Free for All: 09/01/10
What’s on your mind besides the fact that if you ad the first number in the above date to the second number you get the third number? Ok, that was dorky…but I’ve been up since 4 am so sue me…
What’s on your mind besides the fact that if you ad the first number in the above date to the second number you get the third number? Ok, that was dorky…but I’ve been up since 4 am so sue me…
September 1, 2010 at 6:56 am
Or if you subtract the third from the second you get the first.
September 1, 2010 at 6:56 am
^Or maybe not.
September 1, 2010 at 6:59 am
Why was Richard Engel taken off the Morning Joe panel that was stacked with Bush flacks and the spineless Barnyard and Co? With all his in-country expertise, could he have been telling the truth?
September 1, 2010 at 7:28 am
bbh, I DID see Richard Engel there today. He was quite the smart a** w/Ari Fleischer, and I turned it off.
But I rarely watch MJ, and have a question: What’s up w/Scarborough? The guy is hardly ever there, and even when he shows up for a while, he takes off once for very long periods of time!
I’ve never seen anything like this, especially since the program is named after him and he is supposed to be the big “star”! What does he do during that time that’s so important that he misses his own program so much? Did he forget to get dressed properly or something, and has to go back to his dressing room and finish? Or is this just not his “time of day”, and he needs a nap?
Very strange.
September 1, 2010 at 7:46 am
I watched parts of MJ this morning and saw Engel aggressively defend his anti-Iraq war views. Moreover, with all due respect to BBH I don’t think viewers of MSNBC have to worry about any canonization of Bush (e.g., Maddow last night).
Engel did courageous reporting in Iraq but he’s a self-avowed pacifist. So, it’s not surprising that he would be against the Iraq War root-and-branch. No, that doesn’t disqualify his views but it does put them in a different context. That is, he’d been critical of the war no matter how it turned out.
September 1, 2010 at 7:55 am
Missy, from what I understand, Joe puts a lot of importance on family time and MSNBC so obliged in his contract. On the war front, he has flipped to disengagement from both theaters— very un-orthodox for a Repub. Joe needed to be on to blow some smoke on Danny Senor— an un-repentent neo-con who had the gall to whine over BHO’s tepid salute to Shrub.
September 1, 2010 at 7:59 am
Joe needed to be on to blow some smoke on Danny Senor— an un-repentent neo-con who had the gall to whine over BHO’s tepid salute to Shrub
Again, if you’re a regular viewer of MSNBC you’ll be quite satisfied, I’ms sure, with their broadcast of critical views of the “Shrub” and the Iraq war and those evil “neocons”.
Just sit tight and watch the prime time lineup this evening. Or any evening.
September 1, 2010 at 8:08 am
Steve, Surely, after a trilion spent and still counting— any questioning is brushed off as left-wing zombism. Please.
September 1, 2010 at 8:20 am
Steve, Surely, after a trilion spent and still counting— any questioning is brushed off as left-wing zombism. Please.
As anyone can read, nowhere did I say “leftwing zombism” and nowhere did I say “any questioning” was unwarranted.
As I said, watch the rest of MSNBC today and tonight and you’ll see many, many guests opposed to the war and offering many fair and legitimate critical questions. And in some cases, unfair and illegitimate.
To complain about one segment on MJ while ignoring the rest of the network’s critical coverage is nonsensical.
September 1, 2010 at 8:30 am
Excellent! Always good to have another lib around here, especially when they use bizarrely excellent usernames. I have no idea what a “ball bearing hostess” is, but it’s vaguely gearhead-ish. I like it.
September 1, 2010 at 8:44 am
Joe, 41 yrs ago, an old TWA cpt called me that as this male elbowed in on his turf! BTW, i’m still at it.
September 1, 2010 at 8:51 am
^ Ok. I still don’t know what it means, but I still like it. Stick around a while and give ‘em hell. This moderate/lib has been pounding away on this site for a couple years, and his ball bearings are ’bout wore out.
September 1, 2010 at 9:30 am
^ I think it means one who bears their balls… not ball bearings the tool. As in, one who has “big balls,” and isn’t afraid to show it… be that good or not.
That’s the impression I got. Kind of a clever way to phrase it.
September 1, 2010 at 9:35 am
Kind of a clever way to phrase it.
She certainly thought so, having remembered it for exactly 41 years.
September 1, 2010 at 9:53 am
^ Well, it’s metaphoric balls… because saying, “Looks like someone’s got big ovaries,” doesn’t have the same ring.
September 1, 2010 at 10:21 am
sorry guys, i’m straight, male, and a progressive with libertarian tendencies.
September 1, 2010 at 10:40 am
No ovaries then?
September 1, 2010 at 10:55 am
Morning Joe has been unwatchable as of late for me. Maybe I’m becoming less tolerant in my old age. Almost makes me happy to go off to work.
Speaking of people appearing and disappearing, anyone know about Brian Wilson? Seems like he’s been off air forever.
September 1, 2010 at 11:08 am
^^^whew– i’m glad that settles it– at least joe will stop gushing over him now–
hey, ck. out Mr. Chris “he’s almost pluperfect” Matthews– unintentional racist– he’s simply amazed… amazed i say… that Mr. Obama got married, raised a family and did everything by the book– i mean, what’s not to like?– seems like that “tingle” is coming back– http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/08/31/matthews_obama_did_everything_right_and_almost_pluperfect.html
September 1, 2010 at 11:16 am
^I agree with BHO on just about nothing so I’ll be rooting for his defeat in 12′ for the good of the country. However, I’ll equally be rooting for his defeat just to watch Chris Mathews cry on national TV. Can you imagine if Obama lost? A nervous breakdown by Mathews would be possible, if not likely. He would suddenly develop tourette’s and uncontrollably start shouting, “racist, bigot, hate, nazi, southerners, civil rights, Jim Crow”.
September 1, 2010 at 11:20 am
With apologies to some, the ‘family’-comments would be called ‘racist’ if they came from someone not liberal. That aside, I’d like to have seen the entire context of the comment. It sounds like yet-another liberal bleat about conservatives (and more) daring to oppose someone with whom they disagree. Tiresome. When you’re wrecking the country, I couldn’t give a good damn how ‘storybook’ your life is.
September 1, 2010 at 11:22 am
^ Matthews simply cannot get past personality and into policy. Well… either he cannot get past it, or he refuses to get passed it.
September 1, 2010 at 11:37 am
Agreed, INB. I watch Mathews occasionally just for the spectacle. But, I used to watch him (years ago) much more frequently because I like debate style shows. Now, he’s just a race-baiter on par with the usual race-baiting suspects.
September 1, 2010 at 11:50 am
You would think that someone of his age and political background would be capable of remembering the reaction to ‘Hillarycare’. It wasn’t a bit better than what we have now. Not to mention tax hikes, gays in the military, and one-or-two other things that dotted the first two Clinton-years.
Liberals are unendingly perplexed by the motivations of people that oppose them. It can’t just be an honest difference of opinion. There must be evil.
September 1, 2010 at 11:51 am
Damn blasted moderation…
You would think that someone of his age and political background would be capable of remembering the reaction to ‘Hillarycare’. It wasn’t a bit better than what we have now. Not to mention tax hikes, g@ys in the military, and one-or-two other things that dotted the first two Clinton-years.
Liberals are unendingly perplexed by the motivations of people that oppose them. It can’t just be an honest difference of opinion. There must be evil.
September 1, 2010 at 12:33 pm
From Rick Sanchez regarding the hostage nut and his manifesto:
“He’s an activist and maybe very well meaning but now he’s got himself into a situation..”
What a jacka$$.
September 1, 2010 at 12:39 pm
“He’s an activist and maybe very well meaning but now he’s got himself into a situation..”
Can you imagine what “hit and run” Sanchez would be saying if the guy was some crazy Teabagger?….man you just know this is p#ssing off the gang at MSNBC that this guy some Eco-nut and Asian…that means there’s no way they can blame FOX or Beck and Palin for it.
September 1, 2010 at 12:40 pm
‘A situation’. I guess that answers the inevitable, tedious question. ”Oh, no. Of course this doesn’t reflect on liberals or environmentalists at large..”
September 1, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Fox coverage is excellent, but I keep hearing a tone that reminds me of the alert on my text. Driving me bats.
September 1, 2010 at 12:57 pm
That’s interference from someone too close to a Walk/Don’t Walk sign.
September 1, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Shep said that about half-a-minute after I posted. Nice.
September 1, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Why do we talk to family members in situations like this? Is it cruel, or is it just me?
September 1, 2010 at 1:51 pm
^u gotta watch doing that, especially if it’s “Live” and the hostage taker is watching and listening– who knows how the guy will react– his brother-in-law pretty much told the world what a scum bag this guy is, so that might not be a good thing– as much as i hate to say it though, i am glad it looks like he’s one from the “other side”–
September 1, 2010 at 2:03 pm
No surprise: Fox killed the other cable networks on Obama’s speech.
Kind of a surprise: Substantially more people watched speech on MSNBC than on CNN. If viewers won’t turn to CNN for breaking news as it happens, then their goose is cooked, and it’s time for the network to try poaching a Maddow or a Hannity.
Check this out: http://tinyurl.com/26ltpnc
September 1, 2010 at 2:25 pm
“Ballbearinghostess” is a dude. Now that’s funny. I still like the name, and that we have another lib here; I’ll keep gushing. “Milehighrn” is pretty good, too: Nurse in Denver.
Matthews’ comments about Obama were in response to the idiots that question his birth and his love for America. He was making the point that the President “played by the rules, and lived as any good American would”, and gets labeled Enemy Of The State for it.
September 1, 2010 at 2:40 pm
He was making the point that the President “played by the rules, and lived as any good American would”,
I’ve defended the President against charges he’s a Marxist or even socialist but Matthews’ little biography left out Obama’s acknowledged past attraction (in the 1980s!) with the Marxists and radical left in his college days.
As well as his relationship with the radical Marxist Franklin Marshall Davis. Again, all admitted to by the President.
I dare suggest that if Obama was a Republican and had such dealings with radical right elements that Matthews would be a bit more suspcious about the oh so humble upbringings of the man.
C’mon, Joe, that’s hagiography not biography.
September 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm
If every liberal who’s ever had a college flirtation with Karl Marx were banned from growing up and entering politics, you guys would get your All Conservatives All The Time wish for this country. It’s like calling a middle-aged woman who kissed a girl in college a lesbian.
September 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm
^he’s trying to fundamentally change the nature of the United States joe– and let’s not forget the big one… “redistribute wealth”– that tends to p.o. some folks– he seemed upset that he had to deal with finishing up the troop withdrawls in Iraq, which seems to be a modest success, and couldn’t even attend to the only job in Iraq that was left to him by Bush… that being, diplomacy– as per Krauthammer– we’d won the military victory and all he had to do was muscle these guys into forming a gov’t together and he had two years to do it and he couldn’t/wouldn’t/didn’t–
The man is a total Urkel and so inept in foreign policy that i fear his next two years no matter who is in Congress… i really do–
September 1, 2010 at 2:48 pm
And for the record, my response was in reply to “I’d like to see the context of Matthews’ remark”. If you want to debate Obama’s politics, go crazy; I’ve lost interest for the moment. I’m defending CM’s “racist if a rightie said it” comment about “raising a good family”.
Speaking of Chris, he just raked Obama over the coals for his dispassionate teleprompter Presidency. No tingle today.
September 1, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Steve wrote:
“I dare suggest that if Obama was a Republican and had such dealings with radical right elements that Matthews would be a bit more suspcious about the oh so humble upbringings of the man.”
Hah. Congrats, you win the award for understatement of the decade! A repulican with the same right-wing ties that Obama has on the left, would be labeled David Duke or worse. His/her political career would be over before it started.
September 1, 2010 at 3:09 pm
If every liberal who’s ever had a college flirtation with Karl Marx were banned from growing up and entering politics, you guys would get your All Conservatives All The Time wish for this country
Joe, my point – again – is that Matthew’s little biography of Obama’s humble and middle class play-by-the-rules upbringing leaves out a lot of not so, let’s call it, bourgeois behavior.
And I didn’t even mention Rev. Wright. Or Alinsky. Or Ayers. Or his expensive private school education.
Fine. He’s matured and moved on. But it wasn’t a Beaver Cleaver life as Matthews suggests.
And I’ll repeat: a Republican with those types of associations would have a lot of ‘xplainin to do, Lucy.
September 1, 2010 at 3:17 pm
And I’ll repeat, Matthews wasn’t saying something that would be considered racist if a conservative said it. “Obama played by the rules and worked hard” is benign.
September 1, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Joe:
The teleprompter comment came right after Mathews said that he supports basically everything Obama is doing. But, it was refreshing to hear him rail against the TOTUS.
September 1, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Saw Barney Frank on a BBC program on Monday and I want my 30 minutes back. Nearly all of his responses were it’s all the Republicans and Bush’s fault and Republicans are obstructionist. The interviewer was pretty bad. Even though he got Frank on the fact that the Democrats have a majority in the House and the most seats in the Senate, it didn’t make up for that horrible interview. I know the BBC is biased (an they admit that) but this was really bad. Now I’m waiting for a Republican to appear. Democrats appeal to international audiences because they try to reach out to audiences outside the US and make their positions clear while misrepresenting GOP positions.
September 1, 2010 at 5:01 pm
What’s your point, LS? I commented on someone that generally supports this administration pulling their hair out over his lousy attempts to connect with the American people on an emotional level. I’m in the same boat, and found it interesting. “Sure, Chris criticized the prez, but he still supports him so they’re both Socialist Marxist Communist Muslims” does not interest me.
September 1, 2010 at 5:34 pm
^Actually, I believe Chris is Catholic.
September 1, 2010 at 5:56 pm
-Trillions spent-
I assume that pertains to the Iraq war. As of a couple months ago, the entirety of the Iraq War cost less than last year’s Democratic Stimulus.
-Mayor Bloomberg on not-really-a-mosque mosque financing investigation-
Michael Bloomberg is an ass; I get that. But in this case he’s right. Listening to what he actually said today, he says a government investigation to look into who is financing the development would set a bad precedent. I agree. Nothing wrong with investigative journalists seeking out that information, but it’s none of the governments’ business unless some evidence of criminal activity shows up.
September 1, 2010 at 8:14 pm
^but doc… why can’t we know, as a legal right, who is gong to fund this mosque/civic center/YMMA?– as it’s two blocks away and had been hit by landing gear, this building, i and all of us have a right to know who will fund this… what?, no business of the government?… really?… two blocks away when almost 3/4′s of Americans think that it’s an “in our Face Insult”–
It’s nice to see the Dutch have released the lads that taped cell phones to pepto-bismol bottles– hey… what the heck… how would Yemeni’s know that duct taping IED setting off cell phones would scare Westerner’s?– not like it’s any sort of “dry run” or such… jeez… i think i’ll take a page from joe’s exit line… “goodnight…”–