Posted on 02/14/2006 5:18:13 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
February 14, 2006 - 19:52
Thirty-six minutes into tonight's Hardball, host Chris Matthews finally permitted a Cheney defender, former Cheney aide Ron Christie, to grace his program. Even then, Christie was not given an unobstructed opportunity to make his case, having to share the segment with hyper-partisan Dem consultant Bob Shrum - he of the record-breaking number of losing presidential campaigns - who tried to drag in everything from Iraq to Hurricane Katrina.
Until Christie's belated appearance, Hardball was an absolutely ceaseless calvacade of criticism heaped on the Veep and his handling of the shooting incident that included:
clips of NBC reporter David Gregory haranguing Scott McClellan; file footage of Gloria Borger supposedly tripping up Cheney over the Saddam/Al-Qaeda connection; MSNBC reporter David Shuster's decidedly downbeat portrayal of events; a grim assessment from Washington Post reporter Jim Vandehei; a pessimistic view of Whittington's medical situation by former NIH director Bernadine Healy; and finally a panel discussion with former Clinton Press Secretary Dede Myers and DC factotum David Gergen The abuse heaped on Cheney was absolutey unrelenting.
And as soon as Christie exited stage right, he was replaced by the puerile Bill Maher, who in 2000 didn't find even Al Gore sufficiently left to suit his tastes, opting instead to support Ralph Nader.
Maher claimed that the handling of the incident was emblematic of the Bush administration's approach to every issue: "screw something up, lie about it and blame the victim." Matthews was so eager to join the hate fest that eventually Maher himself had to stop him: "Chris, you don't have to convince me that Cheney is a bad guy."
The apotheosis of vitriol came from Matthews himself when, in discussing Cheney's alleged disdain for the press with Myers and Gergen Cheney's, asked:
"Does he hate the President too?"
With no positive agenda or constructive proposals to offer the American people on anything from Iraq to Social Security, Democrats and their MSM echo chamber have fastened on the shooting incident like a starving dog on a bone.
I stopped watching him years ago.
Matthews doesn't have the b**ls to allow anyone but Democrats and other members of the fantasy community on his show. I guess he learned his lesson after Zell Miller shreaded him to bits. When he does allow Bush defenders, they have have some Democrat gorilla on hand to shout them down. The man has the intellect of a well trained house cat and the courage of a rat.
Hollywood brought us "Get Shorty" and Chrissy brings us his nightly "Get Bush/Cheney" show. He froths and foams at the mouth. His hatred is visceral. I don't mind this if he'd just be honest about it and tell viewers that his nightly guest roster and subject matter is designed to beat up Bush.
Hardball/NewsBusters bash-fest ping to the Today Show ping list.
He is the no 00 type. Hard to watch.
And they mock Fox for being 'fair and balanced'
For the most part that's true, but tonight he did allow Ron Christie a few moments. Mr. Christie basically took the Rush Limbaugh approach and threw up his hand and laughed at the foolishness. Not to diminish his appearance though, when allowed to speak, he was excellent. He is bright and knowledgeable, made great points, didn't allow Hissy to filibuster him and I hope we see him more.
Good grief! You've either cloned yourself or you have a constitution stronger than most mere mortals!
Meanwhile, Chris what's-his-name is apparently doing his best to keep his message alive. I haven't watched him in years. What a silly man he is!
Frankly, by the time tonight rolled around, I was feeling burned out by this story. But Matthews' coverage was so breathtakingly biased that it roused me to post a thread.
KEEP TALKING MEDIA .. YOU ARE CONTINUING TO TURN THE PUBLIC OFF!!!
I believe Mark has built up a very strong immunity over time and many careful controlled doses of media. It's dangerous work and we lose a few in the buildup process however its a needed service here at FR. :)
LOL!
thanks so much for the report. I like knowing just how "over the top" the show will be, but no way could I bare to watch that little man, that despicable, angry, quasi comedian take his cheap shots, aided and abetted by straight man Matthews.
Thanks xp. Just hand me a Prilosec OTC and a TV remote, and I'm good to go ;-)
Maher tests the absolute limits of my endurance too.
Was David Gregory the "sloppy seconds" turd?
Yer a better man .............
Thanks!
That was erstwhile CBS reporter, now of CNN, John Roberts: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2005/10/31/publiceye/entry997460.shtml
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