Chris Mathews breaks GOP strategist’s mental teleprompter by asking for one good thing from GOP in 20 years

Say what you want about the guy but Chris Mathews is the fucking man. I love watching him do what he does. This reminds me of the time he allowed Radio Host Kevin James to dig himself into a hilarious talking point hole.

This time he throws that ‘gotcha journalism’, as the right calls it, at Republican strategist Todd Harris by asking the tough question: Name one thing the Republican party has done for this country in the last 20 years?

Transcription as provided by Crooks & Liars:

MATTHEWS: I just wanted to get the Republican bragging points straight here. So the Republican Party has kept us safe, except for 9/11. Is that the argument? No, really, because you had the worst attack on the American homeland in history, but you`re bragging about your ability to defend the country because you say — you defended America, except for 9/11. That`s your defense, right?

HARRIS: Look, Chris…

MATTHEWS: That`s the bragging point of the Republican Party for the last — I asked you to name one thing they`ve done for this country in 15 to 20 years. I`ll keep going back further. And you`re having a hard time giving me an answer. What has the Republican Party…

HARRIS: No, no. I`m…

MATTHEWS: … done for the country?

HARRIS: I`m not…

MATTHEWS: I`m just — it`s a good question.

HARRIS: Chris, I`m not having…

MCMAHON: Squandered the surplus.

HARRIS: … a hard time giving you an answer.

MCMAHON: Don`t forget, squandered the surplus.

HARRIS: When I decide to write a book about the history of the last 20 years of the Republican Party, I`ll be happy to talk to you about that.

MATTHEWS: No, just give me one…

HARRIS: My job is to win elections — my job is to…

MATTHEWS: Just give me one.

HARRIS: … win elections in 2010.

MATTHEWS: OK.

HARRIS: And I`m going to keep my eye on the ball.

MCMAHON: He doesn`t have one. He doesn`t have one!

MATTHEWS: Steve McMahon — Steve McMahon, YouTube is watching. You`re the Republican consultant, one of the best in the country. Tell me what the Republican Party has done for this country in the last 10 to 20 years? Thank you, Steve McMahon.

(LAUGHTER)

MATTHEWS: Thank you, Todd Harris. You got plenty of time, `64 — we`ll have you back with the answer.

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Ron Reagan to Ron Christie: Up yours, shut up.

File this one under awesome. The exchange between the two starts at around 3:00. Someone behind the scenes was likely fired at around 5:30 – Ron officially jumps in at around 6:45

Thanks to The Political Carnival for the video link.

The right and Dick Cheney like to have it both ways. ‘[Obama is providing]Aid and comfort to the enemy but I’m not calling him a traitor. I’m just using language from the Constitution.’

Ron Reagan to Christie:

Don’t bring up my father’s name in the realm of torture Mr. Christie

It isn’t uncommon to see someone from the right use a talking point in a debate but when the son of your talking point calls you out in response is just gold. This is clip is well worth the watch.

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