This morning, Michelle Malkin recalled the events that transpired Thursday evening on MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews. Specifically, she's pointing out how she was brought on to speak on certain topics, including national security, the FBI, and her book - but was told shortly before going on air that this would be changed to the Swift Boat Veterans and then her book. That's all fine, and happens all the time. But this was followed up with a switch of Dana Milbank off the panel - who was confirmed just hours earlier - and then replaced with Willie Brown. Malkin confirms via email that the replacement of Milbank was "At the last minute--literally." Yet again, perhaps something came up with Milbank, though he appeared in the next segment - but this isn't the first example of a guest being asked to come on a show to debate or discuss something in particular, only to have the topic be completely different by the time the show is taped. I'm not going to sit here and say that every talk show host or producer is "out to get" the guests that are booked, but I absolutely disagree that people aren't put into "ambush" situations on purpose on occasion.

Most journalists and some subject matter experts are slick enough to switch topics on a whim, but that doesn't mean this should become the rule, rather than the exception. Was there a super drastic change in the Swift Boat Veterans story that forced the issue to become the official topic of discussion on the show, and have Dana Milbank moved off the panel? I'm not sure that there was, to be honest.

Finally, I think if Matthews is going to hammer Malkin about the "self-inflicted" injury that John Kerry received a Purple Heart for, he's no better than anyone on any other show or if he's not going to let her answer the question in total. And clarify what they're saying. And that includes the panel on any episode of Jerry Springer's show all the way over to Sean Hannity. Something being "self-inflicted" doesn't necessarily mean that they "shot themself" or whatever. She was absolutely stating that in the book people alleged that Kerry's wounds were "self-inflicted." Perhaps if there was a breath in there for someone to not be asked something over and over, and actually have their answer not only heard - but comprehended, our media system wouldn't become a joke.

[update: 5:41pm Eastern] LGF confirms a point made on the Drudge Report that Kerry's campaign has stated that the Senator's first Purple Heart may have been self-inflicted.