Chris Matthews is Running for the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate according to 538 dot com
I have to admit that I kind of -- to use the Adrian Monk phrase -- LOL, out loud when I first read this.
But, really, should I have been so cynical? More than likely, that cynicism was little more than the reflection of the ever so cynical Mr. Matthews.
Has Chris traded in his cynicism for idealism?
I, like many here, had grown to have a well developed "Love-Hate" relationship with Chris Matthews. A simple search of the Media Matters archive gives us plenty to be irritated about. And Equally, a simple search on Youtube gives us videos to both be irritated at and elated with.
Many here have seen Matthews as little more than a wind vane -- spinning always in the direction of what he perceives as the popular position. Again, an ultimately cynical attitude. In fact, I think it fair to many of us to equate media cynicism and Chris Matthews -- and quite fairly. So, is his stepping into the Senate race in Pennsylvania just another cynical ploy? Honestly, I doubt it.
Before going on here -- I am most definitely NOT a lover of Chris Matthews. My two 12 year old girls, whenever they see Chris Matthews on -- yell out "TWEETY!" ... i don't think anyone can ever accuse me of being pro Chris Matthews (well, until this diary though!)
It seemed to me that over the past 2 years, something has happened to Matthews. Namely, that something is Barack Obama. Let us be clear though -- not 2 years ago, Matthews had already declared Hillary Clinton the winner of the Democratic Primary, well prior to any votes being cast. But watching Chris Matthews watch the primary and then the general, it was a fascinating study of watching someone so rooted in political cynicism slowly transform into a political idealist.
In fact, Matthews took considerable heat 2 days after the General Election when Matthews on morning Joke -- Matthews declared that it is his job to help make this presidency successful:
Chris Matthews has 'found religion' this campaign season, and many of us who have watched him over the years observed it happen before our very eyes. Through the 'tingle' and the Bachmann smack down, the absolute unhidden loathing for Sarah Palin -- Matthews' cynicism gave way to -- HOPE. Since the election he has been advancing "big ideas" of a New New Deal and 'getting the country back to work building things' - namely infrastructure projects. While I want nothing more than maintain my own cynicism against Matthews, I am going to go out on a limb and give him the benefit of the doubt here. Though I will say that I am hardly in a position to do so, since I am a Virginia resident (with my own well maintained cynicism of Terry Mcauliffe) and so Pennsylvania residents might have a better local perspective.
Which brings me to Arlen Specter.
Arlen is going to be 80 in 2010, and with a couple bouts of cancer, the question naturally arises, is he going to run again. Matthews run clearly answers this ( I believe ) -- NO. I can not see Matthews running against Specter. While many of us here have that same love-hate relationship with Specter, in that we often love what he says but hate how he votes -- Specter is the cynical politician that Matthews adores, I can not see Chris running or even wanting to run against him. Since Chris' brother, Jim got bounced out of the state Republican party in Pennsylvania, I am guessing that Chris figured it would not be boding well for the direction of the Republicans there in terms of expanding there reach. Chris seems to have found some hope in this country, and for now, I am willing to try and suspend my own cynicism of one of the most cynical media personalities on television.
What say You!?