits the campaign trail or the talk shows for Kerry. Let's say he doesn't spend the time alloted just talking about himself. What is his recent track record? Pretty pathetic, actually. Clinton's vaunted gift for retail politics is simply about Clinton's personal persona and its effect on people. I cannot see any way he can give Kerry a charisma transplant. Even if he appears w/Kerry for a solid 2 weeks, it will simply take the attention from Kerry and put it on BJ. I can also see this having a blowback effect on the campaign. Only Clinton's hardcore 40% wants a return to the Clinton years. I see no way people are going to be convinced that a vote for Kerry will accomplish that sort of time travel, even if a plurality would want it to happen. This is a post September 11 world. I doubt there is a plurality for Clinton or his wife today.

BJ Clinton as Deus ex machina? Fugheddabodit.

Matthews is whistling past the graveyard, IMO.

[gimme1ibertee]

Hey Kerry, here's some free advice...When digging a hole,be sure to climb out before it caves in on you.

OOOPS!...Too late!....My bad..

[connectthedots]

Then Matthews offered some free advice of his own. "Kerry needs to open [Pres. Bush] up like a can of tuna fish on his credibility, his soft spots."

As if Matthews knows anything about credibility.

[edwin hubble]

Chris Matthews forgot himself and went on talking about "what we've got to do" against Bush. "What our strategy should be", to destroy Bush's credibility.

Only later did he he note that Bush had, over the last month, very effectively hammered away at Kerry's credibility.

[Mo1]

"That's a rich guy having fun. Where are his friends? He needs to play stickball in South Philly."

Ummm Chris .. the last time Kerry was in South Philly he ordered a Cheesesteak with Swiss Cheese

After that .. Kerry could never show his face in South Philly again

[loveliberty2]

Chris Matthews' attempts last night to browbeat the cardiologist he interviewed into agreeing that Bill Clinton would be able to campaign for Kerry in October was absolutely pitiful!

He must believe that Clinton is the only thing to save this election. But to liken him to Lazarus is going a little overboard, even for Matthews!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

What are you objecting to? Sounds like most of the same things you hear here on FR all the time.

The difference is that Free Republic openly describes itself as a gathering place for conservatives. NBC and The Today Show would have people believe they are 'objective' news outlets.

As for the 'tuna' comment, as I've responded to others, I have no problem with the notion, but point out that if a GOP strategist employed similarly violent imagery the liberal press would get all over him.

[onyx]

He can't show his face on Meet the Press because he knows that the first question out of Russert's mouth would be: "Senator Kerry, were you ever, EVER, in Cambodia?"




Don't count on it.
Russert isn't much better than Matthews.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Let's just say I'm not holding my breath to see Kerry on Special Report with Brit Hume any time soon!

[onyx]

You're right.
He'll avoid FOX, just like Gore.

[meema]

bump to read all later

[Texasforever]

Chris just gave it away. Clinton will "leave his sickbed to campaign for Kerry". I was shocked when I heard all the talk about Clinton being out of commission for 3 months. I had a quadrupole bypass and was back to work and on the lake fishing in 6 weeks.

[HIDEK6]

Oh yeah. That will really capture the vote. Snidely richguy posing with the 'hood.

I say, who among us does not love stickball?

[HIDEK6]

Oh yeah. That will really capture the vote. Snidely richguy posing with the 'hood.

I say, who among us does not love stickball?

[bootless]

Ewww.

And of course, there was al Quaerry's delightful comment that he couldn't bring that shotgun to the debates.

[bootless]

it's on the par with other offers of advice like "Get 'em!" or "Win the election!"

By the way, did anyone on this thread see Tom Brokaw on Election Night 2000 say, "Oh good, we're ahead." when one state pulled ahead for Gore?

[lainde]

bttt

[meema]

bump