Isn't MSNBC just a joke -- asserts Chris Matthews "has no agenda"

[eablair3]

I used to have hope for MSNBC. Heck, they had the balls to put Donahue on the air.

But, then they fired Donahue when his show was the highest rated show on their network and a leaked internal memo showed that they didn't want Donahue on the air when Bush was about to start a war and Fox would be "flag waving."

Then, they hired Michael Savage and Joe Scarborough, two nut cases.

Now, they claim that Chris Matthews "has no agenda." Have a look:

Kucinich rejects forum at Harvard

10/25/2003

Representative Dennis J. Kucinich is refusing to participate in a presidential candidates' forum run by Harvard's Institute of Politics and aired live on MSNBC's "Hardball," arguing that host Chris Matthews has tainted the show with a conservative and corporate agenda. Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, also contended that Matthews wrongly said Howard Dean was the only Democratic candidate who opposed the war. MSNBC spokeswoman Paulette Song said Matthews -- who has worked for Jimmy Carter and former House speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., both Democrats -- has no agenda. (AP)
snip

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/25/kucinich_rejects_forum_at_harvard/

I happened to hear the so-called Tweetie (why is he called that here?) on his WhiffleBall Show (I'm ripping off Bernie Ward's term) say that Dean was the "only anti-war candidate" several times. Matthews continually disregards Kucinich. Matthews's AGENDA is to appease his bosses to save his own ass and keep his show. Matthews plays to the establishment in both the Dems and the Repugs. He knows where his bread is buttered in the corporation owned by corporate NBC which is owned by corporate defense contractor General Electric. He knows that it is better not to talk much accurately about candidates and people like Kucinich. Matthews saw what MSNBC did to Donahue.

[Neecy]

1. ick

They always wave around his Democratic credentials, which is laughable. It's what he says that matters, and when it comes to Democrats he's almost always ugly and mocking.

His hatred of the Clintons is close to pathological. He practically sprays saliva every time he mentions them.

But hey, no 'agenda' here. Just a whore for ratings.

[w4rma]

4. Yup. Mathews is a well-paid propagandist for GE's corporate interests.

And, indeed, Mathews does NOT play to Dems and his open hatred of Clinton proves that.

[stopbush]

5. Right you are!

With "ex-Dems"like Matthews, Dick Morris and George Steponpoopalot, who needs repuke attack dogs?

[Neecy]

11. ex-Dems

Don't forget Pat Caddell, who always has that special store of venom for Democrats - and he's always presented as a "Democratic" pollster (sure, 25 years ago for Carter).

[unfrigginreal]

14. Yeah, that one always got to me

I wrote an email to Matthews once after a show with Pat. I told him that presenting Cadell as a former Democratic Pollster is no different than presenting Ronald Reagan as former Democratic Activist.

[eablair3]

7. Matthews is more dangerous than people like Hannity, in many ways

At least with Hannity, everyone knows he's a right winger. You know where he's coming from. He tells you.

But, with Matthews, many people think he is a "liberal". I guess they cite to his working for certain Dems, as stated in the article.

Matthews parades around like he is some type of asserted "liberal". I just don't know what type that would be?

The guy seems to me to be the typical guy who floats around picking his positions in an effort to keep his job and keep his ratings up. He's certainly no liberal.

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. You should see what he did to Patricia Ireland.

His lip curled when he spoke to her and dismissed her comments as quickly as they came out of her mouth. He didn't even seem to have to think too hard on the rebuttal. As if he was anti-feminist to begin with.

What's worse, when the camera was on Patricia Ireland, Tweety's hand was left in the screen, slightly out of focus, and you got this horrible feeling that if he could get away with it, he'd sucker punch her.

[Classical_Liberal]

2. Did anyone see his recent interview with War Hawk Jack Welch

? It was pretty revealing. For the record Chris's liberalism is not very principled, and MSNBC did do a right wing turn, primarily because of war hawk Welch. I wish Gate's would divest from the GE, so this wouldn't happen.

[eablair3]

3. I wish Gates would just buy them out

I'm not sure about Bill Gates, but I've read a lot of good things that he does. One good thing he could do is to use his money and power to take control of MSNBC and turn it into something to be proud of, which would include axing Matthews.

[Classical_Liberal]

10. The trouble with buying out GE is that then Bill Gates

would be in the defense contractor business. GE association with nbc is a clearly the fox guarding the hen house.

[eablair3]

12. my understanding is that

MSNBC is a cooperative type joint effort between Microsoft and NBC, which is owned by GE. I assume it is some sort of "partnership" between Microsoft and NBC/GE.

I was thinking (or dreaming) that Gates could use his millions/billions to make some kind of bold corporate takeover type move (a la T. Boone Pickens) against NBC/GE to put pressure on them, and then settle by agreeing to take a controlling or wholly owned interest in MSNBC.

dreams.

[KharmaTrain]

17. There's Little MS in MSNBC Now

Most of Microsoft's interest in the network was the supposed "interactive" element of creating a television/computer network. Remember, this was 1995...the start of the Internet wave and at the time Gates was toying with becoming a content provider (anyone remember when MSN first came online to compete with AOL??).

The MS interest in MSNBC never went beyond the technical and financial start-up of the network...the news content has always been under the control of NBC...and GE.

When MS hit the financial skids in the late 90's (if you call a fall for a company with such huge assets a skid), they scaled back their interest in the network to virtually just letting NBC keep the MS nameplate and not much more.

Early MSGOP viewers will remember how the network was billed as a joint venture between the two companies...not any more.

There are rumors now and then that Microsoft will turn some of their wealth into purchasing a broadcast or cable network...or get heavy into satellite TV, but not much lately from Redmond.

I agree with the observation that I'd hate to see Gates and company get into the multinational death-merchant game.

As far as Tweety...he's an opportunist whose concerns for his reputation and image inside the beltway and in the incestuous world of political "reporting" drives how he plays "phlemball". He's as much a Democrat as Russett is...(Monihan & Tip O'Neil must be rolling over seeing what they assisted in creating). My bets are that if the WhittleAss' fates turn so bad that it become vogue to trash all things Bush, Tweety will be right there tossing the dung...just I sure won't ever trust the bastard.

BTW...Welch is no longer CEO of GE/NBC...but has a consulting contract with the company (that came out in his messy divorce)...and Tweety gives him the red carpet treatment. Yep major Kiss Ass.

[NewJeffCT]

25. I thought he meant

Gates buying out NBC/MSNBC? I don't think even Bill Gates could afford to buy GE with it's over $100 billion or so in annual revenues.
It's more likely that GE would be buy out Gates/Microsoft.

[angee_is_mad]

6. Tip is rolling overt

I betcha old Tip is rolling over in his grave everytime Chris opens his big fat mouth. With democrats like that who needs republicans!

[grasswire]

8. Tweety has confessed....

....to voting for W., and said last month "I'm a lot more conservative than most people think."

[unfrigginreal]

15. He couldn't be more conservative than I think he is n/t

[Clark Can WIN]

9. Chris Matthews is very valuable

because otherwise we wouldn't have those great Hardball skits on Saturday Night Live!

Leaves me in stitches every time.

[delhurgo]

13. Donahue's show was canceled prematurely based on...

...how it performed with its original format: that had Donahue interviewing guests ala Bill O'Reilly. It was a total bore, and the ratings reflected that. I think it was during this period that MSNBC decided to cancel it, which in my opinion was the correct call. The stuff about Donahues liberal/anti-war views isn't the real reason. The last couple months the show was changed to the moderator/audience style that made Donahue famous. All sides of an issue were represented and there was a food fight type atmosphere that was very entertaining. That worked. The ratings rose. But it was too late, the decision was already made. I'm sure they realise now that they made a mistake. Its too bad cause I think they really had a hit on their hands if they just would have given the new format more time. It had very little to do with Donahue's politics, IMO.

Matthews has tried to pander to a right wing audience. I've noticed that too. But he's still sort of in the center. Just one example is his continuing criticsim of the war in Iraq.

[Classical_Liberal]

16. No NBC produced an actual memo that said Donhue was too

antiwar.

[eablair3]

19. Donahue was the highest rated show on MSNBC at the time it was cancelled

that was a fact. Yes, Donahue was higher rated that Matthews' Whiffleball at the time that it was cancelled.

"From launch to date DONAHUE has been the highest rated program on the MSNBC primetime line up."
http://www.allyourtv.com/0203season/news/02262003donahueresponds.html


The internal MSNBC/NBC memo stated it was cancelled because Donahue was letting antiwar voices be heard when the corporate tv bosses knew Bush was going to start a war. And, they were concerned about that "while Fox was flag waving."

* MSNBC canceled Phil Donahue's talkshow after an internal memo (leaked to the All Your TV website, 2/25/03) argued that he would be a "difficult public face for NBC in a time of war.... He seems to delight in presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the administration's motives." The report warned that the Donahue show could be "a home for the liberal anti-war agenda at the same time that our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity."
http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/0403-12.htm

[delhurgo]

23. This anti-war business is being exaggerated imo.

I'm not saying it didn't play a role, but not as much as its being made out to be. If his show hadn't started out as poorly as it did, he would not have been cancelled. I think these objections to content came after they saw how boring the show was. I remember, cause I watched it. He sat around with guests having calm, intellectual discussions about the issues. It was like something you'd see on PBS. It was awful. And his ratings during this period reflected that. They only improved when executives forced him to change the format and have a more equal representation of all sides of the issues, in a heated debate. My guess though is that they had already soured on him and never really expected the ratings would change. I'm saying the decision to cancel was made before the anti-war stuff and before the format change. The 'he was antiwar' is being used as the scapegoat, but is not the true story. After all, Matthews was and is anti-war too. Remember, they knew what Donahue's political views were when they hired him. Matter of fact, that was the whole point - a liberal counterweight to The O'Reilly Factor. What they didn't expect was a borefest.

Thats my opinion from my own observations, not from others (your links) who have used one memo as thee reason because it makes for a contoversial, interesting story.

[UTUSN]

28. & Tweety Performed the EXECUTION of Phil

on Phil's own show. It was one of the most dastardly acts in a long list that Tweety is guilty of. It was when his idiotic pander-bearing (to jingoism) "book" first came out, a Cliff's Notes thing about "Americana", going through a schoolboy list of what things are "American" (The Great Gatsby). So Tweety was doing the book tour thing, and went on Donahue's show. It was chilling. Tweety had a look of pure hatred and contract-killer-coldness, literally like a snake preparing to strike, and STRIKE he did, waiting for Phil's devil's-advocate-thing, then WHAM! Tweezer lashed out with THAT'S-WHAT'S-WRONG-WITH-YOU-LIBERALS thing. He performed the hit with calculated viciousness. Phil was like a lamb having its throat cut. A couple or so weeks later, Phil was gone. I don't dispute that, despite the highest MSRNC ratings at the time, the Phil format was wrong from the outset: At the beginning of the show's run, there was no audience, doing away with his original signature thing. Later they brought in audiences, but too large. With all the money these people make and invest, a little common sense would be expected.

[UTUSN]

30. Tweety Name & History

Since the original poster asked why he's called that here (with apologies to any who have seen this before):

During Campaign 2000 the media whores were swooning over the nicknames Shrub was giving some of them. Media Whores Online ran a contest to nickname Chris-the-Whore. In the first 3 or so weeks, there was no clear, catchy front runner, with "The Screamer" sort of leading. Then one of The Whore's own Hardball staff LEAKED to MWO that his own staff called him Tweety because of the Clairol shade he favored. This was immediately declared the winner. But in some quarters, it wasn't entirely satisfactory. For one thing, by the time it was declared, the shade had changed to platinum, leading to a suggestion he be called Carole LOMBARD. Plus, "Tweety" sounds too affectionate towards this JERK WHORE. Then M-TV held it's 20th or 25th or whatever anniversary, and all the cable whores were doing segments of Brittany shedding her duds down to almost nothing. Not to be left behind in any whore game, Tweety followed suit, with a guest from Time Mag, the young humor columnist, whassisname Joel STEIN. The staff kept re-running the Britany clip, and Tweety was clearly DROOLING disgustingly. The Time dude said, "You're beginning to creep me out." Tweety responded, "Yeah, well, wait till YOU're 50." This led to the suggestion that "Tweety" be modified to "Tweezer" to retain the hair reference while canceling out the affection factor and also adding the (dirty old) "geezer" angle.

Just to round out the Tweety portrait: 1- He is our enemy. 2- The last time he was identifiably a Democrat was circa 1988 when his book, Hardball, was first published. 3- He's a political flunky who worships SUCCESS, and started "turning" through admiration for RAYGUN's kicking his Dem bosses' rears. 4- He was ABSOLUTELY VICIOUS to President GORE all through Campaign 2000. 5- He triggered a gun incident by MISTAKENLY naming Kathleen WILLEY's supposed "jogger" (Pat BUCHANAN's mentally ill brother took the gun to the house). 6- He is a de facto wingnut operative. 7- He voted for Shrub.

[tishaLA]

32. Your description of the scene is eerie

and correct. Tweety thought he was Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now and that Phil was the liberal Kurtz.

Then Tweety and Peggy laughed it up the next hour on Tweety's show. What a farce.

[UTUSN]

33. It Was Sad. n/t

[shance]

34. Kudos to Kucinich - not only did he burn the much deserved Matthews,

but he did the right thing.

If more people would refuse to go on Hardball, eventually it would fold, unless of course NBC wanted to sponsor it themselves.

[Cat Atomic]

18. Matthews is the worst sort of shill. He's a shill who only does it for $.

At the very least, you can Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh are stupid enough to actually believe what they're saying. Matthews obviously works for whatever cause pays the most this year.

[maggrwaggr]

20. Today saw Tweety having a major hissy fit over the Reagan movie

I thought he was gonna start crying he was so upset, it was laughable. You'd've thought somebody had insulted his mother or something, and he was eight years old.

He's a fool.

[Michael Harrington]

21. True

That was the best part of the whole thing. He was sort of welling up.


Of course, I'd cry if I vouched for a racist plagiarist like Barnacle, too.

[elperromagico]

22. MSNBC changes with the wind

They've been on the air five years, and I doubt they've kept a consistent lineup for more than six months.

They keep a show like Hardball, which might pull 200,000 viewers on a good night, or Shitbird Country, which might get 400,000, but drop Donahue, which was pulling maybe half a million a night. They fill three hours on weekdays with Imus in the Morning, a program which perfectly illustrates the old expression "a face for radio."

It's a shame that their programming skills are so dreadful; there are some good reporters there.

[Brian Sweat]

26. If he was truly object, they would have to issue a disclaimer.

[stewert]

31. Matthews is a Classic Media Whore......

Chris Matthews plays both sides of the fence, he is real tough on democrats and sort of tough
on republicans. But he also sucks up to the establishment and the corporate suits.

He admitted to voting for Bush, he has Ann Coulter on all the time, he praises Bush all
the time, and he thinks the republicans are great because they have a plan for the country.

Here is what matthews said to senator mitch mcconnel after Bush landed on the aircraft
carrier.

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 is a loud mouth media whore who pretends to be fair and balanced.

His pollster is frank luntz, most of his regulars are right-wing idiots, and the one person
he has to represent the democrats is a former democratic pollster. His name is Pat Caddell, and
half the time he agrees with the republicans.

Here is what Caddell said about Bush landing on the aircraft carrier.

PAT CADDELL, FORMER DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: Well, first of all, Chris, the-I think
that-you know, I was-when I first heard about it, I was kind of annoyed. It sounded like the kind
of PR stunt that Bill Clinton would pull. But and then I saw it. And you know, there’s a real - ”
there’s a real affection between him and the troops. It’s-you know, when you see Bill Clinton with
troops, it used to be like watching people going to the dentist...

And yet more.

MATTHEWS: Well, let’s talk about authenticity, Pat.

CADDELL: ... watching that was really...

MATTHEWS: You’re an expert...

CADDELL: ... really, really authentic.

MATTHEWS: The president there-look at this guy! We’re watching him. He looks like he flew the
plane. He only flew it as a passenger, but he’s flown...

CADDELL: He looks like a fighter pilot.

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.

CADDELL: Yes. It’s a-I don’t know. You know, it’s an internal thing. I don’t know if you can put
it into words. It’s a jawn (ph). It’s a-as I said, it’s a relation. You can see it with him and the
troops, the ease with which he talks to them. I was amazed by that, frankly, because as I said, I
was originally appalled, particularly when I heard he was going in an F-18. But-on there-but
the-but you know, that was...

MATTHEWS: Look at this guy!

CADDELL: ... was hard not to be moved by their reaction to him
and his reaction to them and...

MATTHEWS: You know, Ann...

CADDELL: ... you know, they-it’s a quality. It’s an innate quality. It’s a real quality.

MATTHEWS: I know. I think you’re right. You know, Ann Coulter...

And this guy is the democrat on the show, for gods sake he called the bush carrier landing
really, really authentic. While every other democrat in the world called it the biggest phony
photo op in the history of america.

On this same show matthews had B-1 Bob Dornan, republican mitch mcconnel, and Ann Coulter.

Here is a good part.

MATTHEWS: Is this a legitimate use of taxpayers’ money, to fly the president to the USS
Abraham Lincoln tonight for this victory lap, basically?

COULTER: Oh, sure.

CADDELL: Yes.

COULTER: Oh, sure. With all the stupid things the government spends money on, this is pretty
minor.

MATTHEWS: Pat, is this a legitimate use of the presidential office...

CADDELL: Well, you know, let’s face it, it’s kind of a-it’s a PR ploy, too. Let’s not kid ourselves.
It’s a political-you know, it’s political picture shot. And you know, I-you know, I don’t think it’s
a question of money. I think sometimes I think it’s a question of taste. But as I said, he pulled it
off.

MATTHEWS: OK.

This is what passes as a news show in america, I would say it passes more as propaganda
and towing the corporate/establishment line than it does a news show.

Matthews is a joke, Hardball should be called lardball.

[CWebster]

27. Tweety is an establishment hack

who almost always abuses Progressives unless they have exceptionally dynamic personalities to repel him. His broadside attack of Kucinich in the past was a public disgrace but Tweety probably has added personal animosity towards Kucinich based on his pro-choice shift.

I don't blame Kucinich but as a president he will have no choice but to mix with some undesirables.

Tweety resembles Tweety-bird.

[KharmaTrain]

29. I'll Ask This Again...What Does Kucinich Have To Lose?

Everyone knows that going up against Tweety is going into the Lion's Den. But remember the Dubya game of "low expectations"? What's gonna happen if Tweety chews Dennis up? I think that's highly unlikely. If he does, there's a day's worth of chuckles, but most of us will be outraged at how Dennis was handled...honestly a wash in my book.

But, I would expect Dennis to be loaded with bear and could take it to the Tweedmeister. He would have an hour to take this hypocrite down several notches, and have a national forum (FREE TV time) to show many who have little knowledge of his stance on issues not only whee he stands, but his convictions and passion. I've seen this on the House floor...not on the campaign trail.

Running from an opportunity to take on the Media head on just amplifies the mantra of "weak-kneed liberals".

[UTUSN]

35. The Problem Is That Tweezer SLAUGHTERED Him Before

Either way the first time went down, whether DK didn't know what he was stepping into OR was just not up to it. It's already been done. What does he have to gain by going on? His labeling him as a Repuke, getting publicity that way, and PUTTING IT ON THE MEDIA yak list is priceless. GOOD for DK! (I'm a KERRY supporter, btw.)

Otoh, Tweezer more or less has to rein himself in when he's featuring guests in this format. It was surprising when he was NICE to Senator CLINTON. The handlers made deals ahead of time, don't they?

[JohnKleeb]

37. I am so glad he basically spoke out about the corporate media

The only person I can think of who really does that is Bernie Sanders. Matthews is a whore and Kucinich knows it, we know it.

[onecitizen]

36. Not only did he SEE what..........

MSNBC did to Donahue, he was behind it and encouraged it!!
Remember when he stomped off Doahue's show in disgust for Donahue's liberal leanings? I mean really, what a child!!

I cannot wait to see the look on all these Cons faces when it all comes tumbling down on 'em! HA!!