December 2007 - Posts
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 45 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire put a lot into the presidential nominating process. Not only do they study the candidates' positions, they often trudge through the snow and brave the nasty cold to come out and see the contenders up close. You would think that the candidates would show respect for these folks, if not out of gratitude then at least to win their votes.
But not John Edwards. Today's New York Times reports that he regularly shows up to events late, making his audiences just sit there and wait. And for how long? It's common practice for him to be at least 45 minutes late! A little case of passive aggression, don't you think? Forty-five minutes cooling your heals for John!" Watch video
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 8 was the Hardball Big Number.
"It's a number that Barack Obama isn't going to like. Not one bit. And, as we discussed earlier in the show, guys like Bob Kerrey might be to blame for this one. Eight is the percentage of Americans who think Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to the new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll. He's not." Watch video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 35 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Today President Bush signed a new energy bill and the new law is the product of hard work by lots of people, notably Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey. It forces America's automakers to do something they might not otherwise do: increase the fuel efficiency standards of our cars and trucks by 40 percent.
That brings us to tonight's Hardball Big Number, 35, as in 35 miles per gallon, which will be the required fuel efficiency average by the year 2020 under this new law." Watch video
On Tuesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 41 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Bill Clinton's latest angle to help Hillary sounds a bit "obtuse." CNN reports that Monday in South Carolina, Bill said the "first thing" Hillary plans to do as president is to send him and former President George Herbert Walker Bush around the world "to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again."
Really? Does Bill think putting his arm around one Bush will help Hillary follow the other one? Does it really make her the "change" candidate to join forces with the "father" of who needs changing? Doesn't this spotlight the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasty scenario that makes people a little antsy?
As Bill says, your "answer" depends on what "you" think the question is. Either way, we know what the Hardball Big Number is: 41, as in Bush 41, who, according to Bill, would be a major player on Hillary's foreign policy line-up." Watch video
On Monday's "Hardball," Sen. Joe Lieberman discussed with Chris Matthews his decision to endorse Republican candidate Sen. John McCain for president, saying that McCain has "been a leader" on global warming and "will make us stronger against the Islamist terrorists who threaten us" than the current administration.
Below is a partial transcript.
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST, 'HARDBALL:' You have passed over a lot of Democrats that you know pretty well. You serve in the Senate, obviously, with Dodd, with Biden, with Clinton, with Obama. You've known Bill Richardson for a long time, and all the others. Are all the others out of your consideration? Are they just not strong enough for America for you to endorse?
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN, I-CONN.: Look, these are a lot of fine people. A lot of them are my friends. But you got to go with the best at this time in American history. And I think particularly on national security and the ability to work across party lines to get things done, including in the war on terrorism, John McCain is the best, so I decided to go with the best. Incidentally, you and I are both students of the great Tip O'Neill. All those Democrats, not one of them asked me to support them. John McCain did ask for my support. I thought about it...
MATTHEWS: You know the rule. People like to be asked.
LIEBERMAN: That's right.
MATTHEWS: You remember the most basic information. I guess I'm wondering because it isn't just that the Democratic leaders who are trying to win the nomination have gone very anti-war. Even though Hillary's hard to read at times, the general notion is even Bill Clinton now says he was against the war in Iraq from the beginning, although I don't believe anybody believes that. The party base left you in your primary last time around.
LIEBERMAN: Right.
MATTHEWS: They seem to be supporting the anti-war position. So you're not just coming out against the current leaders on the Democratic side, you are basically at odds with the Democratic base on foreign policy right now, aren't you?
LIEBERMAN: I am, and I truly regret that because I am a Democrat. I became a Democrat when John F. Kennedy ran for the presidency. I have been a great admirer of Truman, and people like Humphrey and Scoop Jackson afterward. And to me, what it means to be a Democrat, progressive reformist on domestic policy and a strong, principled foreign and defense policy, and I don't see that among the Democratic candidates. Ironically, I see it a lot more in John McCain and any of the leading Democratic candidates. So respectfully, because I like these people, we just have a significant difference of opinion, in this election, I'm going with John McCain.
MATTHEWS: Right now, without looking in the rearview mirror, which is of no value at all to you or to me...
LIEBERMAN: Right.
MATTHEWS: I mean, I've said on this show I voted for Bush the first time. I mean, not everybody can see the future, OK? I mean, we really can't. But looking into the future, sir, do you think John McCain will be an improvement on Bush?
LIEBERMAN: With all respect to the incumbent, I do, and I think for two reasons. One is when I say John can unite the country and break through the partisanship to go back to that tradition of partisan politics ending at the water's edge, which made us strong for a long time. John has strong opinions about foreign policy, but he is always reaching out to try to find common ground, to bring people together, and I think it'll be very important for him to do that. Secondly, on some of the things that the current president has just said no to, like doing anything about global warming, John has been a leader.
He and I put in the first major bill about six years ago on that subject. And you know what else? You know him. He is a restless reformer. He is unhappy with the status quo in Washington today. And although he`s been around here a long time, I actually think he represents, he would represent as president more change from the status quo than just about any other candidate running in either party.
MATTHEWS: So he's a changed candidate from the president, as you see it right now.
LIEBERMAN: I do. Look, as you know, I've supported some of the basic foreign policy decisions of this administration, but I think John will not only keep those principled decisions, but he'll implement them in a way that will allow us to break through some of the partisanship, and that will make us stronger against the Islamist terrorists who threaten us. And never forget that though McCain and I supported the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein, and neither one of us regrets that...
MATTHEWS: Right.
LIEBERMAN: ... John was very early and loud out against Secretary Rumsfeld and the Bush administration strategy in Iraq, which was not working. He said we needed more troops and we need a better counterinsurgency strategy. It's now being implemented under General Petraeus, and it's working. Watch complete video
On Monday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why zero was the Hardball Big Number.
"What would it be like to have Bill Clinton back in the White House? It's a question that all of us have had to consider at one time or another. It's also a less polite way of wondering whether Bill could pull another Monica.
Thanks to a new poll from the New York Daily News, we now know where America stands on that pivotal question. Fifteen percent worry Big Bill could cause more trouble if Hillary gets elected. I take that as the latest, wondrous example of my country's unrivaled capacity for optimism." Watch video
On Friday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why zero was the Hardball Big Number.
"The Politico reports that Iowa Republicans might hold ANOTHER debate before Caucus day on January 3rd. You'll recall that this week's GOP debate was supposed to be the very last one. The reason for an 11th hour debate? Because, in my humble opinion, on a scale from 1-10, Wednesday's showdown was a big, fat, boring ZERO." Watch video
One of the top officials running Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign has been forced to quit Thursday night after slurring Barack Obama and setting off a small firestorm about negative campaigning.
The Clinton campaign denied authorizing controversial comments about Barack Obama’s acknowledged adolescent drug use. Hours before yesterday’s Iowa debate, Hillary Clinton apologized to Barack Obama - and he told her leadership had to come from the top to stop negative campaigning.
But despite Clinton denials - and even after the apology, Clinton strategist Mark Penn brought up cocaine on Hardball. Click here to watch the video clip.
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 13 was the Hardball Big Number.
"How can John Edwards stay relevant as Hillary and Obama duke it out for the nomination? By fighting for the little guy. That's what Edwards seems to think, at least. He mentioned of "corporate" or "corporation" 13 times in a ninety-minute debate." Watch Video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 29 was the Hardball Big Number.
"President Bush is not above using the power of the pardon. In fact, he just granted pardons to an election-law violator, some carjackers, drug dealers, illegal gamblers, thieves, and a moonshiner. How many pardons did he grant? Twenty-nine! Oh, how Scooter Libby, a huge Hardball fan, must wish today's Hardball Big Number was 30. He is the most loyal White House aide since G. Gordon Liddy." Watch video
On Tuesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 21was the Hardball Big Number.
"Iowans not only have to deal with reporters and campaign staffers descending on their humble state but now they also have to deal with ice storms. Nasty, frigid ones, like the one that's reeking havoc there right now.
In fact, early this morning, the campaigns started cancelling scheduled events all over the state. How many in total? At least 21! It's a tribute to the candidates that they don't want someone getting killed so they can get to one of their rallies! Twenty one events that will never be." Watch Video
On Monday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 15 was the Hardball Big Number.
"On Sunday, Rudy Giuliani endured an hour-long grilling from NBC's Tim Russert with questions about his finances, the security detail for his then-girlfriend, and his indicted partner Bernard Kerik.
And question after question, Rudy had a similar response – to laugh! Fifteen is the number of times Rudy Giuliani laughed on Meet the Press." Watch Video
On Friday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 1-888-995-HOPE was the Hardball Big Number.
"As squabbling continues over how to fix America’s mortgage problem, President Bush set out Thursday to ease fears. He set up a telephone line where you can get info on how to deal with hard-to-pay mortgages.
Bush: “I have a message for every homeowner worried about rising mortgage payments: The best you can do for your family is to call 1-800-995-HOPE. That is 1-800-995-H-O-P-E.”
Trouble is, when you call “that” number, you GET someone’s voicemail at the Freedom Christian Academy in Texas.
Not long after the president spoke, the White House issued an email that read: CORRECTION TO THE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS: THE TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE HOPE NOW HOTLINE IS 1-888-995-HOPE.
That’s the “correct” number to call for help on overdue mortgages from the president." Watch Video
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 80,250 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Politicians always prefer 'standing room only' to empty seats. For a big campaign moment, a room that’s 'too hot' is better than one that has a draft. So, for Barack Obama’s big swing with Oprah Winfrey this weekend, everyone’s waiting to see just how big it will be.
We already know that thousands of tickets got gobbled up in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. In South Carolina, Obama and Oprah were planning to appear at an 18,000 seat indoor stadium. Tickets went fast for that venue and now they’re headed to the football field. Its seating capacity is more than four times the size of the original site. That’s the seating capacity of Williams-Brice Stadium at the University of South Carolina is 80,250 and tonight’s Big Number." Watch Video
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 31 was the Hardball Big Number.
"Mike Huckabee is the 'it' guy of the presidential race right now. He’s surging in Iowa and creeping up in some national polls. Huckabee himself admits that he’s under more scrutiny now. But this report by the Politico website doesn’t give us the impression that he’s taking the scrutiny seriously.
Look at this exchange at a dinner with Huckabee and reporters Tuesday night:
Reporter: I don’t know to what extent you have been briefed or been able to take a look at the NIE report that came out yesterday ...
Huckabee: I’m sorry?
Reporter: The NIE report, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. Have you been briefed or been able to take a look at it -
Huckabee: No.
Reporter: Have you heard of the finding?
Huckabee: No.
Thirty-one is the number of hours that elapsed between the NIE release on Monday and Huckabee saying he hadn’t heard about it on Tuesday night. Thirty-one hours. Who’s briefing this guy? The same guys who briefed Bush on Katrina?" Watch Video
On Tuesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 80 was the Hardball Big Number.
"
What percent of Republicans in the key caucus and primary states like President Bush? I think Democrats listening will be shocked. Fifty-five percent of Republicans in New Hampshire think Bush is doing a swell job; 72 percent of Republicans in South Carolina give him a thumbs-up; 80 percent in Iowa are still solidly on the Bush bandwagon. Eighty is the percent of Iowa Republicans who think the man in the White House is still peachy keen!" Watch Video
On Monday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why eight was the Hardball Big Number.
"With a pending court case and a looming congressional probe, Larry Craig is still a U.S. Senator. Months after saying it was his "intent" to resign, Craig is beyond "stalling," he's just plain staying, saying he'll retire when his term ends in January 2009.
Today's Idaho Statesman could cause some nervous toe-tapping for Senate Republicans. The paper reports on five more men who say they either had sex with Craig or were solicited by him. Eight is the total number of men, including three accounts reported in August plus the five new ones, who say they had sex with Craig or were solicited by him." Watch Video
