Mary Matalin Feels the Love...For a Few Seconds

She might work for the dark side, as Imus teased, but Republican strategist Mary Matalin quickly picked up on the I-Man’s positive vibes today. “Good morning, Sunshine,” she cooed. “Mr. Light, and, Optimism, and Hope.”

Imus thought his guest might like to know that her pal Deirdre Imus, along with Fox News Contributor Lis Wiehl, will debut next week a new weekly segment on Imus in the Morning called “Blonde on Blonde,” airing Wednesdays at 8:30am ET.

“It’s kind of Dylan-esque,” Matalin said of the segment’s title, a reference to Bob Dylan’s famous album. “It conjures a lot of images. I’m sure that’s what you’re shooting for.”

A staunch Republican, Matalin dodged Imus’s “Are you a Tea Party person?” question by saying, “I’m the same person I’ve been for 20 years, which is a constitutional, common sense Conservative.” She acknowledged that the Tea Party has obviously played an important role this year’s midterm elections; their support has launched several long-shot candidates to veritable Republican stardom—candidates like witch-lover Christine O’Donnell in Delaware, who beat Rep. Mike Castle last week for the Republican Senatorial nomination.

“I know there’s a lot of flap about it, and it definitely was a shoo-in with Castle,” Matalin said. “But the alternative argument…is, what’s the point of having a majority if you’re a majority who’s going to do the same thing—a different version, a lighter version, maybe—but the same thing as the Democrats?”

At best count right now, the Democrats are hoping for 49 seats in the Senate in November, and the Republicans feel they have 45 seats locked up, which leaves six or seven seats in play. “This thing’s going to close up,” Matalin said of the Senate. “But it’s not a pro-Republican year. It’s not really an anti-Democrat year. It’s anti-Obama policies, and the country wants people in office who are going to roll them back.”

Imus wondered if CNN would ever roll back its policy of not allowing, for some reason, Matalin’s husband James Carville to appear on this show anymore. Turns out Carville is a little less broken up about the situation than the I-Man is.

“The only time we talk about you is about the Ranch, and Deirdre,” Matalin told Imus. “We don’t talk about the show.”

Matalin was confused about why CNN allows her to appear but not her husband, which Imus quickly clear up for her. “They don’t care about you,” he said.

But don’t worry, Mary. You’ll (kind of) always have Imus. “Tell James we miss him,” Imus said. “There’s nobody better. Him and Begala. And, by the way, you!”

Touched, Matalin thanked her old friend, who ruined the moment by tacking on, “Even though you’re wrong about everything.”

-Julie Kanfer