Two days ago, as the IRS targeted audit scandal widened, Chris "Tingles" Matthews portrayed it as the kind of red meat sure to delight the right-wing crazies. He suggested that Obama should immediately punish the low level, not-connected-to-the-White-House-in-any-way, embarrassments as quickly as possible.
After all, they've given the complainers an excuse to do what they do.
"Do these people know what they've done to undermine that basic civic faith that we're not being chumps for being honest at tax time? Do they know what they've done to the faith that this republic can perform the way we need it to?
"Then, there are the far-right people. They love this baby. They always expect the worst. They get up in the morning figuring they're about to be picked up by FEMA workers and taken to concentration camps, or the Black Helicopters of the World Order are coming to take their guns!"
"Yes, this expect-the-worst crowd just got an earful of what it goes to bed at night agitated about. I can only guess what they're saying about the news that some in the IRS have decided to target right-wing groups. 'Knew it all the time,' they're muttering. This is 'The Gubment' they're telling everyone they can get to listen! 'They ought to "abolish' that darned IRS.'"
So,at this point, he'd figured out that there was legitimate story here. He knew strange things were afoot, but couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly he was feeling. Something was just ...not right anymore.
He was trying, but the magic wasn't there.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to question his hero-President's leadership. At least, not until this morning on Joe Scarborough's show...
Uh-oh. Matthews is obviously still desperate to protect his glorious king, but that old enthusiasm is gone. The best line of defense he has left is to portray the President as a weak man, surrounded by sycophants, who's incapable is steering the federal ship. He even admits that voters may not like the way Oama is running things.
Now, he still can't quite bring himself to admit what everyone else suspects - namely that Obama has been steering the ship, was well aware of what was happening, and was perfectly happy to enjoy the fruits of federal overreach as long as he could pretend his hands weren't dirty.
Matthews is like one of those battered wives who constantly defend their abusive husbands. They say the right things, but you can see it in the eyes. The love is gone....
This one's for you, Chris.
