Hardblogger

Matthews recalls fond memories of Israel

2008-05-08T22:02:00Z

Chris Matthews fondly looks back on his first trip to Israel while remembering the founding of the state of Israel nearly 60 years ago. "The first time I visited that incredible country was in 1971, when it was still in the afterglow of its wondrous victory against all sides in the Six Day War. I remember sitting in a restaurant. It was really more of a bar as an older fellow, who'd had a few, loudly proclaimed his pride in a group of soldiers who'd just entered the room. How exciting to be in such...(read more)

Matthews rants about Limbaugh's 'Operation Chaos'

2008-05-08T17:14:00Z

On Tuesday's post-Indiana and North Carolina primary coverage, Chris Matthews ranted about talk show host Rush Limbaugh's plea to conservatives and Republicans to vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton in an attempt to prolong the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination between her and Sen. Barack Obama. Here's what Chris had to say:"I have to offer a Keith-style special comment on that. Anyone who voted to screw up the political system of this country with the purpose...(read more)

Hot topics about Decision '08

2008-04-21T18:10:00Z

Hardball's Chris Matthews takes a look at some interesting Decision 2008 topics and shares his thoughts. The Clintons’ recipe for success The Clinton campaign has had a tough time managing former president Bill Clinton in this election. He was supposed to be the secret weapon but against whom? Sen. Barack Obama or his own wife? His gaffes, outbursts, and misstatements have dogged the Clinton campaign since the beginning. But as we head into the final days of the Pennsylvania primary, Sen. Hillary...(read more)

Hardball College Tour: Sen. John McCain

2008-04-15T21:58:00Z

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., appeared on Tuesday's Hardball College Tour from Villanova University.

Below are highlights from the broadcast:

On the difference between him and Pres. Bush
Chris Matthews: How will you be different than President Bush?
Sen. John McCain: Well, I think that there's many philosophies and views and vision that we share for America. There are other areas, specific areas, in which we are in disagreement. Chris, I think the American people will make their choice for the presidency on who they believe, not only their record, but how they articulate a vision for the future. That‘s why forums like these, very honestly, are things that are important to me to be on so I can communicate directly not only with the people of this country but with the young people of this nation. So what‘s an area of disagreement? Climate change. Climate change. I believe that climate change is real. I think we have to act... And I've said that for many, many years. I would just like to put the question this way to my fellow Americans. Suppose that we are wrong and there's no such thing as climate change but we go ahead and adopt green technologies and we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? All we've done is give our kids a cleaner planet...

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

On torture
McCain: My point is that for the future of this country, we have to make sure that we remain a nation that does not do things that our enemies do. And I promise you, my friends, I`ll close Guantanamo Bay and we will never torture another person in our custody again.

On whether or not he's a "typical white person"
Student: Senator McCain, the day following Barack Obama's speech on racism at the National Constitution Center, he remarked on comments he made during his speech about his racist grandmother, referring to her as a "typical white person." Would you characterize
yourself, as Barack Obama would phrase, as a typical white person?

McCain: May I say first that I thought that Senator Obama's speech was an excellent speech and I think it was well presented. I think it was an important statement that he had to make at the time, and I think it was good for all of America to have heard it. I can`t comment directly as to how I portray myself, except to say that I hope that all of us learn over the years the need and the importance of treating everyone in this nation only and solely on the attributes they have and their ability to follow their ambitions and their hopes and dreams as far as they`ll take them.

...(read more)

Chris Matthews for senator?

2008-04-15T13:41:00Z

Did you miss Chris Matthews' guest appearance on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" last night? Colbert grilled Matthews on whether or not he hopes to run for senator in 2010. For his part, Matthews only said, "Some people growing up, some kids want to be a fireman. I want to be a senator." Check out the clip below: ...(read more)

Hardball College Tour: Sen. Barack Obama

2008-04-02T22:02:00Z

Sen. Barack Obama kicked off the Hardball College Tour Wednesday in West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Below are some highlights from the broadcast:

Photo: Alex Brandon | AP

On bowling
Chris Matthews: One of the perks, senator, of being president of the United States is that you have your own bowling alley. Are you ready to bowl from day one?

Barack Obama: Obviously, I am not.

(Laughter)

Matthews: Ha!

Obama: But I figure there might be some bowlers here at West Chester. I just want to thank all of them for hosting us. This is a wonderful group. Thank you so much for having me.... And basketball I can play.

On whether or not he's tough enough
Matthews: That was the warm-up. How do we know that you're tough enough to take the heat from the right, right-wing radio and from the right-wing columnists, if you begin to pull our troops out of Iraq and they start screaming, "Who lost Iraq?" How do we know you're as tough as Dick Cheney to ignore public opinion and do what you believe in? Because he's certainly tough enough to do it.

Obama: Well, first of all, you don't ignore public opinion. You try to shape public opinion. And you try to shape it with the truth, not with false facts, not by shading intelligence reports.

And you know, in terms of my toughness, look, first of all, I come from Chicago. And you know, politics in Chicago, as it was once said, is not tiddlywinks. It's not beanbag. It's a tough town.

But what I've been able to do is to rise politically without compromising my ethics, without compromising my principles. I think during the course of this campaign, we're going up against a pretty tough political operation with the Clintons. Nobody's ever accused them of being soft. And so far, we're doing pretty well. And you know, I am very confident that when it comes to issues like Iraq, a war that I stood up against at a time when it would have been politically convenient to be for it, or at least to be silent, when it comes to tough issues like talking to leaders we don't like, something that defies some of the conventional wisdom in Washington but I feel very strongly about, then I'm going to stick to my guns and try to persuade the American people that we need to go in a new direction and fundamentally break with the failed policies of the past seven-and-a-half years.

...(read more)

Sen. Barack Obama kicks off Hardball College Tour

2008-03-27T18:04:00Z

NEW YORK – March 27, 2008 – "Hardball with Chris Matthews" kicks off its 2008 college circuit as the "Hardball College Tour" hosts Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama live at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Wednesday, April 2, 5-6 p.m. ET, and will re-air at 7 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET. Matthews will interview Sen. Obama on key issues of the 2008 presidential election, including the economy and the Iraq war, with West Chester students also having the opportunity to question...(read more)

Chris Matthews busts a move

2008-03-19T21:07:00Z

Chris Matthews was on the Ellen show recently and had this memorable dance moment. If you missed it, Willie Geist on today's "Morning Joe" had a recap... and also reminds us of more dancing antics of other MSNBC anchors. ...(read more)

McCain to appear on 2008 Hardball College Tour

2008-03-17T20:43:00Z

NEW YORK – March 17, 2008 – "Hardball with Chris Matthews" brings its take-no-prisoners style to the college circuit once again, as the "Hardball College Tour" hosts Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., live at Villanova University, Tuesday, April 15, 5-6 p.m. ET (repeats 7-8 p.m. ET). Matthews will interview Sen. McCain on the key issues of the 2008 presidential election, including the economy and the Iraq war, with Villanova students also having the opportunity...(read more)

Matthews: Getting into Pennsylvania

2008-03-11T21:29:00Z

Pennsylvania holds its presidential primary on April 22. That’s six weeks from now. That’s a long time to talk about something on Hardball. I want to get beyond the polls and the short-hand of James Carville’s line that “Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and Alabama in between.” One thing I’ve started to do is get an e-mail relationship going with the local Democratic leaders around the state. I sent out this note to the all the county chairs. “How’s this...(read more)