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No November Surprise: Matthews Says Saddam Verdict Helps Dems
NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 11/05/2006 6:33:47 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

Here's an antidote from an unlikely corner for all the Dem outrage at the 'November surprise' of the Saddam verdict. On this morning's 'Today,' none other than Chris Matthews just pronounced his considered opinion that the verdict actually helps . . . the Democrats.

According to Matthews, given the unpopularity of the war, anything that draws attention to Iraq hurts Republicans. Apparently that even extends to a good-news story such as the Saddam verdict. Opined Matthews to host Lester Holt:

"One general rule would be anything that brings attention to Iraq is bad for the Republicans. I think Iraq's become a four-letter word for the voter. And this trial and condemnation of Saddam Hussein is probably going to remind us of Iraq again. It's probably going to help the Democrats to some extent."

More predicatable was the analysis over at CNN, where a skeptical Susan Roesgen asked Suzanne Malveaux:

"What about critics, especially in Iraq, even Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer, who say the verdict was timed to come out just before the election to help the GOP?"

Well, if Saddam's lawyer said it, that should surely be good enough for CNN!

Roesgen continued her effort to rain on the Saddam-verdict parade in a subsequent interview of international criminal law expert Prof. Michael Scharf of Case Western law school. Asked the cynical CNN host:

"Does this turn [Saddam] into a martyr for the Iraqi people more than a monster?"

Oh yeah - huge martyr to all those Shias and Kurds whose relatives he slaughtered.

And later: "In some ways this trial has been a sideshow compared to the ongoing bloodshed in the streets of Iraq. Does this verdict really matter?"

Translation: let's get off this positive development and back to the IEDs!

To his credit, Prof. Scharf, who has written a book about the trial, gave a balanced view of events, noting the trial has served as a model of due process in contrast with the courts under Saddam. If Iraq can stay together as a country, the trial will be seen as a key point in bringing back the rule of law, opined the professor.

Let's hope the good professor himself will be be brought back by CNN despite his refusal to take direction from Roesgen's gloom-'n-doom script.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: chrismatthews; cnn; iraq; saddam; wot
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To: BluH2o

Interesting how they try to spin it both ways. To Chris, Saddam's sentencing means Democrats will benefit. To Brown, his sentencing is politically motivated (evidently, in her way of thinking, to help the Republicans).


41 posted on 11/05/2006 7:04:39 AM PST by norge
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To: petkus

" Where is Chris Matthews in the TV ratings? "

Somewhere below the "Head-On/Apply Directly to the Forehead" commercials.....


42 posted on 11/05/2006 7:04:53 AM PST by Uncle Ike (Stop the "tyranny of the 'offended' " -- say what you mean and stand by it!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Saddam Verdict Helps Dems


I don't see how, they just lost a vote!


43 posted on 11/05/2006 7:05:37 AM PST by Lowell (The voice from beyond the far right edge!)
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To: Toespi

I think both.


44 posted on 11/05/2006 7:06:25 AM PST by Air Gap
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To: Jeff Head

Matthews was shaken and ashen when he announced his commentary -- he knows damn full well that this does not help the RATS and he is unnerved.


45 posted on 11/05/2006 7:06:48 AM PST by mwl1
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I do think Matthews went a bit loopy ages ago.


46 posted on 11/05/2006 7:07:15 AM PST by Silly
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To: petkus
Where is Chris Matthews in the TV ratings?

Right here.


47 posted on 11/05/2006 7:12:13 AM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

If bin laden were captured today, chrissie would say it helps the RATS


48 posted on 11/05/2006 7:12:48 AM PST by sticker
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To: Darkwolf377

I've seen a few leftie bloggers try to spin it that way, that the troops were showing they "got" Carry's "joke," and agreed. Twisted, ain't it?


49 posted on 11/05/2006 7:13:05 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Chris Mathhews just makes up his lines as he goes along. He is probably no longer working directly in the Dimorat organizations because he is so incompetent.


50 posted on 11/05/2006 7:13:07 AM PST by Wuli
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To: RegulatorCountry
That was on DU the morning after the "joke"--they were oozing over Kerry, he was their hero, and when the photo came out they were thinking this had sealed the deal for election day.

Then of course their moms came home from work and explained it to them...

51 posted on 11/05/2006 7:14:27 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Republican, atheist, pro-life)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Chrissy needs to be labelled what he really is: Lobbyist.


52 posted on 11/05/2006 7:14:56 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Darkwolf377

"Then of course their moms came home from work and explained it to them..."

Duuude, buzzkill. LOL.


53 posted on 11/05/2006 7:21:14 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Life's a bitch when reality forces you to be delusional because reality challenges your moonbat views, which you cling to because you're, well, a moonbat.


54 posted on 11/05/2006 7:22:39 AM PST by WashingtonSource
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
According to Matthews, given the unpopularity of the war, anything that draws attention to Iraq hurts Republicans.

Anything is bad news, even good news is bad news, but bad news is still better than good news, and any news is bad news , but bad news is any news that could be good or bad news.

These people are so obsessed with Bush they can't think straight. Matthews is a very, very confused person.

55 posted on 11/05/2006 7:23:25 AM PST by Starboard
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To: Darkwolf377
"Then of course their moms came home from work and explained it to them..."

LOL! Lot's of truth to that.

56 posted on 11/05/2006 7:25:40 AM PST by Starboard
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To: Toespi

Their hate is what drives them.


57 posted on 11/05/2006 7:27:43 AM PST by Delta 21 ( MKC USCG - ret)
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To: Jeff Head

The only way it could be better is if they drug him from the court room and hung him right away.

The judge has more patience than I do. I would have packed a .45 under my robe and capped him as soon as the verdict was read.


58 posted on 11/05/2006 7:29:58 AM PST by Delta 21 ( MKC USCG - ret)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
He's grabbing at the proverbial straw. HA HA HA...
59 posted on 11/05/2006 7:30:27 AM PST by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand; but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"What about critics, especially in Iraq, even Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer, who say the verdict was timed to come out just before the election to help the GOP?"

Chief lawyer...let me guess: Ramsey Clarke? Chrissy didn't want to drop the name?

60 posted on 11/05/2006 7:31:04 AM PST by ErnBatavia (recent nightmare: Googled up "Helen Thomas nude"....)
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