"That's what they call a softball"

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200705050003?f=h_top

"That's what they call a softball"

Roughly 20 minutes into last night's Republican presidential debate, MSNBC's Chris Matthews asked Rep. Ron Paul, who is -- with a few exceptions here and there -- generally opposed to the existence of the federal government, if he would work to phase out the IRS as president. "That's what they call a softball," Matthews noted.

He needn't have bothered with the disclaimer. By that point, viewers couldn't have been surprised.

After all, Matthews began the debate by grooving a pitch for Rudy Giuliani: "Mayor Giuliani, how do we get back to Ronald Reagan's morning in America?"

Last year, Matthews gushed that Giuliani "may well be the perfect candidate to replace" President Bush -- who Matthews has memorably said "glimmers" with "sunny nobility."

Matthews' second question during last night's debate went to Sen. John McCain: "What would you need, as commander in chief, to win the war in Iraq?" When McCain answered that he would "need the support of the American people," Matthews declined to ask the obvious follow-up -- How are you going to get it, given that the American people want out of this war? -- instead asking, "Do you need anything, beyond what the president has now, to win the war?"

Roughly three weeks ago, Matthews all but endorsed McCain, declaring that he "deserves to be president."

Not that Giuliani and McCain are the only Republican candidates for whom Matthews has expressed fondness -- he recently swooned over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's "perfect hair" and "great chin."

Nor has Matthews waited for Republicans to announce their intentions to run before lavishing them with praise: He has said former Sen. Fred Thompson "looks like a movie star," adding that "people like movie stars," and he has described an interview he conducted with Thompson as an example of "when you fall in love with politicians."

[Berry Cool]

1. Yet more example of Tweety's drooling politician-worship.

You might as well hang a bucket under his chin when he talks about them.

Honestly, I have no idea how he ever developed his "reputation" as a guy who asks tough, biting questions and reduces people to quivering masses of jelly. I have yet to see him ask anyone a question that doesn't remind me of the kind of question a giddy fan asks his hero and role model.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

2. Tweety spends at least 60% of each broadcast pimping for himself.

He has made the mistake time and again of believing his own self-promoted hype. Anybody who celebrates the anniversary of his show each year with a week long love fest to himself is just inane and silly beyond belief. "Seven years....!" Whoop dee do. "Eight years...." New rule: If you haven't been on TV for at least 25 years let's cut out the self aggrandizing - I know I am as surprised as Tweety is that he still finds a network to air his stupidity but you don't need to throw yourself a party. Just enjoy the ratings bump you have gotten from Olbermann and shut the f*ck up.

He constantly asks questions of his guests and then answers the question with his own opinions every damn night. He is like a giddy teenager swooning over the latest pop idol in a magazine. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have photos cut out and taped all over his office wall just like my daughters did at 13. Remember when he was caught on camera thanks Delay for the "get" interview? The "sunny nobility" or the constant remarks about hair, looks, clothes, etc. are the things Tweety thinks are important. Tweety is about as deep as a mud puddle in thoughts, actions and political acuity. He states opinion as fact, never corrects his BS, and overall wastes air time and oxygen.

As a little arm chair psychology - Tweety needs a daddy figure in his life and he is willing to sell his soul for it. Chucklenuts, Ghoulini, Rommey, McCain, are all people who give Tweety goosebumps of manliness that I'm sure he thinks he lacks (he's right). Plus, he wants the cool invites to the DC social scene and he will do anything to get them. I'm betting he wasn't BMOC at school and this is the way he plays with the "in" crowd. Pathetic.

Tweety's "performance" at Thursday night's debate should be all the proof that Abrams needs to see that Tweety is in way over his head. Cancel the SOB or change the program name to "Nerfball" and be done with it.

/rant off

[Rydz777]

3. I used to think that MSNBC's "Hardball" was

"The John McCain Show" with Tweety as guest. "Furball" would have been a better name.

[WinkyDink]

4. IIRC, Tweety has NEVER waxed so homoerotically over any Democrat.

He probably begged to be the guy sitting in front of all those manly masculine Republican men.

[senseandsensibility]

6. Yeah...

It must be because the repugs are so much better looking than the Dems. I mean, Edwards and Obama are ugly dudes. Sorry, the smilies table isn't working for me, so I can't add the sarcasm thingee.

[senseandsensibility]

5. I'm glad someone is documenting this "commentary"

that the tweets is so fond of. Our memories are so short. I found that many DUers had already forgotten about (or never been aware of) his absolutely disgusting swooning over the chimp in his codpiece four years ago. We can't afford to let this shameless pandering disappear down the memory hole.

[maine_raptor]

7. One has to wonder if he even knows how he is perceived.

I mean does Tweety know that he is called "Tweety"? Does anybody ever say to him; "You know Chris that really wasn't a Hardball question" after his show is over? Does he live in a bubble too?

And the contradictions in his life: Ducked out of Vietnam by going into the Peace Corps. Worked for Tip O'Neil and Jimmy Carter, but has this man-crush on Republican politicos (usually the more "bad boy", the harder the crush, i.e. Tom Delay). The style of his interviewing technique (ask question, talk over answer) versus the image he tries to project (tough, but fair).

Of course, you do gotta give him some credit; he suffers from two major debilitating diseases; Diabetes and Malaria, but still manages to get his mug on TV as much as possible.

Best comeback line I ever heard, after witnessing one of Tweety's drooling rants, was issued by good old Keith on Election Night 2006;

"Have another jelly donut, Chris."

:rofl: