What did everyone think about Conason on Hardball..

[ObaMania]

Friday night?

I think he was made to look like a fool by the conservative tag-team of Tweety and the radio talk show host.

They wouldn'd let him finish his sentences or make a point before they would attack him again.

Also, is it me or was Tweety feeding us crap by saying he hasn't had Mannthrax Coulter on his show more than once?

I really thought Conason could hold his own, but after Friday, I'm not so sure any more.

Thoughts anyone?

[molly]

1. He kept asking Tweety to tell the other guy to let him

finish - Tweety did nothing. I give him (Conason) a lot of credit for enduring that fiasco. It made Tweety and the other guy look like a right-wing conspiracy.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I was Disappointed!

Tweety is such a REICH WING MEDIA WHORE!!!!!
He calls himself a liberal then starts licking Bush's and now Arnie's asses!

[HootieMcBoob]

3. no transcript up yet

Any specifics you can share?

[cybildisobedience]

4. Well, considering the circumstance..

I think Conason did fine. I mean, really, what is he to do when he mentions that Ann Coulter has appeared numerous times, and
Tweety just out and out LIES about it and says, no, she wasn't. In fact, Tweety said, "I'd be surprised if she was on at all!"
I mean, this is sheer lunacy. How can you have an intelligent, thoughtful discussion based on FACTS, when Tweety not only stacks the deck with that Prager jerk, but then refuses to be grounded in reality?
I think one thing Conason could have done, is say something like about the fact that Tweety gives people like Coulter
carte blanche to blather on and on, freely spewing her venom and misinformation. But, when it's someone who does ot toe the corporate media whore line, he "balances" them with a wingnut who interrupts and shouts over them.
Next time, maybe Conason could say something like, "Hey Chris, when Prager writes a book that I haven't even read, will I be invited
onto your program so that I can interrupt and misinterpret everything he says? You know, just to be fair?"

[Lastgasp]

5. Joe was ambushed

Tweety planned a broadside verbal avalanche to drown out any point Conason tried to make. It was pathetic, but it was typical Tweety.

[kentuck]

6. Here is what I noticed :

Previous to Conason, he had Carl Jeffries and the blonde bimbo, Kim what's-her-name. He let the bimbo rattle on with her response with what seemed like an eternity and as soon as Carl Jeffries started to respond, Tweety started challenging him...as the bimbo smiled approvingly in the background.

Then he continued the same technique when Conason came on. He permitted the rightwinger to make his responses without any interruptions and Conason was interrupted continuously, either by the rightwinger or by Tweety himself. It was an obvious gang-up on Conason and he could have handled it better by callingtheir attention to the fact that they were interrupting him and not allowing him to respond. This is a favorite tactic of people like Tweety and the right wingers...

[0007]

18. That is why I hate the whore networks

all they know how to do is yell and talk over someone.

........and commericals, goddamn every two minutes. Fuck 'em feed 'em cheese.

[CWebster]

7. Saw part of it

No question Tweety was lying about Coulter. He does get shrill and nasty when put on the defense, like with Conason's remark about Donahue's ratings.

[cybildisobedience]

11. Just out of curiosity -

I googled Coulter + Hardball, and was able to find, in like three seconds, references to Coulter being on Hardball on
Nov. 15, 2002, Aug. 14, 2002, June 27, 2002, May 1, 2003, June 30, 2003, and July 9th of this year.
AND, she is scheduled to be on again TONIGHT, against Donna Brazille, who I'm sure will play the dutiful, say-nothing centrist Dem and either agree with everything Coulter says, or just sit there.
So yes, Conason did manage to get in the fact that Coulter is on constantly, although he should have said that theonly time Tweety interrupts her is to gush and fawn and tell her what a beautiful and intelligent constitutional scholar she is.
Also, Conason missed a chance to twist the ratings knife, when he noted that Donahue's program had higher ratings than
"other programs on this network," but failed to mention that Hardball is one of them.
I think he was being too much of a gentleman, but that doesn't do you much good among these vipers.

[kentuck]

12. I think his comment about Donahue was what pushed Chris over the edge.

As some may recall, Chris had Donahue on his program or vice-versa, and it was not a good showing for Chris. Soon after that, Donahue was on the way out. Since Chris Matthews is like the "dean' of the news people on MSNBC, I think he was instrumental in getting Donahue axed, if the truth be known. Just as he isinstrumental in keeping Scarborough on the air now, even though his ratings are lower than Donahue's...

[mpsteve]

16. I remember that interview

Donahue had a great line. As Tweetster was really starting to get out-of-line with his comments, Donahue responded with, "Just a minute young man. Boy, you could start a fight in an empty bar!" LOL

[spooky3]

27. great data, cyb

Would you be willing to email CM with this information? He says "we love getting your emails--keep 'em comin'." If he is fair and balanced, he will appreciate getting the information and will immediately dispatch an assistant to do a comprehensive Lexis-Nexis search, if he hasn't already, then follow it up with an apology to Conason on the air if the data are accurate.

By the way, I saw a transcript of one of his shows with Coulter and I thought he hammered her pretty hard (appropriately) about who exactly is treasonous and why the same behavior from Repugs doesn't constitute treason. He then peppered in a few sexist and condescending remarks, I guess hoping that she would be dumb enough to think he really meant he admired her but had to be tough but fair. Don't get me wrong--I can't stand Coulter or her ugly and unethical "work"--but criticism ought to focus on that rather than on her gender characteristics.

[nomaco-10]

8. I watched it Friday night...

I think Conason appeared shell shocked and with good reason. Earlier in the day he was pummeled by Nachman and I think it became clear to him nobody at MSGOP was going to "interview" him about his book, but rather the order of the day was try to discredit and embarras him every chance they got. This was confirmed when later that evening the wingnut that stands in for Scarborough tried to take him apart again. I stated in a post a couple of days ago, tweety and buttboy slobber all over themselves when they interview Ann Coulter, calling her "brilliant" and the tweeter even declaring her "smarter than most people" while interviewing Conason with a "yeah, yeah you wrote a book so I have to interview you" attitude. SHAMEFUL. MSNBC has been on a steady decline for quite sometime now.

[curlyred]

9. Check out the Daily Howler

Good analysis.

[ewagner]

10. Gotta link? n/t

[stoystown]

13. www.dailyhowler.com

www.dailyhowler.com

[eleny]

17. Tweety forgot..

that Coulter was also on when his guest host was filling in for him. I can remember at least one time like that.

And Tweet had her on at least twice. Once, he bested her with a final remark how her opinions could be characterized by the title of her book (Treason). It was his last word before the show ended and she didn't have the chance to respond. She was on shortly after that and I took that as his holding out the olive branch. At the end of that next appearance his last word was something about how cute she was. What's with that?! Smarmy.

Charlie Rose mentioned Chris M one night. He and his guest were talking about where the various talking headss stood politically. When CM's name came up, Rose just smirked and said something about CM not really knowing who he is and how he's all over the place to get the ratings.

About Conason, I thought it was great when he touched on Donahue's ratings. I think it was Bill O who mentioned how when Phil D was cancelled, Phil's ratings were higher than CM's. Common knowledge. So it was great that Conason touched on it last Friday and it may have ticked off CM. He deserved the dig if it was intended.

Conason was overwhelmed. But it made CM look bad as the host has some responsibility to his audience. Maybe he'll have him back again to repair his own image.

[priller]

14. I thought his Wash. Times point was good

when countering Tweety's point that the "free market" dictated the conservative slant--that conservative voices are predominant because they're popular. Conason said the Moonie Times has always lost money, but Moon has supported it for decades. It's there for propaganda purposes only. While he was saying this and lambasting Tony Blakely (ugh!) for working at that paper, Norah O'Donnell (yum!) was hiding her eyes, looking straight down at the floor. Conason was telling the truth and Norah knew it was true and was ashamed. Or either she was simply embarassed that fat Tony was getting skewered so thoroughly.

[kentuck]

24. I don't think Norah (yummy-yum) was ashamed...

:) I think she is usually pretty fair in her analysis. I hope she doesn't change.

[TacticalPeek]

25. I noticed Nora's demeanor/expression, too.

True, she might have just been looking down at her upcoming segment's 'tease' notes, but I sensed a sort weariness from the onslaught on Joe, and quietness at the Blankley blood running over the floor, from Joe's knife-twisting.

I've come to NEVER expect a fair, civil interview or dialogue on any talk tv show. Smokin' Joe was indeed swarmed as noted here and at the Howler, but I think he gave back pretty good, especially about the 'free market' media and Moonie/Murdoch money. You could tell poor Tony was pissed, probably sorry that Tweety brought up free markets (save that for another show, where it fits the facade better).

You know, I date the tv origin of the 'shouting past each other' to way, way back on Nightline, probably Carter or early Reagan years, when talkover whiz, John McLaughlin, was talking remote to Kopple, just his name graphic on the screen. He got louder and louder, until he, Kopple, and maybe another guest, were just one cacophony, 'til Ted dropped out and McLaughlin went blithering on, like his hearing aid or phone line just wasn't working right. It's been downhill since.

[KC21304]

30. Anyone remember the start of "Crossfire" ?

Tom Braden and Pat Buchanan. Tom would get pretty hot. I never agreed with Pat but It was fun watching them. Then when Pat took off to run for Prez they let Bob Novak on. It was all down hill from there.

[roughsatori]

15. Being an effective writer does not make one an effective TV Warrior

I read his columns and email them to other people. I really like him. But when it comes to entertainment news, his being a good writer and thinker don't carry any weight. It is sad, but it is true.

If you are invited to speak on corporate news with a progressive view you must put on the boxing gloves, or they win by default.

[eleny]

19. He might be better suited...

to venues like C-Span, Charlie Rose and Larry King. The mosh pit of talk tv is fast paced and maybe too much so for him. When everyone is talking at once, I can't handle it. And I'm a news junky who can't seem to get enough. But when it gets like Saturday afternoon at the kiddie movie, I'm outta there to dash off an email to the host.

[roughsatori]

21. That's a good idea: a change of venue

I think he is incredible, but he falls on his face in the infotainment debates. Larry King and Charlie Rose and C-span would work in his favor. Just because I like him I am not going to kid myself that he does a good job on corporate news "debates."

[KC21304]

20. Joe is not a screecher, and thank God for that.

I can't take listening to anymore of those. I think he does a great job and will get on more shows with his method. He is brilliant and his book is the best.

[ArkDem]

22. If he doesn't have his DLC faxes easily accessible

he has a hard time.

[Redleg]

28. C'mon now- are you saying that Conason is a DLC stooge?

He was ambushed during the show- he didn't get a chance to articulate his ideas/opinions because of Matthews and constant interruptions by the right-wing idiot what's his name.

[wuushew]

23. Transcipts for Friday's show are now up

MATTHEWS: Yes. By the way, there’s something inaccurate in her book. There is something inaccurate in her book, because you said that she was on my show, HARDBALL, eight times. I would be surprised if she was on once.
CONASON: No, that’s what Nexus shows, Chris. You’ll have to correct it with them.
MATTHEWS: No, no, no.
CONASON: That’s what it shows.
MATTHEWS: She’s not.
CONASON: That is what it shows. She’s been on your show - and you know.
MATTHEWS: Eight times? On one book - eight times on a book?
CONASON: What I would appreciate right now, Chris.
PRAGER: What he is telling you.
CONASON: What I would appreciate right now, Chris.
PRAGER: He is telling you how many times she was on your show.
CONASON: I’m telling you how many times Lexus - Nexus.
PRAGER: That’s incredible.
CONASON: Dennis. I’m telling you how many times.
PRAGER: But, he knows how many - I.
CONASON: Hey, Dennis. Can I speak?
PRAGER: Maybe, but you say you got - all you have to say is I and got an erroneous figure. I’m sorry.
CONASON: I am not going to say that.
PRAGER: You are defending against a guy who had it on her a show.
CONASON: Hey, Chris. Will you ask him to let me speak? I would like to say what I have to say.

[TacticalPeek]

26. Wonder if Tweety does a 'correction' tonight? n/t

[RamboLiberal]

29. Oh and guess who's on Hardball tonight

Yes, that only on once before - Bullshit Tweety - Ann Coulter. We all need to note dates she appears to back Conanson.

[JohnyCanuck]

31. MWO asks us to email Tweety and call him on his lie.

On the main page of www.mediawhoresonline.com there is a list of Annthrax Coulter's appearances on Hardball. It shows there were 8 appearances just like Joe claimed and which Tweety strongly denied. MWO suggests that interested parties email Tweety and let him know we know he is a liar.

here is the email I sent to [e-mail]

Dear Mr. Matthews:

Will you be apologizing to Joe Conason for implying to your audience he had lied about the number of times Ms Coulter appeared on your show after she released her piece of work, Slander? You apparently said you'd be surprised if she had been on once, while the results of a Lexis-Nexis search published today at www.mediawhoresonline.com shows she has been on Hairball (sic)exactly 8 times after the release of Slander.

It appears your recollection of recent events is as deficient as that of your President who ordered the US military to attack Iraq, cause thousands of innocent deaths and untold misery and suffering in order to save the oil and Halliburton's bottom line and then claimed in an interview that it was Saddam's fault because he had refused to allow weapons inspectors into Iraq.

If you had a sense of decency, I think you would offer an on air apology to Mr. Conason and perhaps invite him back on the show and afford him an opportunity to present his case without having to put up with deceitful denials on your part and repeated, rude interruptions from another unmanerly guest. You might also want to check with your medical professional to see what can be done for treating Alzheimer's symptoms. I understand that there are now drugs available which are quite effective in alleviating memory loss in Alzheimer's sufferers, at least while the disease is still in the early stages.

Regards
xxxxx

[ElsewheresDaughter]

32. i disagree ....as usual tweety and the ugly repuke woman.....

(what the hell is wrong with her eyes?) bet she thanks god every night for talk radio and they better keep her scary ass of TV!)were their typical shrill selves. tweety didn't like being reminded that Donahue's show had higher ratings than him...the asshole!