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Chris Matthews: Is Sarah Palin The New Richard Nixon?

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» 43 comments

Before you jump to panicked conclusions, Matthews was not comparing Sarah Palin to President Nixon. He was comparing her to former Vice President, defeated presidential candidate Richard Nixon who spent the intervening years between losing to John F. Kennedy in 1960 and his 1968 campaign relentlessly touring the world, denying his presidential ambitions, all the while quietly (and ingeniously) setting the stage for a presidential run.

This latest comparison from Matthews, who is always a sucker for a good historical analogy, came as he attempted to put into context the 12 months Palin has spent since resigning (“she quit!”) from office. In hindsight it’s hard to argue it was a bad decision on her part.

If she’s not interested in mainstream politics, why does a person of the right, which she is, carefully select mainstream candidates when she knows there going to win…because she wants a connection.

Responded panel guest Dan Rather:

“She’s not running now for president but I wouldn’t underestimate her…She’s played an almost perfect hand. If she wants to stay a power in the party, make a lot of money and not run, she can do that. I wouldn’t underestimate her for 2012, even for a second. If she decides to run it’d be hard to be against her.”

“Hard” might be overstating matters slightly since if Palin actually were to throw her hat in the 2012 ring presumably she’d have to interact with the press outside of her Facebook, nonetheless, interesting that Rather thinks her such a strong candidate. In fact it was Rather’s remarks that prompted Matthews to ask whether Palin is a Nixon. The panel consensus, meanwhile, was no. Watch below.

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  • Thomas G Williams

    PLEASE run twit, give the US a real contrast between the competence of Democrats and the caaaaaRaaaaazy of conservaligious rethuglicans.

    She blew it at her speech to reverse the SHE’S a joke impressions and her hiding behind fences is not making her sound all that sane and then to go to an OIL SPONSORED event in TEXASS, was just plain stupid, but if republicans want to hand her $100,000 per speech well you can count on them to do it.

  • timzank

    Thomas G Williams ” a real contrast between the competence of Democrats and the caaaaaRaaaaazy of conservaligious rethuglicans.”

    Looked out your window or read a paper lately? Your country is sliding into the abyss under the stewardship of Democrats.

    Great Job indeed.

  • mproust

    Chris Matthews dares to talk about defeated people, he who pees down his pants whenever Oblahblah speaks reading from the teleprompter. Almost as nauseating as Thomas G Williams (see above) .

  • TfT

    Clever headline Glynnis, and a first sentence apology for it as well. Good job.

    Funny how such a “dumb” person get so much media attention. The left fear her, the right love her, and middle america is her. She won’t run in 2012, imho, but 2016….you betcha.

  • Ted

    tft – there was no apology, its called a clarification. At any rate, I don’t know anyone on the left or the middle who fears her, quite the contrary, most on the left want her to run. I certainly do. I think though that all Americans, except those on the unhinged right are saddened that people like her have dumbed down the political conversation. She’s barely competent to flip burgers let alone occupy the WH; fortunately, serious thinking people understand this. You betcha.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lars-Svensen/100001028197161 Lars Svensen

    Matthews & Rather are puppets like Charlie McCarthy & Mortimer Snerd, except they aren’t funny. Neither has ever interviewed Gov. Palin, but they dream about her a lot.

  • Jackie_Treehorn

    TfT says:
    June 27, 2010 at 7:29 pm (Quote)
    1 2
    Clever headline Glynnis, and a first sentence apology for it as well. Good job.

    Funny how such a “dumb” person get so much media attention. The left fear her, the right love her, and middle america is her. She won’t run in 2012, imho, but 2016….you betcha.

    I love the “fear” quote. Only way the loony right can justify worshiping this moronic greed monger.

  • TfT

    Be real Jackie, the only “worshiping” is on the left for he himself the one. Stop projecting

  • busbus

    If this country wants to turn into a totalitarian nation, then it will look forward to Sarah Palin. I, for one, do not look forward to her being anywhere in a position to control my life or the lives of my children and grandchildren.

    Sarah Palin serves the League of the South as its Pied Piper. If the blinders are taken off, one will recognize that she uses the same verbiage, propaganda techniques and strategies as Hitler, Mao and Lenin. Nixon, she is not; her brand is totalitarianism! DIVIDE and CONQUER! “Once we get in, we can take over! and control!”

    Sarah Palin should be feared because she a danger to our democracy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Gessford/657775682 Susan Gessford

    Hey, Lars, neither Rather not Matthews has interviewed Her Highness because she is afraid to face a real journalist who might ask her a real question and not bow down and kiss her stilettos as her co-workers at Fox do.
    And TfT, the only people who call Obama “The One” are you on the right. You are so afraid that he is going to help people, that he is going to turn around unemployment, that he will bring troops home you work yourselves into a lather denying that he has accomplished anything. We who voted for him have been very critical of Gitmo and the expansion in Afghanistan. You might have wanted to holler when GWB was spending our future to finance mercenaries and throwing billions in cash away in Iraq. Not to mention screwing with our rights with wiretapping , torture, and the Patriot Act, under the guise of “protection.” But not a peep from the right over a truly evil guy’s plans. He was a power hungry little man who thought he ran the universe. Obama is an intelligent, thoughtful, caring guy who is trying to make the USA, and the world, a better place.
    What exactly has the Quitta from Wasiila done for you lately? Helped a school? Donated some money to Haiti or to help with Gulf cleanup? Helped build a Habitat house? Nope…she is taking you for an expensive ride, and she will NEVER be President.

  • the real john t

    Is Sarah Palin The New Richard Nixon?

    No, she is the new Bozo the Clown.

  • the real john t

    Lars Svensen says:
    June 27, 2010 at 8:12 pm Lars Svensen(Quote)
    0 1
    Matthews & Rather are puppets like Charlie McCarthy & Mortimer Snerd, except they aren’t funny. Neither has ever interviewed Gov. Palin, but they dream about her a lot.
    ———————————————–

    Just like Susan said, Palin is too chickenshit to go have them interview her. Just like Matthews has a standing offer for any Repub to go on his show and say Limbaugh isn’t the leader of the Repub party. After 40 some days no Repug that’s been on Matthews show will say Limbaugh isn’t the leader of the Repub party. That says a lot about all you RWers and the party you worship.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

    My God, that’s just about enough. Palin comparable to Nixon? What an insult to Nixon!!! Nixon wasn’t an idiot, Nixon wasn’t shallow, Nixon wasn’t a moron. Nixon had a hell of a lot more depth, intelligence, even ethic, than Palin has ever shown. Comparing Palin to Nixon is like comparing a chimpanzee to Einstein.

  • Thomas G Williams

    Dial 1-800-traitor and see what happens REALLY dial it unless they have changed the number you will be surprised what kind of business has this number.

    And this company had an ad a little over a year ago which mentioned Palin and other prominent republicans.

  • ImNotBlue

    busbus says:
    June 27, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Sarah Palin should be feared because she a danger to our democracy.

    Wow. Apparently having an opinion different than the Democrats makes you “dangerous to democracy.” One would ask, isn’t a statement like that un-democratic? But I doubt BusBus understands the concept, and wouldn’t know how to answer.

    Susan Gessford says:
    June 27, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    Hey, Lars, neither Rather not Matthews has interviewed Her Highness because she is afraid to face a real journalist…

    I’m sorry, quick question… out of Rather and Matthews, which one is the “real journalist?” The one that was fired for knowingly putting a false story out on the air, or the one that said his job is to help the President, and gets a “thrill down his leg” whenever Obama speaks?

    “Real journalist.” HA!

    You are so afraid that he is going to help people, that he is going to turn around unemployment, that he will bring troops home you work yourselves into a lather denying that he has accomplished anything.

    “…is going to do…” “…is going to do…” “…is going to do…”

    Are those his accomplishments, the things he “is going to do,” but hasn’t yet done or shown any signs of being able to do?

    What are his current accomplishments?

    We who voted for him have been very critical of Gitmo and the expansion in Afghanistan.

    So those aren’t his accomplishments?

    Not to mention screwing with our rights with wiretapping , torture, and the Patriot Act, under the guise of “protection.” But not a peep from the right over a truly evil guy’s plans.

    You mean the same FISA laws that Obama re-issued? You might want to “holler” at Obama about that… instead of complaining that Bush did something, then suddenly silent when Obama does it.

    He was a power hungry little man who thought he ran the universe. Obama is an intelligent, thoughtful, caring guy who is trying to make the USA, and the world, a better place.

    Yeah… how’s that working out? Oh… it’s not, is it? Bummer. Maybe everyone else in the world is just racist.

    What exactly has the Quitta from Wasiila done for you lately?

    And aside from massive debt, what has Obama given you lately?

    the real john t says:
    June 27, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    That says a lot about all you RWers and the party you worship.

    That’s funny… I think it says a lot more about Matthews level of acceptable hypocrisy. Let’s see someone come on his show and criticize Keith Olbermann. Remember what happens when someone on MSNBC does that? They go bye-bye.

    So apparently, Matthews (a third string afternoon pundit) can demand something from Limbaugh (a guy with an audience Matthews only dreams of having) and those who listen or respect Limbaugh… but can’t even criticize KO without getting the boot. And who exactly his “chicken” here?

    Bill Adkins says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    Don’t forget a “poopy pants meany head.” When all you’ve got is schoolyard insults, you gotta really do it right.

  • the real john t

    ImNotBlue says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:19 pm ImNotBlue

    That’s funny… I think it says a lot more about Matthews level of acceptable hypocrisy. Let’s see someone come on his show and criticize Keith Olbermann
    ——————————————–

    Could you please tell me when anyone said Olbermann was the leader of the Democratic Party and when any Democrat apologized to Olbermann, like Michael Steele did to Limbaugh?

  • ImNotBlue

    the real john t says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:29 pm the real john t(Quote)

    Could you please tell me when anyone said Olbermann was the leader of the Democratic Party…

    I wasn’t aware that was a requirement. Since the loony left says Limbaugh is the leader of the Republicans (when he’s not), does it really matter? Limbaugh isn’t the leader of the Republicans, just a very vocal and popular right-wing pundit… no matter what the left likes to pretend. The same goes for KO.

    But then again, I thought it was Palin who was leading the Republicans these days. You left-wingers really need to make up your mind, when you determine which “villain” is leading the opposition party.

    …and when any Democrat apologized to Olbermann, like Michael Steele did to Limbaugh?

    When has any elected Democrat had the stones to criticize him? We all know what happened to Donny Deutsch… and he did have to apologies. Mediaite’s Rachel Sklar once criticized KO… and was “convinced to leave” HuffPo because of it.

    Again… Matthews is an MSNBC personality, afraid to criticize KO… complaining about other people who are (allegedly) afraid to criticize Limbaugh. The hypocrisy couldn’t be more obvious… even if you’re unwilling to admit it.

  • the real john t

    ImNotBlue says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:35 pm
    ——————————–

    Now you’re getting way off track. All Matthews is doing is asking a Repug to admit Limbaugh is not the leader of the Repub party. But none will do it. There you are bringing up people that aren’t even in office for your false argument. Matthews has asked Repub Senators and Congressmen to do it and they won’t. So take your lame ass excuse and shove it where the sun don’t shine. Typical Dollarite, no matter what you’re talking about they have to bring up Olbermann.

  • felixw

    A character attack on Sarah Palin coming from MSNBC? Can’t these pundits come up with anything fresh? Matthews and company might as well play reruns from two years ago, given the predictability of their programming. What’s next ….. well, let me guess: how about Bush bashing?

    Then again, the Left needs to do this. If they covered the economy, the job situation, the military front, the oil spill or the November elections, or any other current story, it would all make for unpleasant viewing for the “progressives” in their audience. So they are pretty much forced to stick with Palin, Bush, Cheney, etc.

    But come November, the Democrats need to run on their actual track records. And all this ranting about Sarah Palin won’t buy them a single vote at that time.

  • Snipzor

    PALIN YOU DOLT!!!

    Yea, I can see the comparisons. Although Nixon was much smarter than Palin, much much smarter. By an extra digit I’d say.

  • the real john t

    felixw says:
    June 27, 2010 at 11:08 pm felixw(Quote)
    2 1
    A character attack on Sarah Palin coming from MSNBC? Can’t these pundits come up with anything fresh?
    ————————————–

    Hey Felix, do you know the station that the pundits worked for who were caught on a hot mike bashing Palin after her speech? It was FOX40 in Sacramento. I guess MSNBC isn’t the only network that knows Palin is an idiot.

  • Rogue-Comic
  • quner741

    Joinhttp:=========http://www.clotheshops.us=========== will find everything you wish here.

  • quner741

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  • ifpff

    oh geez.. will he stop already?

  • MediaWhore

    Actually Sarah Palin is the new Trig Palin.

  • Rogue-Comic

    MediaWhore said:
    Actually Sarah Palin is the new Trig Palin.

    Posting things like that helps those you oppose more than it helps those you support.

  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    No comparison. Nixon was never afraid to face the media. That is how he made one of the greatest comebacks in political history. He also never quit mid-term. Plus he was shrewd. Palin is simply a shrew.

    Sarah is more like Checkers.

  • http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/best-nitric-oxide-supplements-does-nitric-oxide-work-for binsoncolero

    Because they both fawn over Obama. Matthews gets a tingle in his leg every time Obama opens his mouth. Olbermann has the big “O” whenever he mentions Obama’s name. What a couple of morons!
    http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/best-nitric-oxide-supplements-does-nitric-oxide-work-for-building-muscle-2547513.html

  • ChrisNH

    The hatred for Obama dwarfs the hatred for Palin, which is a reason for Matthews misdirection and subterfuge. Ever willing to prop up President Spock, Matthews and all the other lib media HACKS coddle and breast-feed Obama wherever possible. It is fascinating to watch Liberal ideologues pretend to be unbiased, ‘fair’ journalists.

  • timzank

    You disciples had better quit worrying about who the Repubs will run and start worrying who YOU can recruit to run in 2012 because barring divine intervention, there won’t be ANYBODY willing to take a swing on a Democrat for a couple of cycles, especially Obamao.

  • http://www.pmm.nl Ron C. de Weijze

    It is a good thing that finally we have come so far as to tell each other what we really believe or are told to really believe, as if our very existence depended on it. Maybe it does. Mediaite is nicely balanced between the good and the bad. That makes it a very valuable resource to me, believing that the one side will finally win.

  • Patrick Henry

    Mediawhore, you are probably a nice person, but the comment about Trig went over the line.

  • shootfromthehip

    No, it was not over the line. It was used as satire. Sarah said that was ok, because Rush Limbaugh called Democrats retards.

  • ImNotBlue

    the real john t says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    Now you’re getting way off track. All Matthews is doing is asking a Repug to admit Limbaugh is not the leader of the Repub party.

    Well… no he wasn’t. Sorry, but that’s wrong… please try again.

    There you are bringing up people that aren’t even in office for your false argument.

    I wasn’t aware of Limbaugh’s elected position.

    Matthews has asked Repub Senators and Congressmen to do it and they won’t.

    And despite his grandstanding, he’s too afraid to made a negative comment towards a much lower tier player on his side of the aisle. Before you start accusing people of something, perhaps you shouldn’t be guilty too.

    So take your lame ass excuse and shove it where the sun don’t shine.

    Uh-oh… someone’s getting angry.

    Typical Dollarite, no matter what you’re talking about they have to bring up Olbermann.

    I’m sorry… what does Dollar have to do with this? Oh, that’s right… nothing. I guess I could just say, “Typical John T, no matter what you’re talking about you have to bring up Dollar.” But I think at this point, we’re all aware of your psychotic obsession with that guy.

    shootfromthehip says:
    June 28, 2010 at 11:39 am

    What’s it like to operate with no standard of decency? To think that insulting a handicapped infant is acceptable in any situation?

    When you talk to your family or children, are you proud of the things you say or the things you applaud others for saying? Have you no shame?

  • Nachi

    Nixon had a real brain – however devious.

  • shootfromthehip

    Dear I’m Not Blue, who asks: “What’s it like to operate with no standard of decency?

    Please direct all questions to:

    Rush Limbaugh
    P.O. Box 420058, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0058

    He can answer that for you.

  • ImNotBlue

    shootfromthehip says:
    June 29, 2010 at 4:52 am

    Dear Shoot,

    If you intend to complain about Limbaugh, how can you justify you’re bad behavior by saying “he does it too?” Why is it bad for him, but good for you?

    Doesn’t that make you a hypocrite… on top of the already admitted disrespectful and indecent?

    Perhaps YOU can answer that.

  • shootfromthehip

    He doesn’t “do it too,” he did it first, and has been doing it for 20+ years.

    Unlike Rush and Sarah, I never pretended to be a paragon of virtue,

    They both do.

    They slam liberals as ungodly creatures, then in their own personal lives, they prove again and again just what shallow vile liars they are.

    Take your pick, Rush Limbaugh popping Viagra on a trip down to the Dominican Republic to sleep with whores or Palin preaching abstinence while her teenage daughter gets knocked up at home (or, my personal favorite, railing against Obama’s “socialism” while she made sure in her own state every citizen got a bigger check from private oil companies just like Joe the Plumber loves….gotta spread the wealth around!).

    My bad behavior matters not. I don’t have an audience. Stop trying to change the subject and stick to the topic at hand.

    My own cousin has downs syndrome. In my real life, I help take care of him.

    Do NOT lecture me about how my “bad behavior.”

  • ImNotBlue

    shootfromthehip says:
    June 29, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    He doesn’t “do it too,” he did it first, and has been doing it for 20+ years.

    MOOOOOM… BUT HE STARTED IT!

    Unlike Rush and Sarah, I never pretended to be a paragon of virtue,

    They both do.

    So because you don’t say you’re a good or decent person, you aren’t required to be? Wow! I wonder if that works all the time?

    “I’m not a slow driving person.” I’ll tell that to the police officer next time I get a speeding ticket, I guess I’ll just get off with an “Oh, well as long as you didn’t say you were going to obey the law, I guess it’s okay.” Right?

    Oh… are you sure they do? Where have they said that?

    They slam liberals as ungodly creatures, then in their own personal lives, they prove again and again just what shallow vile liars they are.

    Hmmm… so if we reverse this… how is this different than anyone on the left? Spitzer puts people in prison, and then does the same thing himself… KO attacks FNC for being biased, but never talks to anyone who disagrees with him. And so on. And you slam Conservatives, and then turn around and do the same thing they’re doing. But when they do it, they’re “vile liars,” and you’re not? Really?

    Just admit, you have a double standard… and then we can move on.

    My bad behavior matters not. I don’t have an audience. Stop trying to change the subject and stick to the topic at hand.

    So you believe you don’t have to be a decent person, unless you’ve got an audience? Well, what size audience? Aren’t I your current audience?

    Sorry, I don’t buy the, “I can do it as long as nobody is watching,” mentality.

    My own cousin has downs syndrome. In my real life, I help take care of him.

    Do me a favor. Tell him the things you’ve said about other people like him. I’m sure he’ll see the difference. Go on… tell him!

    Do NOT lecture me about how my “bad behavior.”

    Why? Because you can’t really defend it? Because it makes you feel bad to know how low you have to sink to try to score a political point.

    Hey buddy… if at the end of the day, you have trouble looking in the mirror because of the things you’ve said on some website, you might want to consider changing your strategy.

  • torgman

    Palin only wishes she could be the new Nixon. Whereas she coudn’t tell you what major newspapers she reads, Nixon could’ve told you what major newspapers were running one of his op-ed pieces. Dick was one slimy MoFo, but he plenty more brain cells to rub than Sister Sarah.

  • TheOneIndependent

    Sarah Palin is a first rate idiot that was given the stage and a well written speach which she is still regurgitating.
    She is not threat for elected office, not one. But she is a threat because so many uneducated americans look to her for their opinion and facts, much as they do with Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. These people for what ever reason assume these idiots ever read anything they seem to have opinions to rant and rave about. With none of these idiots ever finishing college with the exception of the 6 that it took Palin to find a professor that would give her a soliticed pass, it is amazing how many listen to their speculation on everything Obama. One smart thing Obama did was to surround himself with experts in all areas. Could you imagine Palin assigning her brother in law to be Security of Foreign Affairs or like Pres. Bush trying to give his house keeper an executive postion? Whether you like it or not we right now have the smartest group of people ever assembled in office, maybe that is yet another reason the G.O.P. is the party of N.O.P.E..

  • http://www.dicaza.com Vinniffa

    Sarah Pallin has lost some of the media attention she had in the past.
    Let’s see in the next presidential campaign the next Nixons..
    http://leather-wine-carrier.com/

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