The thrill apparently is gone for Chris Matthews, the MSNBC political commentator who in 2008 said that he felt a "thrill going up my leg" after a speech by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Matthews offered a critique of the president on the job during his "Hardball" show Wednesday that was as scathing as any broadside a conservative might deliver,
Politico noted.
"What part of the presidency does Obama like? He doesn't like dealing with other politicians — that means his own cabinet, that means members of the Congress, either party," Matthews said.
"He doesn't particularly like the press. He likes to write the speeches, likes to rewrite what [speechwriter Jon] Favreau and the others wrote for the first draft."
"What part does he like?" Matthews asked again, not even giving his guest on the program, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, a chance to respond.
"He likes going on the road, campaigning, visiting businesses like he does every couple days somewhere in Ohio or somewhere," Matthews continued.
"What part does he like? He doesn't like lobbying for the bills he cares about. He doesn't like selling to the press. He doesn't like giving orders or giving somebody the power to give orders.
"He doesn't seem to like being an executive," he concluded.
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