Please e-mail Chris Matthews re: Irag election coverage

Please send an e-mail to Chris Matthews suggesting that he talk about the neoconservatives and PNAC during his Sunday night "Iraqi election" special.

Maybe it’s a crazy plan, but I think the first step in getting more Americans to understand the lunacy of invading Iraq is to educate them about these PNAC maniacs – I bet less than 10% of Americans have ever heard of “neocons” and maybe only 2% have ever heard of PNAC.

This is the theory on targeting Tweety: Ever since Bush’s wacko Inauguration speech, Tweety has been sounding the alarm about Bush's foreign policy (he’s a little late to the party, but at least he seems to finally have woken up to the madness).

If you think this is worthwhile, here the link:

The e-mail link is right under the “Hardball” logo at the top:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697 /

Your e-mails will be most effective if you use a polite, “mainstream” tone, complimenting Tweety about his show (I know, gag…..) and asking him to talk about the neocons and PNAC. (Cursing Bush and the neocons out – or using terms like “warmonger” and “fascist” – will just get the e-mails dismissed).

They don't have to be long -- just 2-5 sentences.

I posted this on GDP earlier and here's an example of an e-mail a DUer sent to Matthews:

"I usually watch "Hardball" nightly and have enjoyed it, but none more so than lately when you seem to finally be 'getting it' regarding this administration and the danger they're putting our country in by being so hawklike. Bush's inauguration speech was very frightening indeed and I think more people need for that to be spelled out to them.

I believe the neoconservative agenda and the PNAC group in particular are very dangerous and have entirely too much influence on this admin. I'm hoping you will host guests who will talk about their opposition to this agenda and promote the idea that the invasion of Iraq was an ill-advised mistake from the get-go, based on faulty information just for starters.

I think there needs to be some heartfelt discussion from both sides to try to resolve this mess. I agree with Robert Redford's** view that only one side is being heard in this country and that needs to change. I'm hoping you will continue to help and inform."


(** She/he mentioned Redford because he was on Hardball the other night talking about how he thinks Iraq was a terrible mistake)



Thanks if you decide to do this.....

contrary to what we believe here, cable news has really terrible ratings. i'd say don't waste the energy, just stop watching it -- let them know that you are and you're telling your friends not to either.

i put on parental controls to block all the MSM channels...haven't seen any news on TV in a week and I've never felt more informed (instead I spend a couple hours a day reading blogs/news/listening to air america)

and I think most Americans have heard the term, they just don't know what it means, including a high number of posters on DU.
Not that I'm a huge fan of Matthews, but he wrote editorials opposing the war before we even invaded. I know many on here have had the impression he's a Republican hack, but it's not the case. It is only recently, however, he has been so explicit on television about his opposition to the war. It was nonetheless clear to me that he opposed the war by the way he has been asking questions to guests. Over and over again he tried to pin down key military men on how they feel about the invasion. Many seem to oppose it, but are unwilling to do so openly. I don't think folks here are really paying very close attention to Matthews. I expect they hate him because of the Lewinski nonsense. But he has been right on the war from early on.

he was during the election. . .

He has done some great interviews - he ripped the swifties to shreds, he fried Rummy, etc etc. . .

But for some reason he caved to Rove and cheer-led for Bush. . .the only pundit who was sure that Bush won the debates, for example.

He caved in to Rove and was frosting at the mouth with giddiness for *! I gave up on all those shows sinse Nov 3rd.

I can't see him cheerleading for * just as a favor to KKKRove.

to make Kerry look bad, and after the Zell Miller fiasco, Rove cut him off. . .no guests from the campaign. Matthews confirmed this on the Daily Show. Later, he could have campaign people on his show, but he was not allowed to interview them directly (his staff would). . .

It was at that point that he seemed to bend over backwards . . .I think he felt intimidated.

OTOH he seems to really personally like GWB. . . .

he voted for Kerry. He does not support Bush. He did vote for him in 2000, but I'm sure he regrets it.

all this week? Or is that some kind of 'special' MSNBC show and not Hardball? Something about "Heroes..." something or other?

Whatever it is, doesn't that kind of reinforce the notion of our troops as some kind of modern-day heroes and in turn, kind of further the idea that everything they're doing is right and good? How is that being against the war? Wouldn't his time be better spent having guests who would point out the absurdity and horror of what we are doing in Iraq?

I don't think it's "wrong" to do coverage of the soldiers. They are personally very heroic, it's just that their Commander in Chief sent them to die in war that even Republicans like Scowcroft said would be a mistake and counterproductive.

Any subject matter is a legitimate topic for his show I suppose. I just don't subscribe to the idea that just by virtue of being in the armed forces someone becomes a hero.

Maybe he could do a show on some of those soldiers who are refusing to serve in Bush's brutal and illegal war?

Or...maybe not (see KarmaTrain's post below).

He is Repub lite and veers right most of the time.

He championed the Gropenator early on. He has been vigorous in criticism of the Bush Junta regarding the illegal invasion of Iraq and the policy of Torture and sending detainees to other countries to be tortured. While he is mostly irratating I feel that he is not a Bush Cultist.

a speech writer for Jimmy Carter and a staffer for Tip O'Neill. Where he differs from most Democrats is on social issues. My sense is that he is a traditional Catholic and as such is culturally conservative (but certainly not like the Christian Right). He's not a leftist, but I wouldn't call him Republican light. His positions are fairly independent minded.

but I have seen him discuss the subject. I watched his interview with Robert Redford. He noted that he was to the left of Redford on the war. He spoke of his shows with the troops, and honored the job they are doing, the policy, he observed, is dangerous. The two positions are not mutually exclusive. The troops don't decide where to invade. It is the White House that forms policy.

I think Bush's Inaugural speech really shook Matthews up -- I was watching the coverage that day and he literally looked pale and almost tongue-tied afterwards. I'm going to do whatever little part I can to encourage him to keep talking about it -- he's been pretty truthful lately and we could sure use some more of that in the media...

Did you get my message about the PNAC memo?

I can use the kicks!

Okay, now I see your PNAC message. Good idea -- will run right over.....

B-)

I guess they locked the other thread! I had to step out for awhile and when I returned I saw that it is locked! How's your project going?

A few people here sent e-mails and about 6 in GDP. Oh well, I tried.....

with FACTS and the TRUTH can only be a winning proposition! Be patient. People are starting to LISTEN! Shrub and Co. are beginning to flagrantly show their hand and it's making the natives restless! Take comfort in knowing you helped fellow Americans understand the gravity of the situation! I'm afraid we've come on some trying times...inner strength is what will get us through! Keep fighting the good fight! Honor and integrity do mean something! Ours is a noble and just cause! TRUTH is our most powerful weapon! Peace!

They've got jet engines to sell the Pentagon, Electrical plants to sell the Pentagon, Air Conditioning Systems to sell the Pentagon, Light Bulbs to sell the Pentagon and so on.

Now, would Tweety really like to give up that nice cushy gig's he's got...where the powerful actually answer his calls, where people call his name all over the beltway, where he gets the A-List drinkie drinkie party invites as well as that very nice cushy salary watched over by his good pals at General Electric.

Tweety hates the dying but loves the war. He hates the reality but loves the action. He hates the truth and thrives on the spin. He's the ultimate TV mindmeld.

that Chris Matthews did last night was that little exchange at the end. Redford said he thought it was ok to go to Iraq and remove Sadaam, only he would have handled it very differently. Chris made a comment I've never before heard him come right out and say--well you are way more to the right than I am on that issue. In other words, he doesn't think we should have gone at all.
At times, he has seriously pissed me off the past year, but I keep coming back to him because he will have on people like Seymour Hersh, all of the Democratic prez candidates, etc. He redeemed himself a bit with that comment.

Done.

Most times when I do posts asking people to send e-mails to the media or their elected officials, I always get a great response from the "newbies" (people like you who are new to the site).

A warm welcome to DU :hi:

P.S. Interesting screen name.