I’ve watched debates for far too many years, over which time they’ve became more and more vapid, almost like campaign appearances.
I think this one was superior for four reasons:
- The quality of the questions
- The moderator’s success at keeping the candidates on track and on time
- The substantive nature of the debate itself
- The pace. It never slowed down. That alone made it compelling.
Most of all though, this debate was a success for the first reason. And that must be credited to Crowley; she chose the questions. Every single one was relevant, direct and well stated, and the balance of subject matter was meticulous.
The Benghazi ‘terror/act of terror’ kerfuffle aside (and that of course is taking up a lot of oxygen), this was a good debate and the moderator deserves a lot of credit for that.
(Or did it just seem that way to me because my popcorn was especially tasty? )
You can have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, or democracy. But you cannot have both.
Whatever Works 
I agree, Moe. I was not at all happy that Candy Crowley was chosen — I find her CNN stories biased in favor of the GOP. Or I did when I bothered to watch CNN. Last night she kept a firm hand on the reins, chose good questions and held them to the task.
LikeLike
Me too, Moe, including your opinion about the quality of the questions. I hadn’t known before yesterday how the “uncommitted voters” were chosen and was pleasantly surprised to find that they were sifted by the Gallup people from their polls without the prior knowledge of the subjects that they were even being considered for such a role. I don’t know if this has any precedents but I find it clever and productive, and the quality of the questions from which Crowley picked was likely higher because of that pre-screening. I hope this methodology can be preserved for future elections.
LikeLike
Mitt Romney’s recent bounce in the polls has clearly energized conservatives, but it’s unlikely to break apart Obama’s re-emerging coalition. The coalition that Obama assembled in 2008–and is relying on again for re-election–includes minorities (not only blacks and Hispanics but also Asians and those of other races), professionals, the highly educated, singles, women (especially in the preceding two categories), seculars, and members of the Millennial generation. (It also includes a chunk of the white working class, albeit a distinct minority.) Prior to the first debate, Obama was matching or coming very close to his 2008 levels of support among all of these groups, and so far it seems that Obama is keeping most of that support.
LikeLike
@ silver account,
Please add to your list of the Obama coalition aging ex-military professionals who have come, hopefully not too late, to appreciate the potential capability of paternalistic government which, with appropriate democratic support and the idealism of the founders, has the potential to redirect the resources of the world’s richest nation to complete a society which embodies the core ideals of the world’s great religions, albeit free of priestly authority.
LikeLike
😆
LikeLike
Where is that Candy Crowley on Sundays? She did great!
LikeLike
I’d never watched her – thought she was a lightweight. But I’ll check out her show – State of hte Union?
LikeLike
Yep, but the show is horrible. But maybe she’s forced into a format there – which is not hers by nature.
LikeLike
Ah well . . . CNN can ruin anything. I pretty much quit them after they tossed Aaron Brown.
LikeLike