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June 20, 2005
Dear Mr. Matthews,
Every time I tuned in to what I am now compelled to call HardBias after Mr.Bush's tepid (quaaludy, I thought) speech about the “Vietnamization” of Iraq, I went from distressed to appalled to see these photogenic young blonde women waxing adorable about how happy and proud their brave husbands were to be helping the Iraqi people.
This is journalism? Had this episode of SoftBall been scripted by Karlsputin Rove and paid for by what used to be called CREEP in the old days, I would not have been surprised. That it was hosted by the edgy writer of the real and original book HardBall, that it was presented as journalism — talk about shilling, 'product placement' and selling out — I am still agog.
John Kennedy was shot on my 19th birthday — there is no amount of money or access they could pay me to make me take a dive like that 'town meeting.'
I have a Gold-Star-parent friend who knows what side the bullet hit her only son's head before it exploded into a bloody confetti of brains because they sent her his twisted glasses back — she could and would have told you a less cottoncandy story.
You must remember the exact same words for the hideously failed 'Vietnamization' quagmire policy? “Stand up Iraqis and we can stand down Americans.” Deja entendu — I already heard this turkey — if it gobbles like a turkey, it's probably a turkey. Iraqisization. Hello. Remember? I heard not one single commentator utter the term “Vietnamization — Huge Stupid Failure.”
I know you're under intense corporate pressure, but I never dreamed you would capitulate this profoundly. I remember you when you were spunky, were cool, were a vertebrate.
In sorrow,
pogblog
ps. I'd share my full name etc under a Blog Throat arrangement, but the stuff I'm writing on pogblog is less polite and formal than this — flaying comes to mind — and I want to live another day to scorch the 12ftTall Lizards Disguised as Human Beings who purport to Lead us.
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I think the sad thing for Chris Matthews is that the Religious Wrong still doesn't accept him as one of their own. They think he's a moderate of some kind.