Newsbusters captures this surprising moment from last night’s Hardball, in which we see just how much of the tingle has run out of Chris Matthews’ leg. Matthews praises Rush Limbaugh for his Bill Clinton impersonation, but that’s not what Matthews says Rush got right. Rush notes that when it came to picking dealmakers, Barack Obama really knew what he was doing — and Matthews apparently agrees:

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CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Let`s take a look at Rush — I have to do this — Rush Limbaugh today impersonating Bill Clinton and assessing the situation. Let`s listen to Rushbo.

ANDREA MITCHELL: Oh dear!

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I`m going to kiss your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) if you kiss my (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I`ll make sure that you — if you come groveling to me, I`ll be happy to help you out here. Now look at what has happened here, they go to Bill Clinton. He`s famous for getting people jobs. Monica Lewinsky offered a job at Revlon. She was offered a job at the United Nations. She didn`t take any of them. But they`ve got Bill Clinton. Isn`t it great, folks, that they found a guy who they know will commit perjury to carry the water here?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEWS: Well sometimes even he can get it right. That was pretty good lampooning, I`ve got to say.

Clinton may not be able to close the sale, but he has a well-established flexibility on honesty … apparently, just what Obama wanted in a buffer. Having Matthews acknowledge the truth of that on MS-NBC demonstrates just how disillusioned and disenchanted Matthews has become, at least temporarily.