Thursday, April 17th, 2008...8:05 am
Last Night’s Debate
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I had more important things to do last night than watch the debate. I did, however catch the so-called highlights. Those of you who watched it: can you tell me if the two of them were asked any questions about, you know, substantive issues? I even caught an exchange about flag pins…
UPDATE: I caught this on Andrew Sullivan’s blog:
The loser was ABC News: one of the worst media performances I can remember - petty, shallow, process-obsessed, trivial where substantive, and utterly divorced from the actual issues that Americans want to talk about. At the end of the debate, it appeared that the crowd was actually heckling Gibson. “The crowd is turning on me!” complained Gibson. He has no idea. But he will soon enough.
8 Comments
April 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Well, there was a question about Iraq. This is from Amy Goodman’s show today:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/17/abc_news_coming_under_criticism_for
At the end of the day, the big loser is ABC news. They make this assumption that the whole country is a Fox News audience, and would willingly lap up a tabloid level “debate” with endless commercials and think of it as an educational experience. It was really disrespectful and insulting to the viewers.
ABC is being deluged with complaints and rightfully so. People were expected a serious debate about serious issues and they got a “reality” show moderated by circus clowns.
They must think we are really, really stupid.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I heard there was a question about butt plugs. I turned it off after that.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
They have both “debated” the issues at length in prior encounters, but when they are asked questions about who they are and what they stand for it seems to scare you. Why is that? Both candidates have taken positions that are not consistent with their actions, deeds and friendships. In order to decide whether a candidate will do what they say you must first trust them on this basic level. The questions, in my opinion, were totally valid
April 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yeah, Walt…we’ll see how you feel about that when McCain has to spend all of his time answering inane questions like this.
April 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Keith Olbermann listed questions that Stephanopolous (sp?) could ask McCain this am - he didn’t - but he should have. They were spot on and you can see them on the youTube at this site: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ow1R0vQBDM - 49k
Sorry I don’t know how to do this in a clickable link - I hope that’s in my next lesson!
Priceless!!! I am glad to see the DNC is going after McCain - that’s what they should be doing!!
April 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
It ticks me off that once again the campaign is likely to be about stupid stuff that doesn’t matter.
Nobody knows that McCain’s health care plan is to discourage employer provided insurance and make people buy their own– and if you have health problems and nobody will sell you insurance at any price– tough.
Nobody knows that McCain has for years supported the same privatization plan for Social Security that President Bush tried in 2005.
Nobody knows that the other day when McCain suggested repealing the 38 cent Federal gasoline tax, it would represent a loss of billions of dollars to states that is earmarked for highway funds– thereby cancelling or delaying construction projects on roads that people use every day.
Nobody knows that McCain, when he criticized Scalia for ‘wearing his conservatism on his sleeve’ simultaneously praised Roberts for ‘quiet’ conservatism– and with Justice Stevens’ failing heart the only thing preventing a solidly conservative majority on the court, we can ill-afford another quiet conservative like John Roberts on the court, and McCain has pledged to give us one.
We should make the campaign about issues– and we need to expose John McCain for what his positions are.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:23 am
Michael Moore wasn’t too impressed with the debate either. http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=225
April 21st, 2008 at 9:17 am
Eli,
Before it’s over, people will know.
It’s Iraq and recession and health care no matter how many right wing gasbags line up to tell Americans to vote based on lapel pins, middle names, and what one’s “associates” have said for the past forty years.
They are going to make a lot of noise because McCain hasn’t got much to run on. More of the same is not so appealing, therefore the distractions will be loud.
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