. >>> and why is chris christie talking so much about his weight? maybe because he wants to talk about it on his terms, and why might that be? because perhaps he's running for president. >>> finally, the recently fired dick morris admits he was wrong at the top of his lungs last november. that's fine, but was he really wrong in predicting a romney landslide or did he know what was coming and decide that's what fox viewers wanted to hear? >>> we begin with the debate over the drones. robin wright is a scholar at the woodrow wilson center. "newsweek's" dan klaidman is the author of "kill or capture." john brennan's confirmation hearing this afternoon started out with some fireworks. anti-war protesters interrupted the proceedings five times accusing the cia of causing huge amounts of collateral damage with drone strikes. the committee's chair, dianne feinstein, eventually cleared the room. later, brennan cited the protesters when he addressed what he called a misperception about the goal of the drone strikes. let's listen. >> i think there is a misimp

and christie wasn't done. he delivered a few of his favorite letterman jokes. >> here's two of them that we particularly liked. first was celebrity birthday today. chris christie turned 50. he blew out the candles on his cake and he wished for another cake. a billion dollars would be spent on potato chips for super bowl sunday, and that's just at governor christie's house. >> this is fun to watch. now, i don't agree with much of christie's politics, but he's real. he can make fun of himself, and he's not afraid to do the right thing. like when he worked directly with president obama in the aftermath of hurricane sandy. he even praised the president days before the election. again, now, i disagree with governor christie on the issues. and governor, if you're ever serious about dieting, i know a guy that you can get some advice from. call me. thanks for watching. i'm al sharpton, "hardball" starts right now. >>> running for cover. let's play "hardball." ♪ >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. let

christie responded to the noninvitation in typical christie fashion. here he is. >> i didn't know that i hadn't been invited to cpac until like two days ago when i saw it in the news. so, yeah, apparently i haven't been invited. i wish them all the best. they will have their conference a bunch of people speaking there. they don't want to invite me, that's their call. it's their organization, it's their business. and they get to decide who they want to have come and not come. it's not like i'm lacking for invitations to speak both here and around the country. it's not like i have a whole lot of openings in my schedule. i can't sweat the small stuff. i got a state to rebuild. >> well, i can't sweat the small stuff. i got a state to rebuild. he had this one ready. i don't think he thought of that one on the spur of the moment. roger simon is chief political columnist for the great politico. michelle goldberg is a contributor for the daily beast. you know, i have to say, michelle, you're up in new york -- where are you? >> i'm in new york. >> in that whole

christie against clinton. let's have it! we'll be right back. >>> our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. >> welcome back to "hardball." in his inaugural gesture, president obama made it clear that he intends to make marriage equality a priority in his second term. currently there are nine states and the district of columbia, there they are on the map in which same-sex marriage is legal now. and there is legislation percolating in state courts that could add to that number. and is evidence that this fight for gay marriage is moving forward. today the respect for marriage coalition took out a full-page ad. it was so impressive in the big papers of the country, showing bipartisan support for freedom to marry. chad griffin is president of the human rights campaign, a great organization. he co-chairs the respect for marriage coalition that paid for that ad. i w

chris christie turned 50. he blew out the candles on his cake and he wished for another cake. $1 billion will be spent on potato chips for super bowl sunday, and that's just at governor christie's house. >> that's what ambitious politicians have to do, be good sports. even though you're getting made fun of. >>> missouri's house speaker tim jones signed on to a petition back in 2009 alleging that president obama's not a u.s. citizen. recently jones was asked the obvious question. what was he thinking? and while you're watching, see if you recognize this set, the tv set here. >> for a while you were part of a lawsuit that ended up being dismissed in federal court alleging that president obama might not be a legitimate candidate because he might not have been born in the united states. i mean, having looked at that, i guess my initial question, with all due respect, is how could someone who is a public servant put their name on something that ridiculous? that's just completely off the wall and delusional, isn't i

it's clinton over christie 49-45. that would be a rouser. that's enough to keep you excited about politics. christie against clinton. let's have it! we'll be right back. none of us would want to be told we can't marry the person we love. that's why a growing majority of americans believe it's time to allow marriage for gay and lesbian couples. when couples are committed they ought to have i think the same sort of rights that everyone has. allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country freedom means freedom for everyone. our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, it's time for marriage. omnipotent of opportunity. you know how to mix business... with business. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle. and go. you can even take a full-size or above. and still pay the mid-size price. i could get used to this. [ male announcer ] yes, you could business pro. yes, y

christie against clinton. let's have it! we'll be right back. [ male announcer ] i've seen incredible things. otherworldly things. but there are some things i've never seen before. this ge jet engine can understand 5,000 data samples per second. which is good for business. because planes use less fuel, spend less time on the ground and more time in the air. suddenly, faraway places don't seem so...far away. ♪ suddenly, faraway places don't seem so...far away. meet the 5-passenger ford c-max hybrid. when you're carrying a lot of weight, c-max has a nice little trait, you see, c-max helps you load your freight, with its foot-activated lift gate. but that's not all you'll see, cause c-max also beats prius v, with better mpg. say hi to the all-new 47 combined mpg c-max hybrid. because every flake is double-toasted... splashed with sweet honey... and covered in rich double-roasted peanuts. mmm. [ hero ] yummy. [ male announcer ] kellogg's crunchy nut. it's super delicious! >> our journey is not complete until our gay brothers a

last year chris christie told voters they picked a retread in brown. >> not as much hair. i've slowed down a bit but i ran three miles in 29 minutes two nights ago. i hereby challenge governor christie to a three mile race, push-up contest, and a chin-up contest. i have no doubt of the outcome. >> well, next. ready to meet the assemblyman who missed the memo on how not to speak about gun control. while americans are entitled to have strong opinions, there is also language that is inappropriate in any discussion. the supporters of gun control are doing something akin to what hitler's germany did to strip citizens of guns in the run-up to the second world war. here's steve mclaughlin yesterday frustrated with how quickly the gun control bill was passed. >> we're told to shut up and vote. that's what this is about. don't question it. just vote. that's the message here. hitler would be proud. mussolini would be proud of what we did here. but that's not democracy. >> there you have it. a few hours later he released a video apology calling his statement an honest mistake. >>> fi

. >> this christy head having to stop national television and get a drink. is that going to be one of the thing that becomes a cartoon factor in his life whether he likes it or not? >> it depends how he handles it. i think these responses are always terrible. i think bobby jindal -- >> thank you. >> i don't know why rubio went for it. i think if you do that, you're putting yourself up and you really have to clear a high bar. >> i'm with you. >> will he be typified by this? he has a long career ahead of him. i think he's a very, very smart guy. i think he's got a great story. these are the types of things that leave a lasting imgretion as steve said and it's going to be how he handles it next week and if he's able to poke fun at himself. people will remember him for his sense of humor and not for his water drinking. >> we know he has a great consultant, todd harris. >> that's not fair. if he put that bottle ten feet from him, he's crazy. on a more darr dardly note, paul broun touted his name call of the president. he's bragging about being extreme. as a membe

christie kicked off the week joking about his weight with david letterman. soon after he was telling a former white house physician to shut up for expressing concern over his health and his weight. anyway, guess what the project -- project booker just announced yesterday? his new partnership with weight watchers to help combat obesity up in newark. well, surely this one was in the works for a while, but strange about the talk and the timing. >>> by the way, it seems like christie is still in attack mode over the comments from that physician. yesterday dr. connie mariano recounted the phone call she got from the governor. >> it was essentially the tone of the press conference but louder. >> pretty much yelled the whole time. >> uh-huh. if this is the way you handle stress, is this presidential? have to think about that. is this a presidential way to behave? come on. >> there's a political commentary from the doctor. apparently calling her a hack at the press conference was not enough. >>> finally, bill clinton is ready to start campaigning again. big surprise

new jersey governor chris christie wasn't invited. christie is a republican with a sky high approval rating at home and is a potential presidential contender for the gop in 2016. we all know that. he committed a cardinal sin to some conservatives. he lavished praise, even touched president obama during the aftermath of hurricane sandy, and now he's getting snubbed by cpac. it might not be a bad thing for governor christie. republican strategist steve schmidt called cpac the star wars bar scene of the conservative movement. remember that scene? and we'll be right back. >>> welcome back to "hardball." true gridlock, and that's where we stand tonight. no closer to a deal to avoid the automatic spending cuts set to take effect this friday. just like democrats and republicans in washington, the public has mixed views on just what to do about the deficit and the budget. let me show you some new numbers from our own nbc/"wall street journal" poll just out tonight. we asked how americans feel about the president's budget negotiations with rep

new jersey governor chris christie wasn't invited. christie is a republican with a sky high approval rating at home and is a potential presidential contender for the gop in 2016. we all know that. he committed a cardinal sin to some conservatives. he lavished praise, even touched president obama during the aftermath of hurricane sandy, and now he's getting snubbed by cpac. it might not be a bad thing for governor christie. republican strategist steve schmidt called cpac the star wars bar scene of the conservative movement. remember that scene? and we'll be right back. [ male announcer ] susan writes children's books. when she's happy, she writes about bunnies. when she's sad, she writes about goblins. [ balloon pops, goblin growling ] she wrote a lot about goblins after getting burned in the market. but she found someone to talk to and gained the confidence to start investing again. ♪ and that's what you call a storybook ending. it's not rocket science. it's just common sense. from td ameritrade. >>> welcome back to "hardball." true

is it the jindal, the bobby jindal/chris christie game of attacking the party from the outside or is it the inside players like rubio and ryan saying we're doing basically the right stuff, we just got to refine it. what's the smart position? outside attacking in or inside defending and refining? >> well, i will put it this way. if you're in washington, d.c., you're defined by opposing the president. if you're outside of washington, d.c., you're defined by governing. bobby jindal and chris christie and mike pence and sam brownback are all governing, and i think that's a better way to refine and refrain the party than an oppositional party which you necessarily have to do within the confines of washington, d.c. >> here is a guy that grew up inside washington, worked in the leadership of the republican party, the speaker's office like i did, and saying the best way to fix the party is not be there, but be outside in the country. >> that's right. and to be outside attacking washington. now, it's interesting because marco rubio is trying to be both, and he actually has the ability to be b

it might be a bad thing for governor christi. republican strategist steve sha 234i9 called cpac the star wars bar scene of the conservative movement. remember that scene? and we'll be right back. a confident retirement. those dreams have taken a beating lately. but no way we're going to let them die. ♪ ameriprise advisors can help keep your dreams alive like they helped millions of others. by listening. planning. working one on one. that's what ameriprise financial does. and that's what they can do with you. that's how ameriprise puts more within reach. ♪ that's how ameriprise puts more within reach. how do you keep an older car running like new? you ask a ford customer. when they tell you that you need your oil changed you got to bring it in. if your tires need to be rotated, you have to get that done as well. jackie, tell me why somebody should bring they're car here to the ford dealership for service instead of any one of those other places out there. they are going to take care of my car because this is where it came from

. >> so christie? >> trying a bit with jindal now. >> he's down to about 35% now. >> but anyone who wants in at this point, we're going to go with. >> we're going to build them up to tear them down. thank you, joan. the un-guilty joan walsh. not at all in this regard. or any regard. thank you, dana milbank who writes a great column for the washington post. >>> up next, the members of congress who arrive on the floor hours before the state of the union just so they can be seen doing this. and this is "hardball," the place for politics. >>> back to "hardball." now to the sideshow. did you see texas democrat jackson greeting president obama when he entered the chamber? it's not the first time she's staked out an aisle position. and she's got company. some members of congress are known to arrive up to 12 hours before the speech to get one of those seats. where they can be seen on camera with the president. and you've got to wait in person, by the way. the rule is no leaving a book or coat on that seat to c

a pope like john xxiii is -- a long -- >> i think a chubby pope would be -- i don't think governor christie is available for this particular line of work, although he's a fellow religious. i want to get back to you, linda. i read your column all the time, and i think your values are a tad to my right, a tad or a half a tad. that's all right. i know you're smiling because it's true. let's talk about this. a lot of people who aren't catholic are wondering why we're talking about this. 1.2 billion people in the catholic church. it's a loud church to be heard from, and it tends to be a bulwark of belief. it isn't a pr church. it does what it believes. the question is what it believes. does it have to be refined? the role of women is not the same as the role of women 2,000 years ago in any society. why can't women be priests? >> i would be the first to lead that parade. i'm just saying -- all i'm really saying, there's no daylight between you and me on this issue, but i'm just saying that when, you know, we can impose what we think they should be thinking about and what we think they should be d

. >> so christie? >> trying a bit with jindal now. >> he's down to about 35% now. >> but anyone who wants in at this point, we're going to go with. >> we're going to build them up to tear them down. thank you, joan. the unguilty joan walsh. not at all in this regard. or any regard. thank you, dana milbank who writes a great column for the washington post. >>> up next, the members of congress who arrive on the floor hours before the state of the union just so they can be seen doing this. and this is "hardball," the place for politics. this day calls you. to fight chronic osteoarthritis pain. to fight chronic low back pain. to take action. to take the next step. today, you will know you did something for your pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is a pain reliever fda-approved to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one non-narcotic pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. anti-dep

as if that was a stupid thing to do and it was a sound decision lat late ratified by governor christie, saying of course you take help when you are offered it. now the guy says -- >> exactly. >> if you want it do it, do it. >> the way i looked at it back then and i the way i think we should look at medicaid dollars is in the same light. a lot of money went to washington, d.c. it will end up going somewhere. why not accept it, take it back, give it back it fellow floridians. what's what my philosophy would be about the medicaid money and make sure to help those lesser income floridean wloes need this in order to get healthcare, for them and their family. >> john, it is hard not to argue with the analysis we got from the governor. a last summer, saying, i'm not taking obama care. so slow burning, i'm not going to let this guy become legitmized by hist history and now, what do you know? obama care will be popular with the governors. >> and they pay a hundred percent to medicare expansion. it is cruel to the people in your state, if you are south carolina or texas, who are still saying i d

. >> so christie? >> trying a bit with jindal now. >> he's down to about 35% now. >> but anyone who wants in at this point, we're going to go with. >> we're going to build them up to tear them down. thank you, joan. the un-guilty joan walsh. not at all in this regard. or any regard. thank you, dana milbank who writes a great column for the washington post. >>> up next, the members of congress who arrive on the floor hours before the state of the union just so they can be seen doing this. and this is "hardball," the place for politics. >>> back to "hardball." [ male announcer ] you are a business pro. executor of efficiency. you can spot an amateur from a mile away... while going shoeless and metal-free in seconds. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle...and go. you can even take a full-size or above, and still pay the mid-size price. now this...will work. [ male announcer ] just like you, business pro. just like you. go national. go like a pro. ♪ shi

as if this was a stupid thing to do when in fact it was a sound decision later ratified by governor christie of new jersey who said of course you take federal help when you're getting it. right? it seems to me -- >> it was the right thing to do. >> yeah. and now this guy is saying -- >> exactly. >> -- do it, do it. >> well, the way i looked at it back then and the way we should look at these medicaid dollars is in the same light. a lot of floridians' money went to washington, d.c. it's going to end up going somewhere. why not accept it, take it back to benefit your fellow floridians. that was my philosophy on the stimulus money back in 2009 in supporting the president. that's what my philosophy would be about the medicaid money and making sure you help, you know, those lesser income floridians who need this nornd to get health care. for them and their families. >> john, it's hard not to argue with the analysis that we just got from the governor. i certainly prompted it to some extent because i believe it. election time bs went on last summer. i'm not going to take any obama care. i'm going t