‘Who’s Going To Stand Up?!’ Chris Matthews Names Names Demanding Democrats ‘Take On’ Trump ‘Firing Squad’

Ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews laid down the gauntlet for Democrats and ran through names of ranking lawmakers in demands the party abandon “losing” etiquette and “take on” President Donald Trump’s “firing squad.”

The firebrand network veteran appeared on Morning Joe on Tuesday to challenge Democrats and the media to step up amid Trump’s extensive actions and “shoot back in all directions at the same time.”

Matthews’ take came after host Joe Scarborough reflected on Democratic strategist James Carville’s call for the party to “sit back” and past instances when Democrats collected “receipts” on opposition administrations.

The former host unleashed on the idea, noting the terms of the game had changed after Trump pardoned January 6 rioters, bowled over GOP senators in confirmation battles, and Vice President JD Vance championing Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party last week.

Yeah. Well, there’s a lot of rules out there about how to behave when you’re losing. But, you know, the big problem is that Trump came in this time, this second time, with a machine gun, and he fired so many shots.

He said, first of all, the people that tried to kill Congress by attacking the U.S. Congress on January 6th—’I’m going to pardon them all to let you know where I stand. I’m with them.’ That was a pretty clear statement. ‘I’m with Article Two, not Article One. I’m not with the Congress. I’m not looking out for you guys.’

And when it came time for advise and consent, which there’s a whole book written about and a whole—it was a big issue—the right of the Congress to say no to a cabinet appointment, he said: ‘You’re not going to do that because I’m going to shut you guys down.’ And he did. So, Tillis and Cassidy and Collins, nobody talked. They shut down the Congress. He said, ‘I’m the boss.’

And he just said the same thing overseas. He said, basically: ‘Let’s see, I’m going to have one of my guys over there is going to say that Germany should go to the right. Germany should move to the right.’

Now, there’s an interesting foreign policy. I haven’t seen that in the 20th century, certainly—go to the right. And that’s what his vice president said: ‘I want you to accept the AfD, join the right, put up with them—not only put up with them, tolerate and use them, bring them, bring them forth. Go to the right. Get to the right.’ You know, it’s unbelievable.

And then he treats little countries like Ukraine like they don’t matter, Europe like it doesn’t matter. He’s the big boss at home and the big boss overseas. And nobody stands in his way.

Rounding on the Democrats, Matthews offered his advice and began calling out lawmakers he said were qualified and capable of pushing back.

And I watched the Democrats in the media too. It’s very hard to take on a firing squad— a lot of bullets coming your way, all aiming at you, and you’ve got to shoot back in all directions at the same time.

Nobody in the Democratic Party can say [Chuck] Schumer can’t do it. He’s a good leader. You know, he was a fabulous leader. But the ability to take on all the shots at once—now that’s interesting. You know, Peter Baker can do it in The New York Times. You know, he’s one of the few people that can actually lead a news story and talk about everything that’s going on and attack back. Why can’t a Democratic leader stand up and say what I just said?

This guy’s taken down the Congress. He’s taken down the rights of the American people. He’s the big boss overseas. And back here, the big boss. Listen to him. Do what he says. Nobody’s saying that…

Chris Murphy’s trying. I keep waiting. Who’s going to stand up? Who’s going to take a shot back at this guy? Why isn’t Cory Booker doing it? He’s got all the talent in the world. I’m a big Cory Booker fan. Do it, Cory. Do it.

Why doesn’t Michael Bennet do that? There’s a lot of good speakers out there.

Watch above via MSNBC.