Goaded Beyond Bearing by Chris Matthews

      Ok, so I finally lost it tonight trying to stomach "Hardball" and sent Matthews this e-mail mid-broadcast as he berated the AARP spokesperson without let-up, insisting on dialogue while blocking it himself:

To Chris Matthews--I am often struck (and generally change the channel early) by your willful obtuseness on many a singular point, regardless of the topic.  You may pride yourself in your ability to be a devil's advocate, but in my book you come off looking like a fool.  In your harangue of your AARP spokesman tonight, you consistently did not listen to his point--that USA Next engages in gay-baiting and in questioning the patriotism of those who do not agree with the president--and thus, are not serious about the issue of SS, but rather use it as a platform to push their conservative world view on those who do not agree with them.  Continue on your present tack, and you dumb down the discussion along with every other no-nothing, fly-by-the-seat-of -your pants pundit.  You've GOT to be smarter than this--you owe it to yourself and to the American people to stop claiming that every gas-bag with a point of view is worthy of a hearing.  Grow up, and start to use your brain.  This is the rudest e-mail I have ever written, by the way--it is not my usual style.  I have just had it with the selling out of the press.