(h/t Heather)
Chris Matthews went on a rant against the 'netroots" yesterday when he was talking to John Heilemann from the New Yorker, saying that we're not real Democrats who vote and all we do is back-seat bitching because we're criticizing the LieberCare sellout health-care plan.
When Heilemann noted that the “Democratic left” has been “trashing the health care bill” this week, Matthews said that those people were part of the “netroots” and not “regular grown-up Democrats”:
MATTHEWS: I don’t consider them Democrats, I consider them netroots, and they’re different. And if I see that they vote in every election or most elections, I’ll be worried. But I’m not sure that they’re regular grown-up Democrats. I think that a lot of those people are troublemakers who love to sit in the backseat and complain. They’re not interested in governing this country. They never ran for office, they’re not interested in working for somebody in public office. They get their giggles from sitting in the backseat and bitching.
I started blogging in 2004 because I was passionate about returning America to the great country it was before conservatives got their hands on the government in 2000 -- and it was because of the phony justifications that media elites like Chris Matthews sat back and used to persuade Americans to back such an outrageous position like the Iraq war that drove me into online activism.
We don't do anything? Really?
Atrios helped expose Trent Lott's love of Strom Thurmond back in 2002, which rocked the political world.
There are many excellent PAC's out there, but Blue America PAC/a> has raised over a million dollars since we started to do some governing, as we helped many great progressive politicians get elected like representatives Alan Grayson and Donna Edwards and Sen. Jeff Merkley, just to name a few.
The netroots have exposed FOX News to be the propaganda arm of the GOP when the MSM stood idly by and let them disseminate as manyLuntz-polled press releases masquerading as news as they could.
I've been asked to run against Jane Harman in CA-36, but I've held off making a decision until the New Year is upon us. We've broken stories like the scandal over the Bush administration firing seven U.S. Attorneys, and have given an incredible amount of content to news networks because of our commitment for truth. And they use that content without crediting many of us, while sneering at us as dirty f&*@king hippies.
I can go on and on, but I'll debate Chris Matthews anytime he wants about the things we actually do and we actually achieve in the real world -- both inside and outside the Beltway, too.
Defending the indefensible in the Democratic party is a hazardous duty.
How many true progressives are in and how many are out of the party?
Whatever the answer, I am completely against defending the tyranny of the duopoly.
---
Besides, why do you call it the LieberCare sellout health-care plan?
This is the plan Obama himself wanted, call it what it is.
The ObamaCare sellout health-care plan, with perhaps a special thanks to Joe Lieberman.
---
Glenn Greenwald's excellent piece today on the fault lines between progressives here
Progressives who accept corporatism and progressives who do not.
My understanding of how one can be progressive and accept corporatism is yet to develop but there are people trying to make that claim.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
to the Greenwald article, Alice.
Nails it.
This is why Kucinich and Ron Paul get along so well together and the right/left D/R debate is soooo 20th Century. It is not an issue of "tactical convergence" between them but a common view of freedom for the individual and a proper balance of govt and corporate roles
And guess what ! Yes they "can be both correct" A glass of water can be both half empty and half full if the glass is only 50% filled.
Other than opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Paul and Kucinich have nothing in common except that they both exist in the political margins. Paul doesn't support any type of health care reform, Kucinich supports single payer. Paul is constantly proposing legislation that would roll back the 14th Amendment- do you think that Kucinich supports that? Do you think that Kucinich and Paul share anything close to the same views on taxation?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Why don't you ask them, because you won't listen to me anyway judging by your tone. Did you read the Greenwald piece?
Kucinich and Paul don't support the same things. There are merely things in common they both oppose.
Let's say that Paul and Kucinich somehow find a way to get rid of the Fed....Then what?
Kucinich supported these initiatives during his '08 campaign:
*Guaranteed quality education for all; including free pre-kindergarten and college for all who want it.
*Abolishing the death penalty.
*Environmental renewal and clean energy.
*Preventing the privatization of social security.
*Legalizing same-sex marriage.
*Strongly promoting workers' rights.
*Protecting a woman's "right to choose" while decreasing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.
*Legalizing same-sex marriage.
These are all actions that would be initiated at the Federal level. These are all policies that Ron Paul opposes. These are all fundamental right/left disagreements. Don't fool yourself into believing that they aren't.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Actually they both SUPPORT the rule of law and are against the administrative abuse of the Constiution. They are against illegal wars, the erosion of civil liberties and torture. Right now, that is the BIGGEST issue there is, the very survival of the USA is at stake. All the while the Fed Reserve is robbing you blind for generations HA!
Do you believe in a one party state, or a winner take all political system ? Don't value checks and balances? The simplest answer for me to give you is that to that the USA would be better off today with 50 Kucinichs and 50 Pauls in the Senate then what you have today.
Just give me politicians who are honest and have integrity and respect each other, the architecture of the American political system can resolve the rest.
You can keep the whores and pimps who sell out the citizenry while distracting you with the false right left bullshit. It's all the same Money Party with two labels.
If the Dems really valued progressive policies they would take better care of their progressive base. They can't win without them but it seems that they are comfortable with a republican comeback. Interesting huh? Look at how insanely close the popular vote was with the WORST Republican ticket in living memory. Thanks the the big Dem whores, progressives have no home and will stay home come midterm but the repukes will be out in droves thanks to the wingnut hysteria. Then you will see Obama turn into a full blown Jimmy Carter a who will usher in 12 more years Reagan/Bush.
The Clintons vacation with the Bushes, when will anyone understand what this means? Fact is Progressives have more in common with libertarians than the Money Party.
My name is Big John and you will remember I told you so.
Ron Paul is an evolution & global warming denier.
'public option' during the campaign. notice how they claim that they are covering 30Mil additional people when what they are actually doing is financially enslaving them.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
C'mon Tweety -- you just WISH you had us back watching you, as if you mattered.
Please, it is priceless. From the same show...
Yeah Chris, I guess it's actually too much to ask that the congress do something helpful for the citizens(as opposed to the corporate interests) of this nation. Call me bitchy but I happen to think that getting sick in the (supposedly) richest, greatest, nation on earth shouldn't lead to bankruptcy.
Hey Tweety, in my 49 years on this planet I've missed voting in one election. How about you?
I'm sorry we're upsetting your Villager cocktail parties with our Cheetos(tm) fueled rants against your good friends in the Congress, you know, the ones YOU are supposed to be getting the truth from. I suspect we would rise to your level of journalistic integrity if we got invited to McCain's BBQs, but alas, the invitations to the constituents seldom seem to arrive.
Slag off, wanker.
While Tweety's beloved Villagers have been wrong. About everything.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
According to this Matthew's has given a whopping $2,000 to federal candidates since 1984. There are cheeto-stained hands out there that part with more than that each election.
There are lots of other examples. It was bloggers who called attention to the Downing Street Memo when the M$M was doing their best to ignore it. Ditto with the US Attorney firings.
It was the netroots that primaried Joe Lieberman and showed him for traitor to the Dems he is.
It was the netroots that led the charge on the Valerie Plame outing. The mainstream media had to struggle to try to catch up.
It was the netroots that led on the warrantless wiretapping.
And it was the net-f*&king-roots that banded together and got Obama elected.
and yep.
..will get the government to finally put w behind bars where he belongs. Sure as hell, the government isn't going to hold a person who broke the law accountable; that would be..America for chrissakes.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
He's quite a mixed bag. He says he's a liberal, who votes repugnant, but he bashes half his tiny audience.
Is it the 21st century yet?
Chris Matthews hate on the left netroots was astonishing.
Matthews views liberals who criticize Obama as backseaters, ya know those awful netroots types whom only have a vested interest in complaining, and Harold Ford, Jr., agreed with Matthews on this score. Matthews really attacked the netroots tonight in an ugly fashion and tried his best to delegitimize any opposition to Obama's healthcare bill. For Matthews, those on the left, the netroots most specifically, who are criticizing Obama cannot be seen as legitimate people in their criticism, but, back benchers of the netroots who do not count in the larger equation because they are less likely, according to his thinking, to ever be part of the everyday political process, in Washington. This is the Big Mouth Yacking away:
MATTHEWS:"I don’t consider them Democrats, I consider them netroots, and they’re different. And if I see that they vote in every election or most elections, I’ll be worried. But I’m not sure that they’re regular grown-up Democrats. I think that a lot of those people are troublemakers who love to sit in the backseat and complain. They’re not interested in governing this country. They never ran for office, they’re not interested in working for somebody in public office. They get their giggles from sitting in the backseat and bitching."
My Answer to Mr. Matthews:
Yes, Chris, I am no longer registered as a Democrat nor will I ever run for political office in this very corrupt system of which your Washington insider ilk have poisoned the entire country and continue to do so each and every night as you pollute the air waves.
Chris people can do many things to help their communities besides being an elected official or politico. That is something you fail to understand. You are so shallow Mr. Matthews, yet, you play-act that you are so in touch with the average gal and guy in America when in reality you are not whatsoever.
I cannot repeat enough that people give back to society in many ways, shapes and forms. That the political world is just one aspect of American life. And by the way Mr. Matthews you chickened out of running for the U.S. Senate in PA so why don't you shut up already? I am also tired of hearing how many times over you worked for Tip O'Neill as a page....you are mentioned once in passing in one of Tip O'Neill's long biographies. So you were a minor blip working for Tip O'Neill yet to hear you go on and on, you'd think you were his right hand man. NOT!
I bet Chris Matthews could not name 50 Real Leftists if you asked him and this goes for many others in the media who say "left this" and "left that" yet never actually identify precisely whom they are referring to, and they get away with it.
Washington-Inside the Beltway claptrap these days regarding this healthcare sham is the following according to big mouth Chris Matthews:
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”
Yeah right. As if the healthcare bill is close to being “perfect” let alone “good.”
Matthews is so freakin out of touch!!!!!
By the way Mr. Matthews how bad are your cable ratings? I hear that you have awful ratings and that your good pal Roger Ailes who hired you at CNBC when nobody but nobody watched your awful show is laughing at your pathetic little show over at MSNBC!!!
The Scoreboard: Wednesday, Dec. 16
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/t...
Remember the days when Chris Matthews played number one ass-kisser to George W. Bush? Here is a trip down memory lane from his May 1, 2003 show and the same day Bush declared “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq. Here are a few excerpts from that awful “Hardball with Chris Matthews” Show from May 1, 2003:
MATTHEWS: "What do you make of the actual visual that’s people will see on TV and probably, as you know, as well as I, will remember a lot longer than words spoken tonight? And that’s the president looking very much like a jet, you know, a high-flying jet star. A guy who is a jet pilot. Has been in the past when he was younger, obviously. What does that image mean to the American people, a guy who can actually get into a super sonic plane, and actually fly in an unpressurized cabin, like an actual jet pilot?"
MATTHEWS: "Do you think this role, and I want to talk politically for just a secretary, the president deserves everything he’s doing tonight in term of his leadership. He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics. Do you think he is defining the office of the presidency, at least for this time, as basicly that of commander-in-chief. That is role, that if you’re going to run against him, you’d better be ready to take away from him."
MATTHEWS: "He looks for real. What is about it the commander-in-chief role, the hat that he does wear, that makes him-I mean, he seems like-he didn’t fight in a war, but he looks like he does."
These are the DELUSIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS OF CHRIS MATTHEWS OF MSNBC!!!! Those were the days of Matthews playing suck-up to President George W. Bush.
Despite the fact that once in a blue moon Tweety says something intelligent or factual, he will always be Tweety. He'll say something that makes sense and then present personal attacks and made up Republican crap and call that "balance". K.O. is right: Traditional media is mindless and Tweety represents that perhaps better than anybody, save Gregory.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
"I issue a challenge to debate him on the issue anytime."
I'll take on any bets - You'd hand Tweety a smackdown of epic proportion.
I'd love to see it but Tweety doesn't have the stones.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
On the level of the Jane Hamsher smackdown of Lanny Davis last night. That was beautiful to behold and the best part was, though Lanny tried to put himself and Ed Schultz on one said against Hamsher, Schultz was having none of it. Davis never answered the question she asked and Ed pointed that out.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
Since it's not real obvious if Tweety gets paid at all to shill for the various groups he seems to support/hate/support/despise/support/forget almost on an hourly basis you can never quite pin down who he is hawking for that day...He has NO opinions that are truly is own, having watched Jon Stewart mop up an interview floor with that facade, so I guess it's whomever screams loudest and last at him that gets thru at any given hour...
Although Tweety seems to think Pat Buchanan carries some invisible sword to slay all the liberal meanies that may come to get he and Pat soon, other than that, Tweety seems not to have any original thought going on regarding any subject....
So John, I'm not sure you trying to see if Tweety actually has a brain cell working is a real good way to spend your time...just saying....
I like to think I'm more of a kitchen kvetcher.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
"But I’m not sure that they’re regular grown-up Democrats. I think that a lot of those people are troublemakers who love to sit in the backseat and complain. They’re not interested in governing this country. They never ran for office, they’re not interested in working for somebody in public office. They get their giggles from sitting in the backseat and bitching"
so, by way of crankiness, immature insults, and hypocritical stereotypes matthews ably demonstrates just who the grown-ups aren't.
I think that Matthews feigns indignation in order to be invited to Beltway Parties, which is his major gig.
I heard Tweety's rant right after watching an opposite rant from Ed Shultz. I was fired up after watching the Ed Show, and was about to switch channels to FSTV when my ear caught a sample of Tweety Bird. I was already pissed about LieberCare, when had to put up with this fat head.
I make it a point of never watching this arrogant gas bag. I only really see pieces of his "brilliance" on Crooks & Liars. Matthews is always stirring up false debates with his meaningless comments, and continually shows man-lust for Republican Politicians. I guess that's why it's called Hard Ball.
I don't see how Hard Ball stays on the air. It's sandwiched between The Ed Show and Countdown. I wish MSNBC put this clown on another time slot, and stop playing with my emotions.
.."HARDball". There's nothing hardball about it. At least he doesn't cry like beck; there's no cryin' in hardball.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
I saw that last night and thought to myself "Hooboy Chris. You just opened yourself a can of worms". I predict that he'll be issuing a apology tonight.
BTW, did anybody catch what Wiener said to him right after his interview? I was only paying half attention but it didn't sound very nice. Chris didn't seem to think it was very nice either.
Don't hold your breath.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlxl7EMts78
(Not for work).
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
we citizens think we should have voice in the direction of our country!! We should all be ashamed of ourselves. They know what's best for us and they don't need us getting in the way and messing things up!!
Just another dumb ass thing to say from Tweety. The thing is that most of the MSM talkers feel this way. They are scared shitless of the netroots and they don't know what to do about it so they try to badmouth us. Think about Joe Kline and Howard Kurtz just to name a couple of the many.
Sure was a dumbass thing to say for Tweety though.
I was watching the show when he said it , jaw dropped and foot nearly ruined LCD . The guy has no integrity at all , what comes out of his mouth depends on who he is having on as a guest and the butt he is kissing trying to score some points . Real brave when it is someone of lesser stature but when it's a major player he sucks up to the point that I'm embarrassed for him . He loves being one of the club members , one of the boys and he didn't get where he is by having integrity , being objective and honest ... or tough , he uses them and they use him . Obama's ratings are down because people think he is too far left ? Libs and progressives are just cry babies , whiners and trouble makers and love to bitch ? Is he auditioning for a slot on Fox news now ? Pathetic ass kisssing idiot .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
I don't think the old model for politics and punditry have much understanding about the broadband age.
The idea that people who are interested and informed are just cheeto encrusted fingers on pajama wearing losers is just too much.
Of course, the Rwinger bloggers are treated as if THEY have something goin' on.
The SCLM comes through again.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
My problem with Matthews is that he considers politics to be some sort of game. A game where the rules and processes cannot and should not be challenged. What game doesn't include fun and what fun can be found in playing politics the way it has been played for decades. I'm loving every bit of this fight and if Matthews is, as he confessed, a liberal then he should understand it. If he doesn't, he's not a liberal.
he might get the idea that we don't vote from the posters here that say they're not going to vote in the future elections.
Disengenuous for Matthews not to note HOW MUCH CASH the netroots generates OVERNIGHT for a candidate . .
Matthews needs to get out under that rock he lives under in D.C.!!
anyway. This country should have took to the streets and shut down the government when our right to choose who would be President was taken away from us in Nov 2000. If we even really had a choice before that when you think about it.
... anyone remember Lou Dobbs? Who, exactly, helped get his bigoted butt thrown off the TV...? Tweety should mind his tongue.
I'm behind you, JA. Let's go find that donate button....got me some money-where-mouth-is supportin' to do.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
at this point is thinking that everyone spends all their time on the internet following politics.
...by 'grown-up Democrats are the ones that have become so used to bending over and grabbing their ankles whenever confronted by one of those 'mean' Republicans, that they've actually come to enjoy it - or seemingly so.
Too bad nobody gave Zell Miller a gun or something when he could have used it to good advantage.
In other words, Go to hell, Tweety. You and your sorry excuse for Democratic governing, are doomed. The only backbone you're capable of is to join in on the open criticism of 'Liberals' and it's gonna cost Obama a second term.
Hey Chris. We are as old as you and some older. Just because you need help turning your computer on doesn't mean all of us are in your shoes. Here's a big surprise for you, kids aren't the only ones using computers these days.
Damned right I bitch and raise hell. This whole journey began for me when my good friend was sent to Iraq at the beginning of that criminal war. While you were screaming WMD, I was screaming will someone please listen to what the inspectors say they haven't found in Iraq. I wasn't in the backseat, I was standing in front of the steam roller that was taking our country to war. In my adult life, I have missed one opportunity to vote and that was a local election.
Talking like that about the few viewers you have left is not going to make you any friends. Keep it up and hopefully soon MSNBC will have an opening for a new show to fill the dead space between Ed's show and Keith's.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
... in the ratings, and he blames us. It is one thing he is probably right on. We write his bosses and complain when he lets people like Tom Delay spin to their hearts content, and then treats HoDean like a piece of dog poo.
I stopped watching him several years ago when he had Trans Coulter on for almost the full hour.
In a two-party system, it's pretty idiotic to employ a purity test as to who is a "real" Democrat anyway. Seems a real Democrat these days is one willing to sell out the base to political expediency. Netroots activism arose from the most noble desire to actually have a representative government and to put pressure on the powers that be to act in accordance with the will of their constituents, citizens, consumers, and fellow world citizens. The so-called bitching comes about from constantly being relegated to the back of the bus after one's usefulness has been exploited sufficiently. Silence=assent.
Netroots embodies the best principles of "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." I do not always agree with every viewpoint or nuance by any particular liberal/progressive/Democratic blogger, but I'm damn that there are other like minded voices out there making a stink when one is warranted. F*ck Mathews' depiction of us as not "real" Democrats...we're the most engaged and aware democratic citizens in the truest sense of the word.
Bart once asked Homer if he was concerned about how to vote on an upcoming proposition. Homer scoffed and said, "Of course not, boy. That's what we pay politicians for."
I wish that was the political reality, but we've all got to watch them like hawks and give them a good swift kick in the seat to get them to even pretend they're working for our interests. If they'd do in when asked nice, we wouldn't need to bitch so much.
There are many excellent PAC's out there
Really? I guess the 'good PACs' are necessary to fight the 'bad PACs', but in my very humble opinion, these groups and industry lobbyists (yes, lumpin em together) are huge problems in a representative government, as are campaign contributions. I will vote for the first person who agrees with this and seeks to change it. Oh also, Career Politicians are bad, m'kay? They are corrupt but are trapped in the 'system' they support. Yes, even the 'good ones' are!
That maybe it's time to recognize that health care reform just isn't possible with a Congress and White House controlled by special interests.
That's what these "shows" are designed to do. Make you react instead of think.
who fawned over Booosh in his flight suit like a teenage girl who couldn’t take her eyes off the bulge who is telling someone to act like an adult?
Matthews disrespectful erroneous comments are shocking.
As someone accustomed to the high level of disourse here, where name calling is frowned upon, I cannot believe he would even use such disgusting terms as to accuse people of not being "real Democrats." Ot that he would play that ageist nonsense by telling people to "grow up."
It just goes to show what a f*%king corporatist d*%k licker he really is and how deep in the sack he and his fellow MSM villagers are for that Manchurian fraud Obama who falsely peddled the hope that disillusioned all of us who are normally geniuses but who voted for him and gave him money. He thinks he is a "real Democrat?"
I know a real Democan't when I see one of their spineless asses spouting Rahm talking points, and I will never vote for one again.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Who are you and what have you done with Ricky?
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
it is just another sarcastic ricky-post
was thrown out with the cheeto bags. It is recycling day.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
ROFL
Matthews is not completely inaccurate in saying that netroots are not democrats. There are a good number of people, like myself, who follow and support the progressive cause in the United States that are not themselves American citizens.
I am a former Democrat who is now in the Green Party.
I will never run for political office but I do support, work and donate to candidates whom I like. To say I am not part of the political process because I will not run for political office is not wholly accurate. One can be part of the political process without running for political office.
One can be very active in one's communitry from setting up activities for kids to youth sports to ensuring that the elderly have dances they can participate in. I know a lady in my hometown who for the past twenty years has put on an annual summer youth festival.
People do connect with one another on these blogs from what I hear. The people who run these various blogs have actually been very active in the political arena. Take John Aravosis over at AmericaBlog--he has been very political active during his life and has been invited to the White House to discuss LGBT issues. So Mr, Matthews is wrong in just this case alone.
The people over at antiwar.com who write articles are many former government employees from the CIA, Defense and State Departments. The same holds true for ConsortiumNews of which Robert Parry runs. Mr. Parry was in the words of Mr. Matthews a "legtimate" journalist at one time in his life when he worked for a standard American newspaper. Counterpunch.org which is run by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair have many fine writers and scholars who post their daily as well. Many in the netroots community at this time would rather read from various sites than what Mr. Matthews offers.
The Netroots also has many blogs which one can write/post and express one's views and organize. It's funny how the Huffington Post has one of their writers at Obama's press conferences/daily briefings. So again, the netroots does matter, at least to the Obama administration.
Look at the writers from Politico-mainly an online news site--writers from Politico hail from papers like the Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Internet and the Netroots is the wave of the future. To insult the Netroots and by extension the significance of the Internet is ridiculous.
Mr. Matthews as I have said is out of touch.
I understand the frustration, I am as frustrated as anyone. But the fact remains failure to vote in mid-terms means the tea-baggers win, and I have always said, if you do not vote, you have no right to bitch.
For those that say there is no difference, you are overly cynical and you are wrong.
Get involved in primaries, if you have a DINO, try to get a progressive in there. If you have a GOP rep, work for the best Dem challenger that you can get. Do something for kripes sake. Refusing to exercise your right to vote is like taking your ball and going home.
Tweety calling us out! LOLOL!
I guess in Tweety's mind...we are Democrats the way he is a journalist.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
...under these conditions:
1. I get paid, handsomely. How about a sum equal 3/4 your annual salary? I need and deserve the money more than you do.
2. It's live, lasts 30-60 minutes, and there are zero commercial breaks. None.
3. I get a list of all the debating points and/or questions two weeks ahead of time. If you diverge, expect no mercy. (I do not have children to hide behind, and I would not flinch from speaking the vocabulary of reality, to a US soldier, or someone like you.)
4. You can bring the largest, most threatening "Xe" mercenaries, or regular military personnel if you prefer, and they can point their guns at me while we have it out, rhetorically speaking. I'm willing to give you and your bloodthirsty fans that much of an advantage.
As for my backseat bitching...
True, I don't vote anymore. I took a hippocratic oath after 2000: do no harm -- do not vote for anything the american electorate may vomit up again, until us voting habits change to the extent I am forced to change my mind.
It's also true that I've sought an anonymous life because US culture has created an intolerable living and working environment. I have tried very hard to "just get by" on delivering good work in quantity and quality. I did not spend any time in the workplace "promoting myself". But it just does not work. I lost my last job -- after giving the company many free gifts while getting little but nonsense and abuse in return -- by saying "I do not take shit from americans". (I'm kinda proud of that one -- it's gotta be a first, even if all the words in the english dictionary have all been spoken and written before.)
Regarding the "grown up" issue. What is so grown up about the americans' irresponsible use of their war machine during our lifetime? What is so grown up about the county's rich, sending its poor to kill and die while refusing to pay for it, as they did do during WW I and WW II?
What is so childish about myself boarding the London Underground the day after the train bombings in 2005, seeing less than a dozen people on my train while overpaid yellow journalists like yourself went on about the "brave Londoners getting on the trains as usual, with stiff upper lips", while I put my name on a statement accusing Blair and Bush of making me a legitimate war target? (In war, civilians pay the highest price, and "bullets fly in both directions"... Boy, do I have stories about nonsense inside BBC News during the years 2002-2005. But they get lots of free money from the queen and my nda and lack of $$ forces me to keep quiet about that business.)
What is childish about me facing down extremists in Texas last year, who have openly stated they would murder me on sight, numerous times, over a period of several years? All I did was hurt their feelings by disowning them -- relations, including a religious extremist usaf officer -- within 72 hours of the December Coup in 2000. Since then, they've let it be known that they are so scared of my solid reasoning that they cannot face me unarmed.
While I'm on this subject -- childish me putting up with death-threats for years -- and putting my life where my mouth is... What is so childish about me restraining myself from having them put in prison for making many (witnessed) terroristic threats against my person? I know there must be a few criminal law attorneys in Texas who must be fuming about having their reputations as decent human beings literally destroyed by fellow US citizens who take extremist positions regarding the big life and death issues of our day, while openly declaring "we don't want to know anything about it". Surely, at least one of those angry attorneys might be willing to do a little pro bono work to help me out if I asked, yes? Is my self-restraint indicative of childishness?
Are you up for it?
Stan Burnitt
John, I think you hit on a big issue in the last sentence. Matthews, like most of the MSM, considers the netroots to be outside the beltway, and therefore, of little interest or worth. That's the most frustrating thing to me -- all the news shows are filled with incestuous relationships that happen only inside DC circles. It's pathetic and sickening.
We just don't get the same respect and attention from the media.
Perhaps we don't reference Hitler enough.
do not make for good video like misspelled SINES, MORAN.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Jeff Foxworthy might say, "If you can not spell moron, you may be one.
Get a Brain, Moran
netroots no nothings. Since he is in the progressive blogosphere here he is excused for missing what amuses the liberals.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
The reason Joe Lieberman now has an "I" after his name and needed 65% of his votes to come from Republican to win the election is because of "the Netroots".
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
without our support.
He wouldn't have beaten out Hillary in the primaries.
Just remember, Tweety is simply a messenger. He is only following the lead of his Washington Beltway buddies.
Remember the disrespect we are being shown now when election time comes.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
At mid-terms.
Should we run someone against Tweety in the primary, or buy firearms? What street were we supposed to meet on again?
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Read the post below and connect the dots.
Tweety is just a shill for his Democratic friends in Washington.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
He will go with whatever he thinks gives him ratings.
He was one of the loudest drum-beaters on the Clinton/Lewinsky fiasco and let right-wingers come on during the Bush years to spin to their hearts content.
He'll shill, alright, but not just for Dems.
Stay home.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Staying home gets tea-baggers elected.
Is that an improvement?
I understand the frustration, but not voting is a childish response. It is like taking your ball and going home.
Oh wellllll.
Then vote...and get the same guys back in. See how that works out.
What...we're gonna go through 8 years of bad GOP rule?
Been there, done that...and those that we elected STILL didn't get it.
And as far as childish and taking your ball and go home. Politicians do it ALL the time.
No..two wrongs don't make a right...but guess what...this is REAL LIFE, not some sappy sitcom.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
..... that one little vote is all we have.
To not exercise the right is to give up. Is that where you are at. You are fine having laws created by tea-baggers.
So...you're just gonna vote em in and send that message..."pleeeease...fuck me again".
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
....I would prefer it be done by someone that occasionally votes progressive than a tea-bagger.
But that's just me.
Enjoy.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
by not voting?
Oh please.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Try again.
he won't be expecting anybody to give him flowers and say it was the best they ever had.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
But in the end, I have behaved like an adult and am doing something to further the progressive cause.
Stop watching Tweety and stop sending checks to the DNC.
Maybe then they will learn a little respect.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
But there are really quite a few good, progressive Dems in Congress that deserve our support. I stopped giving the the DNC over how Dean was so unceremoniously dumped. Now I pick and choose over who gets my small donations.
Which progressives are those? Anthony Wiener? Puleeease. A junior Senator who hasn't been seen in two days...why...they taught him his place. They threatened him with no more pork.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
There are 80 members of the progressive caucus, every one a keeper. The problem is we need more.
Can you tell me how not voting gets us there?
You can try to primary people out...but guess what...it won't happen. Incumbents get the big money doners, that is why incumbency rates are so high.
You have to go through a period of pain. If that means more Republicans...oh wellllllll.
Maybe next time labor and progressives will not be so polite when the opportunity for healthcare reform comes around.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
If you don't have the will for the long fight, then by all means, don't vote.
But my high school civics teacher told me if you don't vote, you have no right to bitch.
I've always agreed with that.
I voted...that's why I'm bitching.
Now i vote again....with my feet and my wallet.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Rascalcat just admitted recalling something his high school civics teacher said.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
and dream of getting that GED.
telling me as a netroots denizen I am not grown up?
Say Rascalcat didn't your high school civics teacher also tell you "there is no I in team?" If, not, Jeff Foxorthy might say "you probably went to private school."
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
But if you do not vote mid-terms, you lose that right.
Well...I guess I'll do what I always do...move to the left and be ignored.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
And I too have threatened staying home mid-terms, but having the GOP control congress is worse, and not just a little worse, it is much worse.
I'll risk it.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I doubt many of them really watch television at all. They are not real viewers. They just like to sit in front of their computers and watch low quality clips provided them by their netroot overlords.
And most don't give to the DNC, either. They may give to a candidate or two, maybe even a PAC run by their netroot oveerloords, but I bet they don't give to the party.
They just like to sit on their couches and bitch about the high ratings for FAUX.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Just proves how insulated he is and how little he understands.
When the money to Democratic candidates dries up, he'll be retracting his statements faster than Limbaugh popping oxycotin.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Ever since the blogoshpere revealed his man crush for McCain and many other GOP men, Matthews has had a jhihad for the "net roots", or blogoshpere. He is merely a tool for corporate America and we all know it... that is everyone but Tweety himself. He still thinks he's relevant.
He's just pissed off cause we call him Tweety.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
or the problem. He does not take to netroot insults any better than Amato takes to netroot putdowns. Or Lieberman to getting his ass beat in a primary.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
The whole show was a frothing rant. His head is farther up his ass from the time he creamed over president codpiece landing on an aircraftcarrier. He was almost irrational and factless. Anthony Weiner totally dissembled him with a parting shot that was worthy of Jon Stewart his old college roomie.
This is still residual sting for being called for being a sexist douche during the primary.
Fine he is a villager who is slow to realize we were flim flammed.
The bitter taste in my mouth from swallowing that change you can believe in shit is galling. The thing that stinks even more is the fact there are some people who are republicans or the ones who didn't vote that have intellegence seeing we were sold a pig in a poke, and I am having real problems with the salesman.
The President's credibility and veracity are dipping into the null set.
The key for me is,liberals, progressives, and or democrats are giving the President a bad time because 'we just don't understand, or we should trust him'.
Well, no. This is such a naked sellout to insurance companies, pile on the administration stepping on Dorgan's drug bill, and knowing they LIED about cutting a deal with Pharma in the summer.
The pathetic roaring silence of the crickets during his 'meeting' with banksters.
Then there is Matt Taibbi's damning account of who the President is placing at the helm of the economy.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/31...
He expands here
http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/12/12/on...
And today some ominous clouds
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/janet-tavako...
This last piece is heady stuff and the beginning of my loathing for what the President is up to.
I saw last year when he did NOT move to expose the banksters for committing the most massive fraud in history, and then last saturday he said 'things are in the past'...like bush's war crimes.
There was no accountability and these people like blankfein and cassano will be handsomely paid still.
This thing is going to blow up take the time to absorb what Janet Tavakoli is saying. Obama has engaged in a coverup that, will be the undoing of his presidency
Hmmm...it's getting late. Isn't it time for Bill Clinton to tell the liberals to fall in line again?
Where's the big compromise? Are they still caucusing or is it time for our representatives to serve drinks to the lobbyists in the Capitol Dining Room?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
"I've been asked to run against Jane Harman in CA-36, but I've held off making a decision until the New Year is upon us."
Government sorely needs more people like you.
I say have at 'er dude!
"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "
-Jack Handy
Win and you prove netroots power and Chris Matthews has to interview you.
Lose and you are Chris Matthews's equal. In fact, if you top 23% in the primary, you are his better. Of course, he will discount that if you run against a girl.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Like challenging a one legged man to an ass kicking fight...
me-oww!
dick is a dick.
eek
Chris Matthews calls us backseaters, bitchers, and not real democrats. Well I guess because we don't kiss Obama's ring at every turn, we aren't "real" democrats. I guess because we are not moronic republicans and conservatives, and actually stand for our principles and not just for the personalities of the party, we aren't real democrats. How about us not real democrats, who can't possibly understand what it takes to govern in this country, just get the hell out of this party and let it go the way of the wigs. Matthews is a jackass and a jerk, and a prime example of what we call "the villager". He is an insider who makes millions of dollars yearly kissing the brass ring of whoever is in power, and who is not in danger of losing his health care, job, or home. It must be pretty comfortable for him to call us bitchers and backseaters.
This is what the insiders and villagers really think of the grassroots, because we can't possibly understand why a democratic president and democratic party leadership constantly tell progressives and liberals to "sit at the back of the bus" and let us grown ups drive the damned bus, and by the way don't open your fucking mouths because you just don't understand how things are done. Yet, the conservadems and big business are sitting right up front as they sell us out. Matthews can kiss my ass!
I am so sick of the bastards selling us out at every turn. Since we don't matter and the promises made to us are just lies and empty promises because this is a "center right" country, then why should we bother to participate in the process. I am finished with the whole damned thing. As far as I am concerned, Matthews speaks for the party bosses who feel the same way. Let's see them win elections with just beltway votes.
Unless and until we let these bastards know they can no longer take us for granted and they do what Republican presidents do and pay attention to their base, then we might as well let "real" republicans destroy this country. Better to the let the devil you know kill you than to let the devil you don't know do it. Matthews comments really anger me, but what angers me more is the fact he is telling the truth as far as the leadership sees it. So, let them vote for themselves and let them be at the butt end of the republican machine. Hell we "little morons" out here are suffering no matter who is in charge, so why should we participate in our own destruction.
Clearly Tweety doesn't know what he's talking about. How exactly does he verify whether or not the Netroots are voting? I'm sure the vast majority of us are. Complete lack of insight from someone who's been in the beltway for far too long to get it.
chrissie wetnaps is a motherfucking coward.
My apology to motherfucking cowards for that aspersion.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
From Mediabistro in a summary of Nielsen data, dated 9/1/09
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/a...
"Hardball with Chris Matthews" at 7 p.m. beat CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" by 13 percent in A25-54 in August (198,000 vs. 175,000) and virtually tied CNN at 5 p.m. among A25-54 (148,000 vs. 149,000).
What was that? Chris has 198,000 adult viewers aged 25-54 at 7:00 pm and a whopping 148,000 at 5:00 pm? This is the key age demographic that advertisers are so concerned about.
I read recently in another article (which I can't find right now) that the same numbers for the CBS, ABC and NBC national news programs (combined together) was in excess of 22 MILLION viewers aged 25-54!
I'll bet there are afternoon childrens' shows that get more viewers than Chris' piddly little cable show does! He needs to shut his pie-hole.
Chrissie is just your typical garden variety republican blowhard. He thinks because he does nothing to warrant a psycheck, everbody must be as lazy and shiftless as him.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
He's actually a Democrat, and cut his Washington teeth during the Carter Administration I believe.
Just another Beltway insider who would be unemployed if there was no cable.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Yeah, us netroots losers never do any heavy lifting like actually canvassing or donating money or running for office...
And I should "grow up"?
Fuck you, Mr. Sunny Nobility.
I, unfortunately, don't get any more "grown up". Does Howard Dean need to grow up too? He had the temerity to question the Rahm Emanuel wing of the Obama administration - he must not be as serious and grown up as you, Mr. Tingle Leg.
.
John,
I think Matthews would prefer to keep you in the back seat so that he can call you a bitcher. It's worked for him so far, has it not?
R E M E M B E R:
Matthews gets paid to spew this crap.
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Save the World.
The Ed Show: Markos Moulitsas Responds to Chris Matthews' Comments Belittling the Netroots
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Matthews knows better but as usual is doing some butt kissing and hugging that's all , scoring some points , you see Axelrod was coming up , was on this particular show . Matthews views and what comes out of his mouth are determined by the guests he has on that night , no integrity at all , a phony . He absolutely loves being "in " the club and accepted as one of the boys , makes him all giddy . They use him , he uses them .Pisses me off that this light weight from the New Yorker didn't take Tweety on for the statements he made but let him get away with it , could easily have made Matthews back pedal real fast and make him look like a fool./p>
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
He practically melted and gushed like a schoolgirl when he saw Bush in his flightsuit and codpiece,
He rambled on about the manly aquavelvet smell of a 76 year old man who was an inept and ridiculous candidate.
He probably has problems with 'the netroots' because we bring up past events and statements that the corporate media and the teevee have thrown down the memory hole.
What appears in the corporate media and on the teevee is tightly controlled, spun and edited.
Much of it is designed to keep American citizen's ill-informed.
In my opinion their behavior is actually unpatriotic and traitorous.
The lefty bloggers are really, really upset that they're not getting their way. They're angry that, as self-determined representatives of the Democratic Party's base, that the President and the Democratic leadership in the Congress have betrayed them, the real keepers of ideological purity and holders of the eternal flame of righteousness.
But the lefty blogger activists are not the base of the Democratic Party. Disproportionately higher income, college educated, male, and white, they are not the base demographically ... and they're clearly not speaking for 80% of Democrats who, in a January 2010 CBS poll, still solidly support President Obama.
They are, however, right there in line with the right-wing activists and elected officials who are single-minded about tearing down the Democratic majority in Congress and bringing Obama, too.
So who, exactly, are the lefty blogger activists the base of? It's clear that their feelings of aggrieved frustration are not representative of the overwhelming majority of Democrats ... so while they are an essential and valued party of the Democratic Party coalition, they do no represent a majority of Democrats.
CBS Poll:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/11/blogs...
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