What a difference an election makes. NewsBusters has this little gem tucked away, and keep in mind this is a reason Bush scored low among us conservatives… he spent more and more on programs that need to be totally eradicated (like the Dept of Education):

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Andrea Mitchell have been telling viewers in recent days that Republicans considering blocking an increase in the debt ceiling could be creating a financial crisis.

Seven years ago after George W. Bush was re-elected and the debt ceiling had been raised in November 2004, the perilously liberal couple felt Republicans should be “embarrassed” for having done so (transcripts follow with commentary):

ANDREA MITCHELL: But what is looking over his shoulder is history. He wants a legacy. He wants to be able to do something about Social Security. He knows he’s got to do something about deficit reduction. That is the big embarrassment for Republicans. They ought to be ashamed of themselves, what the Hill Republicans have done. They’ve been worse than Democrats.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: They just increased the debt ceiling.

MITCHELL: Exactly.

This exchange occurred on the November 21, 2004, installment of “The Chris Matthews Show.”

Yet as NewsBusters has been reporting, Matthews has in the past several days twice referred to Republicans as terrorists because they’re refusing to support a raise in the debt ceiling if it includes tax increases.

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