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

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

How's this for a 'fair & balanced' panel on this morning's Today Show?: virulent anti-Bush partisan Chris Matthews and, uh, no one.

In fairness, Matt Lauer opened the segment with a clip of W addressing a crowd and getting in this devastating shot at Kerry's latest flip-flop:

"My opponent woke up this morning with new campaign advisors and yet another position. He's against the war again." Can I get an 'ouch!'?

Then a Kerry clip popped up, with Lurch bellowing that in Iraq: "I wouldn't have done just *one* thing differently, he would have done *everything* differently. Guess he would have scrapped the smart bombs and fought the war with BB's and punji sticks.

In a sign of just how frazzled and desperate the Dem ticket has become, another clip showed John Edwards snapping at a supporter who fretted that the campaign wasn't responding to W's attacks.

Edwards angrily admonished her to understand that "we're fighting for y-e-w-w-w-w-w." You know that a campaign is in deep trouble when the candidates start taking shots at . . . their own supporters!

Then there was a clip of VP Cheney wryly observing that "when it comes to foreign policy, Sen. Kerry should stick to windsurfing." To quote Shakespeare: "bwah-hah-hah!"

Matthews agreed that if Kerry is smart, he won't be spending any more time windsurfing through the campaign.

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

Matthews fantasized that in October, Clinton will make a dramatic comeback that will create "overwhelming sentiment" in places such as the inner city and south Florida. "He could be a Lazarus."

Mocking the situation within the chaotic Kerry campaign, Matthews mentioned that there is a joke going around. "The campaign is like Noah's ark: two of everthing, two pollsters, campaign managers, etc."

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."

Isn't that nice, in this age of terrorism? A reporter and "analyst" recommending that a candidate eviscerate his opponent?

Matthews opined further: "I think the real lead is about 7%."

To his credit, Lauer said that after the Dem convention people explained Kerry's non-bounce by claiming that there were few undecideds to be captured. He observed that in some polls W has opened as much as an 11% bounce. Lauer then, surprisingly and somewhat snidely asked:

"What happened? Did [W] get ALL the undecideds or did he convince some of Kerry's supporters to come over?"

Matthews: "The Bush campaign destroyed Kerry's credibility and it's been working really, really well. Kerry needs to play the same kind of hardball and discredit Bush, but must do it carefully."

Although there's no doubt where Matthews' heart lies, he seemed to manifest a certain resigned sense of humor about the situation, almost revelling in the blunders and hopelessness of the feckless Kerry campaign.

If the Kerry people were watching it must have been disheartening. Your staunchest media allies mocking you and your candidate, while portraying your opponent and his campaign as a juggernaut.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Chris Matthews is nothing more than a low life Democrat Socialist shill. He has worked for Socialists in the past and there is no reason to believe that he isn't working for them now.

No doubt. But I got an inkling that Matthews realizes that the game is virtually over, and has decided to settle back and enjoy the show as Kerry & Co. continue their meltdown.

[Paul_B]

> Matthews: "The Bush campaign destroyed Kerry's credibility and it's been working really, really well.

Thanks, GLGB. The good news is that it's not just the Bush campaign that did this, but a broad spectrum and citizens of various stripes. The Anti-Kerry factor in America is vital and broad-based and, evidently, growing. My blessings on it.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Very good analysis, IMHO.

[elhombrelibre]

Danke.

[Paul_B]

Ah, elitists masquerading as populists don't brook dissent well, do they.

[Paul_B]

> Open up a carafe of Whoop Ass!

May I suggest vintage 1971? Unequalled for its clarity.

[rabidralph]

He needs to play stickball in South Philly.

He would look so gay!

[sauropod]

Circle of Jerks.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

May I suggest vintage 1971?

Personally, I'd recommend the 1972, with it hints of landslide, or the '84, with strong whitewash notes.

[stockpirate]

But I got an inkling that Matthews realizes that the game is virtually over, and has decided to settle back and enjoy the show as Kerry & Co. continue their meltdown.

Doesn't appear to me that he is sitting back. I think he may realize that his ratings are going down and everyone is headed to Fox for the news. So he may need to find a Socialist Pol. to shill for a living for.

[sauropod]

Does it come w/ caviar?

[section9]

Well put.

Bush and his people have rightly identified Kerry's weakness: vacillation. Now Kerry has come out firmly against the war, once again ("wrong war, wrong place, wrong time, etc..."). Bush opened up on him, and rightly so.

Matthews is right in the abstract. Kerry does need to open up on Bush's vulnerabilities, such as they are. Kerry's problem is that Bush's credibility is so much more sturdy than that of Kerry. Matthews' advice, if put into practice, will make Kerry look shrill and negative. You'll see this in the debates as Mr. Hedgehog dispatches Mr. Fox once again.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[ProudVet77]

"Media pundint interviewing media pundit"
Intellectual incest.

[InvisibleChurch]

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."

oh, that's great advice... it's on the par with other offers of advice like "Get 'em!" or "Win the election!"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You could be right, but rather than real anger or desperation, I seemed to sense amusement in Matthews' tone, even thought it was coming at his own candidate's expense.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

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

Perhaps Kerry would have gotten the message better if Matthews had shouted "Allez La France!"

[Angry Enough]

Guess he would have scrapped the smart bombs and fought the war with BB's and punji sticks.

Uh-uh. Spitballs.

[SuziQ]

Matthews: "The Bush campaign destroyed Kerry's credibility and it's been working really, really well. Kerry needs to play the same kind of hardball and discredit Bush, but must do it carefully."

Kerry's supporters have been playing hardball, and folks have decided that they don't know what they're talking about. I don't think this next round of sleaze is going to make too much of a dent in the President's lead, either, but it depends on how solidly folks are behind him.

[new cruelty]

Media pundint interviewing media pundit... So much mental masturbation.

Ain't that the truth.

[Use It Or Lose It]

John Kerry: The Impotent Candidate