Chris Matthews is a political genius. Period.
He has a strong point of view. He's antiwar and can be harsh on the Clintons, because he knows them; though his point that she opened the door to Barack by supporting the war is The bottom line on the primary season. A student of ethnic politics, he has long censored himself about the Israel lobby, maybe because he wants to run for Senate in Pennsylvania, maybe because he is also a street-smart student of third rails in intellectual life. Too bad, when the Middle East is in flames. He knows better. None of this takes away from the fact that he's the best guy on politics on TV. He reads books and reads minds. His instant take on McCain's speech last week–the maverick stuff was to separate him from Bush, was dead-on. His famous statement that he felt something go up his leg as Obama spoke, after Iowa I think–was a Cronkite moment, a guy who wants the best for this country responding to a magnificent moment in our lives emotionally and honestly. His naked egotism has mellowed in the last year, to good effect.
Keith Olbermann is a leftwing showboat crank. (I'm a leftist but a distributor cap, not a crank.) He's got great values, but he's judgmental and predictable, he's righteous and always trying to score points for our side. I understand why Fox wouldn't want him anchoring political events. He's too partisan.The loss of Chris Matthews from the anchor's chair is truly regrettable. This guy is a master. I thought our journalism was sophisticated enough to handle him.
(P.S. Rachel Maddow is the greatest thing going on the left. Our Sarah.)
