Sep
06
Posted on 09-06-2007 at 09:04am
Debating The Debate
Filed Under (Elections & Candidates) by Katherine Coble on 09-06-2007

There was a Republican Party Presidential Debate last night, and bloggers are talking about it.

Compassion In Politics

Surprise, surprise, surprise!!! Overwhelmingly tonight’s debate on Fox focused on Iraq, terrorism, and taxes. This strategy reflects Fox’s attempt to frame the ideological tenor of the national conversation about the 2008 election and beyond. The three clear winners were McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani. In addition, Ron Paul had a notable showing as well. Finally, the biggest loser was Mit Romney. Fred Thompson also proved to be a loser and a disappointment to this Tennessee native by staying home and dramatically out of the political conversation when democracy came to town

Justin Mundie

Chris Matthews: Do you take your marching orders from Al Qaeda?

Ron Paul: No I take my orders from the constitution.

Sadcox

At this point, I’m happy for Ron Paul to stay in the race for no other reason than how much it annoys Sean Hannity that he always win the post debate polls. …

I didn’t think Ron Paul did particularly well tonight. Although I agree with just about everything he has to say, he didn’t hammer home the freedom message, which is by far his strength. …
Other highlights:

* Romney proves he’s still perfectly capable of not answering a single question.
* Guiliani was mayor of New York–did you know that?
* Tancredo couldn’t talk a vagrant into drinking a beer with him.
* Duncan Hunter leaned on the podium like George W. and tried to smirk like Reagan. Neither worked for him.

William @ NiT

After watching the debate a second time, I was struck by the deliberate attempt by Fox News to ridicule Ron Paul. Listen to Chris Wallace and Brit Hume asking Dr. Paul questions. There is a blatant note of sarcasm and worse, loud laughing coming through the moderator’s mic. Once the Fox cameras even dropped in a shot of Rudy smirking while Paul was speaking.

Sharon Cobb

Kudos to Fox News for letting a real debate break out last night between Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. This is what the debates *should* look and sound like. [hit her place for video]

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Comments

Justin on 6 September, 2007 at 9:25 am #

BTW, I’m not retarded… but for some reason I put Chris Matthews rather than Chris Wallace.


Compassion in Politics on 6 September, 2007 at 9:26 am #

I’m not a fan of Guiliani, but I think folks should chill about him talking about NYC. First, I haven’t seen any of his opponents take him to task on any of the substance. Second, presidential debates are like job interviews. He has empirical success in the area, he should be able to talk about it. The alternative is what a lot of the other candidates do, which is talking in platitudes but not about how they can tangibly deliver real solutions.

That said, Rudy looked a little tan last night. Borderline orange. Actually I think Romney had
him beat in that area.

As for Ron Paul. I think debates are a rigged game against Ron Paul if they are on Fox, because they have the last word and can frame the discussion. I can’t say any other network would be comparatively better, but I don’t think it could be worse. The Fox views in my estimation have already made of up their mind in the Fear/Security vs. the Constitution debate.