In the wake of the Kirk Watson Hardball implosion, over at Obsidian Wings, hilzoy issues a challenge:

So here’s a challenge for Chris Matthews, or anyone else in the media who wants to take it up. Go over Clinton and Obama’s actual legislative records. Find the genuine legislative accomplishments that each has to his or her name. Report to the American people on what you find. Until you do, don’t accept statements from either side about who has substance and who does not, or who traffics in “speeches” and who offers “solutions”. That’s lazy, unprofessional, and a disservice to your audience.

Do your jobs. Don’t leave it to bloggers like me to do it for you.

It’s a good read, but I will say this: If you think journalism, or anything even remotely approaching it, is Chris Matthews’ job, you must not watch him very much. He’s not paid to know anything, or to fact check anything, or to engage in anything like what we’d call journalism. He’s paid to stir up shit, and lately, he’s been pretty good at it. I’m not saying it’s right mind you, but to overuse the cliche of the year, it is what it is.