Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think [Paperback]

A PATRIOT PLAYS HARDBALL
Chris Matthews has been playing hardball since the day he was born. From his first political run-in in the first grade to his years working as presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, Matthews grew up loving his country and dreaming of his chance to protect it. InNow, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think,Chris Matthews is at his brilliant, blunt, bulldogged best.
From the Cold War to the Clinton years, Matthews gives the straight-up account of what it means to be an American. Matthews tells us about his God and Country Catholic school education in Philadelphia, complete with Cold War air-raid drills, and his early enthusiasm for politics. He shares with us his life's adventures -- two years in Africa with the Peace Corps, the challenge of running for Congress in his twenties, and his three decades deep in the belly of the beast of American politics -- using his own experiences to give us an irreverent look at who we are and whom we trust to lead us.Chapter One: An American Attitude

It was October 18, 2000, the morning after the third and final Gore-Bush debate. I was invited on the Today show to offer my political analysis of who had won. Gore had already declared his previous night's performance to be his Goldilocks debate: The first was too hot. The second was too cool. The third was just right. And his fairy-tale verdict had gone unchallenged by the media. Until Matt Lauer asked me what I thought.

Here's what I said: I think Gore was more aggressive last night, and if you look at the polls, he won on a couple of points. But clearly the interesting question again is, Who do you like?Bushwon.

Matt Lauer leaped on me like a cougar from a tree: Let's be honest here, you've been saying that all along. Al Gore irritates you.

Me: The public has been saying that too.

Matt (a second time): Al Goreirritatesyou.

Me (again): The public has been sayl³$