Senator Matthews?

April 16, 2008

In case you missed it, earlier this week, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews suggested he’s actively considering running for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat in 2010. Seriously.

When Stephen Colbert brought up the subject, Matthews stopped smiling, stopped joking around, and responded, “Did you ever want to be something your whole life?” He added, “Well, it’s something you grow up, and you want — some kids want to be a fireman. I want to be a senator.”

Colbert responded, “That’s an announcement,” and Matthews didn’t make any effort to contradict him.

Of course, Matthews is talking about Arlen Specter’s seat, and he apparently isn’t planning to give it up anytime soon.

Unfortunately, Specter’s cancer has returned…

A statement released by his office said that a medical scan, followed by a biopsy, had detected an early recurrence of Hodgkin’s disease, which is a cancer of the lymph system. Mr. Specter, 78, a Republican from Pennsylvania, was treated for the same type of cancer in 2005 and was later given a clean bill of health. “I was surprised by the PET scan findings because I have been feeling so good,” Mr. Specter said in the statement. “I consider this just another bump on the road to a successful recovery from Hodgkin’s, from which I’ve been symptom-free for three years.”

…but he’s still planning to seek re-election in 2010.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said Wednesday that his recurrence of Hodgkin’s disease would not affect his decision to run for reelection in 2010, when he will be 80 years old. […]

He said he has received well-wishes from his Senate colleagues, but added that he expects his political opponents to use his health problems against him in the future.

“And do I think the Democrats will exploit it if they have an opportunity? Yes, I would expect them to,” Specter said. “I just don’t anticipate giving them any opportunity.”

Would Matthews challenge Specter? Would Matthews run as a Democrat? How quickly could the netroots rally support for his primary opponent?

Stay tuned.

Rally support for whose primary opponent, Specter’s or Matthews’?

And he would definitely run as a Democrat.

And what would we call an orange if it were a different color?

  • Tweety as a candidate? It might happen only if he would shut up long enough to circulate petitions, shut up long enough to interest voters and get on the ballot, and just plain shut up.

  • He is an absolutely perfect fit for the job:

    1) An oversized ego? Check.
    2) No feedback loops measuring the public scorn he engenders? Check.
    3) Ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth? Check.

    Book him Dano.

  • Jeff(1): Why definitely a Dem? Are you relying on the fact that he was an assistant to Tip O’Niell? I don’t see him appealing to either party. And his Machiavellian book describing the wonders of slickness won’t help him. Even if he doesn’t get it.

  • I hope he runs, and loses in the primary. That way, he loses his airtime AND doesn’t get to be a senator. I am so incredibly sick of that guy, words can’t even describe . . .

  • His contract with MSNBC expires next year, and with a 5 million dollar salary, things are probably not looking up for his punditry career.

  • Matthews’ communication is composed totally of misspeaking. His whole schtick is a gaffe–“a socially awkward or tactless act.”

  • I think Matthews would run on a third party ticket: Lieberman for Pennsylvania. Some enterprising resident of PA should grab all the good domain names now!

  • Talk about a guy who is out-of-touch. He can’t even get in touch with his guests, a few feet away.

    I just love it when with a few words he asks a question, then just as the guest starts to jump in, he starts to editorialize as the guest tries in vain to get a word in edgewise.

  • I thought I saw that he said recently that while he used to be a Democrat he’s a Republican now. I know he said he voted Bush in 2004.

    And I’m sure Steve meant a primary challenge to Matthews if he runs as a Democrat.

    However, I actually would favor Matthews running, hopefully as a Republican. It would get him off TV, and when he gets destroyed he might realize that the politics of stupidity isn’t appreciated by the American public.

  • “Well, it’s something you grow up, and you want — some kids want to be a fireman. I want to be a senator.”

    First of all, the idea that Chris Matthews is a grown up is far fetched.

    The idea that he is a Democrat is downright ludicrous. Anyone who has ever seen him on TV and thinks he’s a Democrat also has some growing up to do, Jeff.

  • TV pundits are all multi-millionaires who have no idea how ordinary people live and are paid gobs of money to spew Washington beltway drivel, and don’t seem to realize that a real world exists outside of the bubbles in which they live. It is infuriating to watch them preening before the cameras, so smug and self-satisfied with their privileged lots in life. I think Andrea Mitchell is the worst. She smirks, like Bush, with this attitude of entitlement to the good life.

    That said, I watch as occasionally Chris Matthews switches into real mode, and talks almost eloquently about the fiasco in Iraq, or working class folks in Pennsylvania, and I’m always startled by this stunning, but all too fleeting transformation. Then he reverts back to form. I’m convinced there’s a real person inside his self, trying to bust out, but he just can’t quite make it..

  • Good gawd, NO. When I saw that I nearly threw my shoe into the TV.

    I’d vote for Specter before I’d vote for Matthews. At least Specter has a soul where Matthews just has a giant sucking sound.

    Matthews’ cackle alone makes me want to jam sharp pencils in my ears.

  • Chris Mathews Bully & Hypocrite – Ernie Nounou, Disgruntled GE Shareholder

    “The Aria of Chris Mathews” (NYT Sunday Magazine 4-13-08) provided a contextual reminder why friends and I stopped watching Hardball. As long as GE provided steady double-digit earnings growth, I’ve held my peace. After GE’s dramatic earnings miss last Friday, I’m mad as hell and see no reason why the $5 million that is partially mine pays the salary of a narcissistic, boorish lout conducting an oral food fight.

    Full disclosure: I’m a Hillary supporter, dismayed by her disastrous campaign missteps, the responsibility for which rests with her, and fully respect Barak Obama’s campaign triumphs from a standing start. The best analogy is Sir Francis Drake’s routing of the Spanish Armada. That said, I don’t accept the shamelessly biased behavior of MSNBC during this campaign, and Mathews in particular.

    An enduring quality of the American character is our strong sense of fair play. While we forgive and abide liars and philanderers, we loathe bullies and hypocrites. Mathews is both, and based on all the blogging in response to the NYT article, opinion of him runs 15 – 20 to 1 against. (Chris, why not put it to a vote on your show, if you dare?) Very interestingly, I tuned Morning Joe to see their take on this article. Note they have a segment that checks out articles in various papers, and suck up any media pieces that aggrandize any MSNBC personality. They quoted Frank Rich’s NYT Op Ed, but had a loud silence, total avoidance of the Mathews article. MSNBC policy, future portent? Let’s hope so!

    Bully – Chris Mathews makes a big deal about his tough and blunt holding guests’ feet to the fire; but the truth is it’s very selective. Interrupting and talking over his guests, as the article contextualizes, is not about uncovering scabs and discovering truth, but rather feeding the insecurity of this self-absorbed egotist. Where does such a loudmouthed bully get the temerity to complain about the divisions and lack of civil discourse in our politics and society?

    Note how he doesn’t dare talk over Russert, or Obama. Based on a clip on another show of his campus interview with Obama, it takes chutzpah to call that show Hardball with a straight face. Mathews has defended his tough critiquing of Hillary’s campaign based on her being the frontrunner. Now that Obama is the frontrunner, where’s the hardball?

    Hypocrite – Mathews totes his book “Life is a Campaign” as a philosophy for the young to embrace. His enormous self-absorption blinds him to Hillary’s being the embodiment of that philosophy. His derision of her for following some of the precepts in his book reveals his own true heart. It is told that a Roman viceroy of Jerusalem, on seeing a Jew salute as his carriage passed by, ordered him executed for daring to salute a Roman viceroy. Later, a Jew having heard what happened, did not salute as the viceroy’s carriage passed. The viceroy ordered him executed for failing to salute. When questioned on this inconsistency, the viceroy admitted it didn’t matter; he simply hated Jews. So it is with Mathews, he simply hates Hillary no matter what she does. Her laughs are cackles. Her ads relating to 9-11, Mathews sees as 911 and subtly racist, when even African-American guests don’t.

    Mathews ignores Hillary’s successful senate career and reaching across the aisle to work with former tormentors such as Trent Lott and Lindsay Graham. In true Roman viceroy form he calls her a divider, and decries her campaign as a soap opera that must end. In his January 17 apology to Hillary he praised her resolution as First Lady, senate campaign and accomplishments, and predicated his judgments as relying on his heart, “…a heart that bears only goodwill…” Goodwill, really? Jon Stewart had him pegged right that his views expressed in his book is a sad reflection on his philosophy (and by extension on his life).

    Mathews is reported to have backed away from his apology, implying he was forced/induced to make it. Great testament for his integrity, and a ringing credential for his proclaimed senate candidacy. My “Big Number” is 90-10 Mathews won’t run, because bullies lack the courage or stomach for a fair fight, and to hear what people really think of them. And he has the audacity to question the veracity or integrity of any candidate? His own supposed candidacy is merely hype to revive a career in eclipse!

    Notwithstanding MSNBC’s bump in viewership this past rating period; it is more a reflection of this historic campaign, the absolute crap that passes for television programming, and far less a testament to the quality of its programming. Once this race is over, so will go the ratings bump. A liberal leaning Lite version of Fox News is not an answer either. As a GE shareholder I object to this misuse and waste of corporate assets, and urge that Mathews contract not be renewed. In fact take him off the air now, and let him do cameos like that other clown, Tucker, who actually doesn’t sound so unreasonable in measured doses.

    If GE and NBC management can’t do better job, then sell NBC Universal and invest the proceeds in faster growing businesses. Let someone else do the necessary housecleaning, starting with ending the psychodrama of Chris Mathews, the bully and hypocrite hosting the food fight that is Hardball. Any likeminded reader and/or GE shareholder please voice your opinions to GE, NBC, MSNBC, and the blogs, and feel free to copy any of the above if helpful.

    Ernie Nounou
    ernie@thethinktank.biz

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