Ho-Hum
Was there a presidential debate last night? I searched the networks and cable news channels. All I found was two mediocre extemporaneous speakers blathering their usual talking points.
I suppose a debate also requires a moderator ready and willing to ask tough, pointed questions that challenge candidates to think on their feet. No one like that showed up last night. The moderator asked mostly open-ended, predictable questions and then encouraged the candidates to do his job, i.e. challenge each other.
Winner? You have to have a contest–a debate in this case–to have a winner. Inviting two guys to do their usual routine on a common stage is not a debate. So the winner will obviously be which ever one you liked best before the waste of time began.
This “debate” wasn’t even good entertainment.
UPDATE: If you just can’t get enough of this scintillating debate, take a look at the Debate Decoder hosted by the Washington Post.
Maybe Bill O’Reilly should moderate the next debate?
Seriously, I thought it was a good first debate from the moderator’s POV. I prefer the open questions and longer answer periods for the first debate. I think Lehrer did a very good job and represented his role well.
I agree that the candidates didn’t debate as much as repeat well-known (for political junkies paying attention this past year) talking points from their stump speeches. I actually think WE have destroyed the culture of political debate over the decades since WWII. Maybe I’m wrong about that.
Tim… I think a moderator needs to ask the kinds of questions that make it difficult for candidates to fall back on talking points. Bill O could (would?) have done a better job (not necessarily a “good” job).
I agree that longer answer periods can be a good thing.
Did you see CNN put out a story saying the debate went to Obama and then if you look at the story itself they admit there were more Democrats than Republicans surveyed?
There’s no much phoniness around this election cycle it’s making me ill.
Jason… The whole win-lose thing is totally bogus in a non-contest. From a purely partisan POV, I was happy with what Obama said last night. But I was disappointed in his performance–all of their performances. What I’d like to see is a real test of these two guys. Let’s get a tough and smart moderator in there willing to ask tough, fair questions. I’m not sure what Jim Lehrer was thinking.
Perhaps he thought these two would go at each other more if he just tossed a few open-enders and then goaded them a little. Fat chance. No politician is going off message (i.e. straying far from their talking points) unless forced to do so.
“No politician is going off message (i.e. straying far from their talking points) unless forced to do so.”
Andy, let’s watch what happens in St. Louis next week! Palin and Biden! OH MY GOODNESS! I can’t wait! And Gwen from PBS the moderator! Dang, this is gonna be a good one!
My brother down in Florida says the VP candidates are more interesting than the top of the tickets. We’ll see, we’ll see.
Jim… You may be right. The moderator and format make a big difference. I have high hopes for the town-hall debate that’s next for McCain and Obama.