Adventures In Right-Wing Punditry

#1-
MSNBC's Chris Matthews (Media Matters' 2005 "Misinformer of the Year") spoke with Los Angeles mayor Villaraigosa last night on his program about the American dream. In addition to asking the Mayor if he was comfortable speaking English (Villaraigosa had to remind Matthews that he a) was born in America, and b) speaks English as a first language), Matthews employed a variety of clueless stereotypes in his questioning. Inquiring about the tone of the Mayor's spanish language response to next week's State of the Union address, Matthews asked "What would be— call it— more romantic?". Muy caliente, senor Matthews! Then moving onto the American dream, Matthews states that when he thinks of hispanics starting a business here, he is impressed by their entrepreneurial spirit even if "just owning a flower ship, it's owning a small business, a bodega". Don't forget the taco stands, Chris. He also said that the can-do spirit of the Mexican immigrant makes them natural Republicans. Well, naturally.

The worst part to me was that it seems Matthews is lecturing Villaraigosa instead of interviewing him.

Crooks and Liars has video for your amusement: Matthews Speaks for the Latinos of the world!

And Digby has thoughts: Flower Shops and Bodegas

#2-
In other Matthews news, the Hardballer asks Rep. Delay a 'cosmic' question:

MATTHEWS: OK, I’ve got to ask you a cosmic question.

DELAY: OK

MATTHEWS: Tom DeLay, you are not in this business for the money. You live modestly You commute back and forth from Washington to Houston, Texas. Why? What drives you every day?

"Dave Shutton, Springfield Daily Shopper. Who are you? Where are you going?"

ThinkProgress has video- VIDEO: Matthews Slobbers All Over Tom DeLay VIDEO: Matthews Slobbers All Over Tom DeLay

#3-
Speaking of NBC, Tim "Was I involved in Plamegate? I can't remember" Russert is just all mad at Arianna Huffington. It's an political in-feud and what a soap opera! Arianna Huffington runs a regular feature on her website called Russert Watch in which she and others analyze Meet The Press and hold him accountable for his poor journalism. Some recent posts by Ms. Huffington has caused NBC News to get personal and start a smear campaign on her, as outlined by Lloyd Grove in the NY Daily News. Ms. Huffington wasted no time in responding to the accusations, stating that "instead of addressing the issue of his failure to come clean with his audience on a host of ethical questions, Russert has turned the NBC publicity machine into a vehicle for sleaze and rumor-mongering" and that "the Huffington Post and many others in the blogosphere will keep asking the questions Tim Russert doesn't want to answer".

Note to Russert- Just because you're a pushover, don't assume your critics are as well.

#4-
She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named jokes about poisoning Justice John Paul Stevens.

And that's all the free publicity I'll give her for another six months.

#5-
Finally, the champion- Bill'O - complains of "organized terror" in the liberal blogosphere:
O'Reilly: "Organized terror" on Lefty websites

Well, it's not as organized as Al Qaeda, but we try.