Duhball with Chris Matthews

The Florida Masochist reminds us of an old rule:

Never ask a question in an interview if you don't have a clue to what the answer will be.

The FM then tells us what happened last Wednesday to the eponymous host of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews when he forgot that rule, assuming he ever knew it in the first place.

Matthews was interviewing Texas Governor Rick Perry about his state’s plans to help Katrina victims. He fired questions at Perry in typical Chris Matthews' "God, I know so much" style.

Perry mentioned housing people from New Orleans in Houston's Astrodome.

Matthews pressed about costs and the availability of the Astrodome, obviously unaware the Astro baseball team hadn’t used the Astrodome since 1999.

The following is from MSNBC’s Hardball transcript for August 31:

MATTHEWS: Where‘s Texas getting the money for this—for this effort?

PERRY: Well, you know, we will find the dollars. The fact of the matter is, this is—by the grace of God, this could have been Houston, Texas, that we were talking about today, instead of New Orleans. And our neighbors are in need and we will find the dollars to make it work.

MATTHEWS: A small point. I don‘t mean to be whimsical, but, at this time, it wouldn‘t hurt for a little whimsy. How did you get the Astros out of their ballpark?

PERRY: Well, they‘re playing at a place called Minute Maid now, not the Astrodome.

MATTHEWS: Oh, really? I‘m brought up to...

PERRY: Welcome—welcome to this year in baseball here, Chris.
(LAUGHTER)

MATTHEWS: Well, I haven‘t been follow them that closely. But I will in the future.
(LAUGHTER)

PERRY: You certainly haven‘t.

MATTHEWS: Thanks to your state‘s wonderful hospitality. It‘s great having you on. And congratulations to your state. It shows a great value system, that you‘re doing this.

PERRY: Thank you, Chris.

It’s not for nothing that many people call Matthews' show Duhball.

Thanks Florida Masochist for the cue and the commentary.