Chris Matthews is right to demure away from any talk about running for Senate against Arlen Specter…until his contract is up next June, Matthews can't very well be a political pundit in the pocket of the Democrats as well as a politician running for office. Even Karl Rove had the decency to wait until he was out of the White House before going on Fox News.

Still, somehow Matthews name always gets thrown around when discussing the Senatorial seat in Pennsylvania that will be up for grabs when Specter's term ends in 2010…so even though the Hardball host keeps saying he has "no plans" in public, you know that's just what media consultant/coworker Dan Abrams tells him is prudent.

JOSSIP IN DEPTH — Who knew that women could be so cruel? So far in this campaign, we've seen threats, lies, and insinuations on Obama's Muslim heritage and his Kenya background from just about every right-winger in politics. But suddenly the phrase "anti-American" and "pro-America" popped up and everyone is just having a conniption fit.

Why? Maybe because the two politicians in question were Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann, women of that "pitbulls with lipsticks" variety. Women who, if not having coined those phrases, definitely let them loose in the MSM, and then later apologized and rescinded their remarks.

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Lookie lookie: Chris Matthews is already demurring away from the rumors that he's leaving Hardball to run for Senate in Pennsylvania…despite the fact that no one was asking any questions until he himself brought it up at an Obama fundraiser:

“Right now, I have a professional responsibility to cover this campaign and politics generally with objectivity,” Mr. Matthews said. “I can’t be involved in anything like that. It has to be off the table.”

Right Matthews, but what about when your contract expires in June? Sure, the seat won't be open till 2010, but you have to start raising money soon if you want to run, and unless you're just hoping that President Obama appoints you Chairmen of the Federal Reserves, you better start your campaigning right about then.

Christopher Buckley was on Hardball last night, discussing his recent departure from the National Review, a magazine his father founded. While talking to Chris Matthews about his pro-Obama piece in The Daily Beast and how it lead to a falling out with his editors, it became harder and harder to pay attention to the younger Buck. What's with his eye?

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Smartypants and Villanova University junior Peter Doocy made it to the podium during Hardball's college tour to ask John McCain about Hillary Clinton's recent shot swinging. Turns out, young Peter is the son of Fox News' Fox & Friends anchor Steve Doocy. Not that we're discouraging the offspring of media professionals to involve themselves in political debate; in fact, we encourage it. (More clips like these!)

But it's Doocy Jr.'s naiveté about his place in the world that gives us pause.

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