In one of the epic dust-ups in recent TV memory, former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleisher repeatedly called out Chris Matthews today for the way the Hardball host twisted Fleisher’s words and Pres. Bush’s record.

Savor the video, which includes these highlights:

• Matthews begins by asking what Fleisher is doing on the show. Answer: “Chris, I’m here because you invited me to be here.”
• Fleisher asks Matthews “how dare you?” for seeking to blame Pres. Bush for 9/11 and calls Matthews’ comments “shameful.”
• “Chris, how disingenuous are you?”
• Matthews suggests we’d be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power.
• At one point, Fleisher asks “Chris, do you ever not interrupt your guests, or is that all you like to do?” The stagehands can be heard bursting into laughter.

There’s lots more. This is pure TV gold that is sure to make the talk show rounds for days to come.  Good on Ari for saying to Matthews’ face what surely many other guests thought, but didn’t dare vocalize.