Republicans Will be Ready for Matthews
Candidates should view tomorrow night's debate as an opportunity to prepare
By Ericka Andersen Posted in 2008 — Comments (30) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Some Republicans have been in a tizzy because tomorrow night’s Republican debate will be hosted by Chris Matthews. But it seems like candidates are taking it in stride – adequately preparing themselves for the tough, biased questions they are sure to incur.
Republicans prove themselves a step above Democrats in refusing to complain about this brazenly partisan moderator since the Dems refused to particiate in a Fox News sponsored debate. The Dems were able to cower behind the same generic page of talking points because they collectively decided not to participate. Had any of them had the guts to simply appear on the most watched cable television news station in America, perhaps the rest of them with any chance of a real campaign would have followed.
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Nevertheless, Republicans have proved they will enter the arena with no fear of “scary” questions – there will always be plenty of those. In fact, it doesn’t bother me – as a Republican – at all that Matthews is moderating because I wish all journalists were as clear about their political beliefs when reporting news and interviewing candidates. If viewers knew the political associations of their reporters, they could more efficiently judge the material and decide for themselves what the real story was.
So Republicans enter the debate with a clear knowledge of where their host stands on virtually every issue. Therefore, they are allowed the ability to prepare adequately. Dems could have done the same with Fox. Additionally, I don’t think they would take a debate hosted by say, Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh, with as much grace (or any for that matter) as Republicans have taken with Matthews.
The fact is that candidates and viewers must go into this debate with a grain of salt. This will be another debate lost in the jumble of so many before and to come. The only person that really needs to worry tomorrow is Fred Thompson. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are the only other two up there that really matter at this point and they know the pressure will be well spent on Thompson.
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Republicans Will be Ready for Matthews 30 Comments (0 topical, 30 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
msm known facts, they call out Matthews and his msm friends for their peddling of lies. Remind Chris of the double standard on corruption.
more later
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
If he can stay sober for the debate, not taking a few nips to steel his courage, fine. Remember, it's on MSNBC, which means that Olbermann will be involved, which tells us that it is not serious.
Mark
That is not a very good comment and more befitting of the sort of KoSKids comments from the fringe Left.
Mathews has a drinking problem, I think he's a recovering alcoholic who does not hide the fact, so is Bob Becker, and probably if I dug around a few famous Republicans. Alcoholism is a disease or a moral defect, take your pick, but the fact is people from all walks of life, all political persuasions and all races along their families suffer from the effects of the disease every day.
In the simplest terms possible, shame on you. NOT COOL!
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
Olbermann, of course, needs to lay off the hallucinogens.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
many opportunites to attack THE achilles heel of the dems and libs that always works
the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of modern day liberalism
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
alcoholic. (Or even an acknowledged one.) If that is the case, I apologize to Mr. Matthews and to anyone else who might have been offended, and I remain on his and everyone's side in the recovery process.
If I had known, I admit that it would have been DU-like of me to issue such a taunt. That's not the way I play.
My apologies for that.
Can we coin the term "Harkinesque" for taking a shot at someone else's addiction? By the way, recovering "D" addicts are heroes, as opposed to recovering "R" addicts who get the Bush/Rush treatment.
but drinking problems are self-inflicted problems no different than other drugs and the non-PC answer is to condemn it. So I (non-PC) think that Marks statement was factual, not exactly a put-down - facts can be problematic. Call me ultimate anti-PC and (50 years_ ago realistic! You modern philosophers can do your own thing...
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
No dbecraft
You are a scallywag, a judgmental jerk, someone of low class....I could go on but I suspect it would fall on deaf ears.
Pity the fool is the only words I have for you.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
You are a under aged indoctrinated (bless our colleges - they are the best - ha), out of college, own the world youngster who does not see the real world yet! By the time you do, it will probably be too late anyway... Seems that most of today's college graduates present so many things as diseases that pretty soon, there will be no problems that are not caused by individual choices. Ah, but have hope, there are those out there that support you 100%...so you can't be wrong...
Yes, I am getting sick of todays youth...and their middle age is coming way too fast.
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
to Mark... congratulations. You have just joined the wonderful world of the post graduate PC police... I hope you're proud...
Blame the individual for his action, not some PC disease!
Not to worry, you will be heralded by most of your PC trained buddies...
ormally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
This is a column that Babbin wrote in 2006 that mirrors Erick's blog below and Babbin's current column:
Dear Mr. Mehlman:
By now your reverie over Ned Lamont's victory has faded. You'd not be human if you hadn't spent a day or two basking in the afterglow of Ned's performance that night, surrounded by his pals Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, with the Greek chorus chanting, "bring them home" in the background. The only thing missing on that stage was Barbra Streisand. It must have brought to mind the Wellstone funeral-cum-campaign rally of 2002, another milestone in the Democrats' self-destruction.
As RNC Chairman, you're surrounded by a swarm of consultants, who are probably feeding you reasons to play it safe. That advice is wrong because some in the media will do anything to defeat your candidates, and if you don't deal with that threat, they'll succeed. It's not that Republicans face certain disaster at the polls. To the contrary, if you study a few ground truths, and follow my dad's prescription for everything -- planning, a little luck and a lot of work -- you might even gain seats in the Senate.
The first ground truth is that the liberal media, not the Democrats, are the party standing in opposition to the Republicans. The Democrats ran out of ideas the night Bobby Kennedy died, and since then the media have become the primary source of Democrat ideas and policy.
The second truth is that the media are more than just the Dems' think tank. In fact, some of the biggest media outlets are the source of thinly veiled attack ads aimed at your candidates just like the so-called "527 Groups," those huge soft-money peddlers supposedly independent of the candidates they support. Think of what George Soros could do if he had a global news network that could produce multi-million dollar attack ads every day, and then you'll know what some mainstream media outlets have become. Rightly or wrongly, given their history with CBS, ABC, NBC, the New York Times, the Washington Post and lately, AP, some conservatives classify them among the worst offenders.
The "527 Media" -- and that's what you should be calling them -- are essentially political activists. They are in the campaign business nearly as much as they are in the business of reporting the news these days. They will be tossing October surprises at Republicans all day every day from September 5, when Katie Couric takes over at CBS, until the election returns are certified.
The third truth is that you Republicans have badly misjudged the American people. Some Republican Bob Shrum has convinced you guys to not even fight for Blue State America. There are lots of middle-of-the-road Blue State Americans who only hear what the "527 Media" wants them to, because your team doesn't even try to reach them. Political consultants used to say Republicans could never win in the South, either.
The next truth is that the Republican base is practically begging to be fired up about the "527 Media's" political activism. They know something is badly wrong with the guys, but they can't quite put their finger on it. The problem began in the Clinton years when the media gave the administration a pass on the growth of terrorism, on Iraq and on the mountains of non-Monica corruption the Clintons lived in. By turning a blind eye to the Clintons' problems, the "527 Media" became intellectually corrupt, more interested in political success for the Dems than the truth.
Americans knew they'd heard something important last year when Washington Post editor Marie Arana said, "The elephant in the newsroom is our narrowness ... If you work here, you must be one of us. You must be liberal, progressive, a Democrat. I've been in communal gatherings at the Post, watching election returns, and have been flabbergasted to see my colleagues cheer unabashedly for the Democratic candidates." Tell America that it's a media culture, not a conspiracy.
The last truth is the lesson of the John Thune senate race. Media involvement in the Dems' campaigns is something Americans sense but can't pin down. It's a fact of life that, if exposed, works wonders for Republican candidates.
Lawyers and consultants will tell you that free advice is worth what you pay for it. But they would, wouldn't they? Here are a few suggestions on how you can find the pony in this pile of macaca:
· Renounce any idea of using the power of the government against the press. The New York Times should be publicly ridiculed, not prosecuted. Remember the best lesson we can learn from Rush Limbaugh: You can do much more political damage with humor than with insults.
· Produce a series of television ads going after the "527 Media." Expose who they are and show how the typical newsroom is more like a dysfunctional, liberal family than a business run by adults.· It's time for the Vice President to give a speech taking the press to task. He should name names. If Pinch Sulzberger wants to be a political activist instead of a publisher, why not call him on it?
· Organize a group called the Swift Veteran Reporters for the Truth. Every time one of those contrived stories comes out, make sure your team, experienced reporters all, can access the facts and get them out -- fast -- on blogs, talk radio and everywhere else.
· Get Republican congressmen and senators to write letters to their local papers and local network TV affiliates. Ask how they can pretend to be fair if they have nothing but liberals in the newsroom? Why did Clinton crony George Stephanopoulos get a big show on ABC? Culture, not conspiracy.
· Establish a media hotline for disgruntled reporters to call in about the contrived stories, connivance with the Dems and the bias they face in their newsrooms. Hire a couple of old-time conservative journalists to run it, guarantee anonymity, and then publish what the whistleblowers say.
· Get your best joke writers to study everything they can about the worst of the 527 Media and let 'em rip. I can just hear Mr. Cheney tut-tutting about the New York Times' stock collapse and comparing it to the dividends of, say, Halliburton.
All of this can (and will) be great fun for most of us but not for you. It's the most serious challenge you'll face this year and in 2008. Americans are aching for someone to take on the media and do it in a way that will relieve some of the daily stress we all feel. So Katie Couric and Brian Williams walk into a bar, and the bartender says...
Jed Babbin was a deputy undersecretary of defense in the George H.W. Bush administration. He is a contributing editor to The American Spectator and author of Showdown: Why China Wants War with the United States (with Edward Timperlake, Regnery 2006) and Inside the Asylum: Why the UN and Old Europe are Worse than You Think (Regnery 2004).
© 2000-2006 RealClearPolitics.com All Rights Reserved
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
Has anyone seen the transcript from the May 3 presidential debate moderated by Chris Matthews (if not then check out http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/us/politics/04transcript.html?pagewant... for a transcript)? Where are the "biased" questions in this debate? And why shouldn't questions be tough? This is a potential future president that we're talking about here. And speaking of, here's some gems from Matthews-
On Romney: "the well-sculpted Mitt", "everything about him is perfect", "he has the perfect chin, the perfect hair, he looks right"
On Mccain: "maverick", "straight talker", "he deserves to be president"
On Thompson: "looks like a movie star... people like movie stars"
On Giuliani: "ultimate street politician"
I'm no fan of Matthews, but does anyone have examples of his supposed liberal bias? Just wondering...
you believe in Darwin's theory of evolution?
Too broad. Designed to be a gotcha headline. Totally unserious and irrelevant.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
What is your view on the doctrine of separation of Church and State?
If you believe in that as a matter of constitutional standing, who do you believe should draw those lines.
Where would you as the President draw those lines?
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
Who should decide what is taught in science class in schools, federal judges or the parents of the children being taught via their school board?
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
Game
There is a fundamental State/Local issue with the issue of what is taught in schools, your phrasing of the question sort of dodges around that question. If a politician, R or D, believes that there is a Constitutional separation of church and state, you have your answer when it comes to anything taught in a public school which touches on matters of faith.
It would be very interesting to me to see what the R. Presidential candidates believe, or don't believe on this point. From their answer on this one question, you can tell a whole lot about them in my book.
I'm not advocating one way or the other, as I'm not looking to start one of them there brush fires here on RS.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
to yours. Your question is vague.
I've won too many jury trials by being an expert in this regard. Lawyers that ask questions like yours are the ones I mop up the floor with. You always ask leading questions that force a yes/no answer.
Now, I think it could be interesting to hear how they answer, but it wouldn't necessarily tell us anything about specific applications.
judgment for devine
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
game
But I be an engineer, your worst kind of guy to have on a jury if you're working hard to confuse the facts. I hate silly word games that legal beagles play....LOL.
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
so that when you retire to the jury room you can put it all in an equation!
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
It simply should be a matter left to the State education system. It should not involve any Federal issues at all!. The constitution should protect us for all of this discussion (until the lawyers get hold of it).
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
I'm sick of the wonderful (sick) contributions of the teachers! I'm sorry, but it seems that these teachers hold a biased view of the world and leaving them in charge is the worst. Well, almost the worst since leaving administrators in charge is the second worst.
Our education system is already lost but we continue to fight...
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
constituents if deprived of the threat of being sued to justify thei PC stuff, plus many are not libs but do fear being sued.
Alito makes a 5th vote to get the federal courts out of the education business. O'Connor majrities used the 1st amendments est clause to squelch free religious speech in local schools.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
I guess I am just giving up on society (too old to care anymore) and see all the nonsense for what it is. Keep up the good work, I give up...
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
I have lost confidence in the political solution to problems... seems that almost all that get into politics are in it for power or money so why would we give a damn! By the time someone that can be respected comes along, we don't believe them anyway...some thanks to our wonderful mainstream media...
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
I left the dem party due to their intellectual and moral bankruptcy and because they are, well, evil. I actually met Beelzebub at a state party convention.
I'm won over to conservatism because it works, we have evidence it works, we win when we run on it, and then get to Washington and lose our spine to advocate it.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

The only answer to Matthews when he goes partisan with questions is to fire back with critiques of HIS Democratic chums.
Start with Sandy Berger and why Hillary in her infinite wisdom would have as an adviser someone who's security clearance was revoked.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !