Joe Walsh Pounds Chris Matthews

Finally, we’re seeing a little spine from some Republicans. This should have been going on since November, but better late than never.

Allen West called Obama to the mat with his fear mongering this week. Threatening to cut off grandma’s social security check was too much for him. He spoke the truth. Obama’s economic policies have failed, whether by accident or design. I would say a lewd combination. He also called Obama’s leadership on the whole debt ceiling debate nothing short of pathetic. Well, it’s not easy leading from the back nine, nor is it easy to lead while attending fund raisers in the midst of one of the most important economic debates in our time. Maybe all time if it all goes South.

But West wasn’t the only one that’s had it with the rhetoric, and the attempt to turn this issue into a Republican stonewalling tactic. Joe Walsh, congressman from Illinois stood this week as well, and did he ever stand tall. Remember, Joe was not the Republican pick for the Illinois seat. That candidate (whoever he was) lost in the primaries, and Joe was left to basically fend for himself against an incumbent Democrat-in Obama’s home state. Well, my former home state as well, but I don’t admit that as freely as I used to.

Walsh made it to Washington, and this week we saw why the people wanted him there. Chris Matthews invited him on to MSNBC’s Hardball, and if past history was any indicator, probably thought he was going to tear Walsh a new one over the debt ceiling debate. After all, he’s been successful in the past using his bully pulpit to twist guests into a pretzel. Many a conservative, even if they had something important to say, have left that show looking very bad, mainly because of Matthews’ interviewing tactics.

He didn’t know about Joe Walsh though, and I have no doubt Matthews is regretting ever letting him on the show. You have to watch the video. It is the textbook way to put a liberal in their place. I know it’s a little long (over 10 minutes), but watching Walsh absolutely paste Matthews to the wall is must see T.V.

Matthews uses several tactics to bully his opposing guests and to throw them off their game. None of them worked on Joe Walsh. One is having you defend a false statement. In this case, Matthews referred to Grover Norquist as Joe’s leader and asked why he signed one of his petitions. Norquist is nobody’s leader, and Walsh put that to rest immediately. Didn’t work Chrissy. The look on Matthews’ face was priceless. Right there he saw that this thing could get ugly for him-and it did.

Matthews likes to interrupt as well. Not allowing a guest to make a point ends up having the guest not making a point. Looks bad normally. He couldn’t do that to Joe, but did he try. When the interruptions weren’t working, he tried to ask another question before Walsh could answer the last one. Another tactic to throw a guest off their game. That didn’t work either.

Joe punished him. He even brought up the tingle up the leg thing that actually threw Matthews off a little. Hats off to Joe Walsh. Time for civility is over. Chris Matthews was never civil, even in the dark days following the Jared Loughner rampage.

Joe Walsh showed us all how its done. Allen West showed us how its done. It’s what the people clamored for in November. Now stop crying John and get these guys some airtime. Set the tone. You own the house for now. If you want to keep it I suggest to take a cue from Allen West and Joe Walsh and get to work.