The Chris Matthews Show: David Brooks Says In Order To Win, McCain Can't Appear To Be Too...<I>Republican</i>
By Nicole Belle Saturday Apr 12, 2008 11:00am
Ah...the rub of any Republican candidate after the clusterf&@k of the Bush administration: in order to be electable, you can't be like them. Which is a problem for John McSame, who has built his campaign around giving voters a third term of the Bush presidency. David Brooks thinks that McCain can still pull it out, but it involves invoking another President: Teddy Roosevelt.
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MATTHEWS: David, the question that a lot of women especially care about is, choice--abortion rights-- and although they may like the cut of his jib because he seems like a maverick and sort of a suburban, independent type--not part of some machine--he does relentlessly say that he's for strict constructionists. He likes Scalia, he likes Roberts, he likes Alito. How does he break out of that?
BROOKS: He doesn't. That's who, that's what he believes he'd believed that for thirty years. The guy is pro-life. He's a conservative. The way he breaks out of this though electorally is to be Teddy Roosevelt and this is going to be the toughest thing for his campaign. He's got a group of people around him and frankly a group or party that doesn't want the government to do anything to help poor people. And he has to break out of that. He's begun to do that on housing.
MATTHEWS: Especially when there are more poor people now.
BROOKS: Right, and but he's gotta…he's gotta say, ‘hey Teddy Roosevelt took on corporations, he took on health insurance, he took on the trust of his day,’ and it's going to be up to--and this is going to be the toughest part of his campaign--is breaking out of those restrictions on the role of government to be aggressive on the behalf of people, sometimes against corporations, which is going to make the party feel uncomfortable but to me, it's his only shot at getting those white working class he needs.
But, but, but...if McCain goes up against corporations and stand up for the working class and the poor, he wouldn't be a Republican, would he? First step might be not giving trillions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations in your tax plan.
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Ah, Blogads, you always brighten my day with your incisive wit and infallible talent for satire. How could I have made it through the writer's strike without you?
Not being "too Republican" will be a common plight of Republicans this November as they find a way to push back on all the new voters AND donors Obama is bringing to the process. Hacks like Brooks, Matthews, and Russert will have to set a side their Reagan-era "blue and red" state election maps and look at the future. Obama had 281,000 new donors in March. How many do you think will be pulling Republican levers in November? I guess the donation and new voter figures are still being calculated in the GOP camp as the MSM aren't talking about about them.
You can dress him up any way you like, but he is still a repug. And not a bright one at that.
MATTHEWS: Especially when there are more poor people now.
.....HOW ELITIST!
Notice how he got right off the "choice" topic and jumped onto helping the poor.
He should be like Teddy Roosevelt? Sorry, but that's impossible. When TR became president, he was the youngest ever to hold the office.
McLame (who should not even be considered a viable candidate being from the party that has trashed America and the Constitution) is running to be the oldest president in U.S. history. Older than Reagan, if you believe that.
Age aside, Roosevelt was a trust buster, and for the time quite progressive. He was a decent Republican. Today, I can't think of one. And certainly not McLame.
Doesn't matter either way. Unless something drastic happens, McCain will be the next presidente of the United States. Obama supporters will not vote Clinton and vice versa. Add to that the sheer numbers showing up at the primaries, that will not show up at the general election when their candidate is not chosen, and voila! Welcome to the new Prez, same as the old Prez. Only thing worse would be if Cheney chooses himself as Vice Prez AGAIN.
Tweety: DAMMIT!! This is not important! Nobody cares about policy! What is his f'ing bowling average???
Just kidding, the JMSM (John McCain-Stream Media) would never report his bowling average.
The thing is McWarCriminal can't win. He's too old, too feeble, too dishonest, too much of a flip flopper, a racist, and waaay to much like the worst president ever Georgie boy. The political framing doesn't' matter, America won't vote in a 3rd BushCo disaster.
Thanks gramps.
..."and although they may like the cut of his jib because he seems like a maverick and sort of a suburban, independent type–not part of some machine"...
What is this bullshit??? We need a Democratic noise machine to drown out this crap that spews constantly from the MSM. George Soros, help us!
One can almost be certain that if McCain were to take Brooks' advice by drawing a comparison between himself and Theodore Roosevelt, that McCain would conveniently neglect to mention how Roosevelt was advocating that the U.S. exterminate every man, woman, and child on the Philippine Islands, when the U.S. decided to illegally invade the Philippines around 1900. It would be a little unseemly for Brooks if McCain were to remind Americans that Roosevelt was just as much of a warmonger as he is.
Putting whip cream atop a pile of dogshit doesn't magicly turn it into a souflle' ...........
McStupid and the MSM can try all they like with this bullshit "Maverick" talk ; there is nothing about the senile stupid old fart who's always sputtering "My Friends" , that separates him from the horseshit GOP.
So McCain is a "maverick" and "not part of some machine", but he needs to change his rhetoric so as to sound less Republican. But he needs to be careful, because deviating from the "Wall Street first" line would make his party uncomfortable.
That's pretty much the definition of being part of a machine.
so they've figured out mccain can't win if he looks too republican? why don't they just cut to the chase and dress him up like a clown?...oh wait...
I can't watch this. Not Tweety and the Twit on the screen at the same time. I have more respect for the processors in my computer than that.
Good Goddess, Matthews just spooges every time he mentions McCain. It's disgusting.
And Brooks - well, Brooks is a force of Nature - like elephant dung or a walrus fart.
Thom Hartmann not withstanding - Teddy Roosevelt was an interventionist. A person of a particular stripe could draw parallels between the Bush plans for Iraq and Roosevelts comments on the Phillipines.
By allowing McCain to model himself after Teddy Roosevelt, I believe they allow McCain to strengthen his position - war in SW Asia - beyond the reach of the bumbler Bush.
Its a strong move that will probably succeed.
And our job is to remind every person on earth that Grampa is not just a republican but a butt-smoocher and ring-kisser to neo-cons and the religious reich.
We have to purge these pieces of filth from our government, and that includes the "moderate" dems who refuse to declare The Shrub and Cheeeeeeny as traitors and war criminals. Pelosi, for example: she's got to go.
Once more: The young voters are our only hope. Thankfully, they're not as easily swayed by the shit coming out of the mouths of people like those in this clip.
"McCain Can’t Appear To Be Too…Republican"
Hey, Neither can Hillary or Barrack.
Hard to hide those things but they're both doing ok so far.
Everyone needs to sound like Republicans in the one effective way that they have always used---keep bleating the same stuff, again and again. McCain is McSame not some kind of maverick. Bring out the Ross Perot charts over and over to show visually (most people learn visually) how he is the SAME as Bush and very conservative and self-serving. Find a sound bite (flip flop-Kerry, tank-Dukakis, war "hero"-McSame) and stay with it until even Mary Matlin pulls out her remaining hair. It will become boring but that's how the Repubs win. They speak in one voice and keep on bleating.
Does Tweety just make these things up? Where does he get that a lot of women see McSame as a maverick, an independent type, not part of some machine?
Oh yes, Tweety, how does McSame "break out of" not supporting the people McSame supports? And please tell us.... How does McSame "break out of" being a Republican and offering voters a 3rd Bush term?
So, the key to a McCain win is the same as it was for Bush:
LIE!!!
Tell the American people that you won't do and be exactly what you plan to do and be.
Republicans! With a plan like that its good to own the media!
"Via", I had just the same reaction. Does Matthews only talk in GOP cliches? Doesn't the traditional media / pundits know we are laughing at them when they keep using the term "Maverick"?
Chris Matthews show after 08 elections, Well David , were you taken by suprize by the complete turn around and retaking of the goverment back to the people? No chris, as you and I have been saying for the last 8 years, we knew it would be a hard fight but we knew that in the end "we" would win. Yea, I know dave I sure am worn out from fighting against bush and these gop rats. How about you bill kristol were you caught off guard? No priss, As you recall I was at the forfront of the battle against bush and the gop so I knew "WE" would win in the end against these right wing neo-nuts, the magical being is on our side as you know. Next up today, battle weary karl rove is here to tell us about his fight to stop gop vote tampering and his courage in stopping the gop from stealing this election. Well karl whats the lowdown? Well priss as you know I was working undercover as a gop asskisser so I could get info that would help the peoples party to retake america! Karl Rove everybody a great american! See you next week fans when people person and supporter of rights and freedoms dick cheney will tell us about his personal fight against bushs law breaking.
anon @ 17:
Well said. My comments at #12 echo what you have written.
Here he is again, Chris Matthews, the Robin Leach of politics, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful among the world of preposterous punditry.
Yes, that's the question for us women, Chris.
– and although they may like the cut of his jib because he seems like a maverick and sort of a suburban, independent type–not part of some machine–he does relentlessly say that he’s for strict constructionists. He likes Scalia, he likes Roberts, he likes Alito. How does he break out of that?
This guy Brooks is an idiot, I can't stand to watch any time he is on any show... Please remove him from "punditry".
Nicole - lets not let them forget this -
Country 3-Year Returns*
S&P 500 (U.S.) 12%
Dax (Germany) 46%
Hang Seng (Hong Kong) 53%
Ibovespa (Brazil) 114%
IPC (Mexico) 122%
BSE Sensex (India) 123%
RTS Index (Russia) 187%
SSE Composite (China) 210%
*Through March 20, 2008.
- with a particular note correlating the regions to which US jobs have gone and growth.
Oops. Bad index finger! Don't hit submit early!
~~~~~~~~
Here he is again, Chris Matthews, the Robin Leach of politics, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful among the world of preposterous punditry.
Yes, that’s the question for us women, Chris. Nothin' else on our minds.
You mean people are still duped by this narrative folks like you keep pushing? By the way, what's a "suburban, independent type?"
Oh, for crying out loud! Scalia is not a strict constructionist. Scalia disavows strict construction. Strict construction is now one of those meaningless terms that has entered the layperson's lexicon thanks to a manipulative Republican Party and an uncritical press.
I would think the simplest way would be to say he's no longer for judges like Scalia and Roberts, if he believes it. If he supports them, he should explain why, and try to persuade us.
But thanks to the idiocracy that Mattews perpetuates, we don't have that kind of honest discourse in our politics. Instead, we have Robin Leach Tweety gossiping about who said what to make him gag with a spoon, and how it'll hurt his rep.
Yes, of course! Be like Teddy Roosevelt. Because, as we all no, the best way to prepare to tackle the problems of 21st century America is to emulate a President of 100 years ago!
genehussein214@31
That should read "as we all know" - jesus frickin' Christ!
BitterJohnny2Bad @ 19:
Hillary is going out of her way to appear to be Dick Cheney at the moment. Guns 'n whiskey, bring em on! She's a far cry from her 'Gun Control Hillary' that she was in 1999:
"We will not make progress on a sensible gun control agenda unless the entire American public gets behind it. It is really important for each of you [kids] to make sure you stay away from guns. If you have guns in your home, tell your parents to keep them away from you and your friends and your little brothers and sisters."
Source: Hillary Rodham Clinton speaking at Forum at South Side Middle School in Nassau County Jul 15, 1999
This is why the United States of America is circling the drain. Newspapers and networks hire idiots like these and then--OMG--people actually listen and read as if what they're saying is logical. Another prime example of two more village idiots getting a paycheck for it. I loved listening this morning to the effete snob, George Will, talking about the effete snobbery of Barach Obama and how the Clintons will do and say anything to get elected. Yes, and George Bush and John McCain (you remember him, the one with the alleged illegitimate black daughter)--they use their family's filthy war chests to take down people who actually have to work for a living. That's infotainment for ya. And, by the way Americans--Mother's Day is coming up soon. Please don't forget Mary Cheney when you're roaming the aisles of the Hallmark store on your cell phone.
I guess Brooks is saying McIdiot needs to go back to the way he was in 2000. Well, it’s too late baby. McSenile has been working very diligently for the past two years to make himself look just like Dubya. Now Brooks is asking him to throw that all away. What a frigging dufus.
Tweety is so disgusting I can't even watch the clip. Why does anyone care what these two idiots has to say. I'm sure Tweety didn't stick to the subject of McCrazy without setting aside a good bit of Hillary bashing time, right?
Mick @ 9:
funny i made that same statement just before the last selection!
Erroll @ 12:
Umm...we "won" the Philippines as "spoils of war" at the completion of the Spanish-American War. It was the start of American Imperialism, and the Filipinos (particularly the Moro tribes) weren't too happy with us being there. The insurrection in the Philippines was our first "foreign soil guerilla war", and we were pretty bloody-handed in fighting it.
Wiki is your friend!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine-American_War
I just can't take Tweety--I had a hard enough time reading the article in the NYTimes Magazine section about him. He is a very pathetically needy man--he's almost 63 and he behaves like he is 13.
Tell me, did he have the gall to mention that he is the cover feature for today's magazine section? I bet he is bragging to anyone who will listen that he is.
Mick @ 9:
It doesn't matter what the American people will vote for anymore. What matters is what they'll accept. GW Bush is proof of that-- he stole the office twice and his party's been stealing (and abusing) offices all over the country, but we haven't had enough yet.
They can steal the next election and most of this idiot country will just reach for another bag of Cheetos and TV remote. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
so if supporting shameless corporatist judges who want to deregulate America from the bench is "who he is," how exactly is McCain going to display all this populist regulatory zeal, t-shirts?
This is why i cannot stomach watching Chris. How can anyone not turn the channel after hearing Chris spit this out. WTF is the "cut of his jib" what is "a maverick" or a "suburban" as applied to this Bush hugging, lobbyist loving, what's a sunni old fart. I'm surprised that Chris didn't make a mention of how McCain smells, just anything about his manly, war like, 70 year old male musk. Perhaps next week Chris will get back to his passion for the scent of old men.
What he's saying is that McCain has to be dishonest about who he really is to win, which is exactly what Bush did, deceived the voters. That's just brilliant. Yes, it's okay to lie to get elected. Actually, that just a Republican ideology, the notion that it's okay to lie about anything to get what you want. They believe the end justifies the means. And, they know most Americans are stupid enough to fall for it.
David Brooks Says In Order To Win, McCain Can’t Appear To Be Too…Republican
Well fortunately for McCain, he has media enablers like Matthews and Brooks to make sure he keeps the "maverick" label and doesn't APPEAR "too Republican."
There was great irony in Brooks' invoking Teddy Roosevelt, since TR was HATED by his own party for being progressive and a trustbuster.
So for McCain (despite being twice the age of TR on becoming President) to behave even slightly like TR, would make-- if nothing else--terrific theatre. I can only imagine how it would go down with his fellow Republicans.
I try not to say the "R word" in polite company. These days I just use the accepted euphemism, "crooked thugs."
Bottom line: these two elitist assholes, Matthews and Brooks, are discussing how McCain might deceive an inattentive electorate.
Navy Hussein Vet @ 38:
I am not sure what the point of your comment may be. Are you criticizing what I had said? It would appear to me that we are in agreement on this issue.
Would Hitler run under the Fuzzy Bunny party?
That is all we f*cking need is more FAKING, lying, and portraying yourself as something YOUR NOT. I am so sick of all of it.
OBAMA 08
pickles @ 34:
Could not have said it any better myself.
A surprising revelation while reading the New York Times Sunday Magazine article on Chris Matthews is that he is 6' 3" tall. Somehow Matthews always gave the impression that he was only about 5'8'' tall. However, this does not detract from the fact that Matthews' ego would seem to be, after reading the article, about 10' feet tall.
To paraphrase Shakespeare:
A stink-weed by any other name would smell as rank.
Matthews is painfully biased, painfully, and he doesn't care! He should be canceled!
#52. Sadly Erroll--but Matthews thinks he revolves around the sun. I raised the question before did he mention that he is on the cover of the Magazine section of The New York Times today? Did he mention it on Friday?
He is all ego. He knows nothing about humility.
Without having watched, Teddy Roosevelt??????????? 1/5 of US Americans can't find the USA on a map. What makes him think they'll resonate with Teddy Roosevelt. Hmmmm... maybe he should go for it. Voters might think McGrandpa McCranky and Teddy were friends in high school. The year is about right.
Cat Atomic @ 40:
I've been telling people this for months. I truly believe that Old Man McCain has been "selected" to be the next president. If so, even HARDER times are ahead. We are and will be in DEEP sh*t!
I'm getting the idea there are a lot of traditiodiats who will be out of a gig or just be clueless if Obama gets into TWH. How will they deal with a pol who bases decisions on truth. Even Cindy said their marriage was based on a tissue of lies. (Arizona Republic).
tanglewood @ 55:
Acutally......I'm pretty sure Matthews does revolve around the sun. :)
I meant the moon. Sorry. It doesn't mean he still isn't an ass.
SweetAtheist @ 50:
Thats so f*ckin funny. Obama is as big a phony as Hillary. Same policy positions. Same faux progressive crap. In fact, a all the hope and togetherness BS from Obama gives him the biggest phony award...but not by much. At all.
Also on the show today, Matthews actually had the nads to ask if the media is too easy on McCain because they like him (!). This from the guy who introduces McCain, when he's a guest on Hardball, as "Straight Talk with John McCain!!" Would he even know anyone else's slogan?
Dems need to nip this snake oil move in the bud before the cons get away with this shell game !
David Brooks suggests that McCain should invoke “Teddy” Roosevelt! ?
I’ve been saying this for years, GOP knows most voters don’t know their own history and will confuse the 2 Roosevelt cousins. They want to conflate the 2 Roosevelts and have voters think, “ oh…FDR was a “republican” that rescued USA from the Republican Great Depression?”
sassafra @ 15:
Nope, too late; the AP has finally caught onto McTorturer, the Flip Flopper Express.
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