Can anyone remember anything of substance that came out of last night’s…ahem…”debate” hosted by CNN? I think the only thing that people have carried away from the event is the conviction that CNN is a proud graduate of the Dan Rather School of Objective, Neutral and Self-Righteous Journalism. I’ve been trying to keep up with the number of obvious Democrat plants in last night’s debate, and I think it’s now up to six, but the search continues today. We may never know the true number. CNN fains innocence, but let me ask: Considering how many idiotic video questions were submitted, what is the likelihood that one submitted by a Clinton campaign lackey would be picked by CNN by pure chance? And when some Democrat plant wasn’t getting face time, CNN was doing its best to portray the Republican Party as a bunch of jerkwater rubes whose only concerns are God, gays, and guns.
I’ll join the chorus of comments today that the CNN/YouTube “debate” format is horrible. And what with the audience booing and hissing at times, it wasn’t so much a debate but “The Jerry Springer Show.” CNN did little to raise the standard of political discourse in this country. As someone on another discussion forum posted last evening, she’d rather be water-boarded than have to endure another debate like last night’s. Someone (and I think it needs to be the Republican National Committee) should strangle this format in its infancy before it becomes something akin to a cherished political tradition.
There’s also a lot of hand-wringing going on today (as usual) from those who bemoan the field of Republican candidates. Rush Limbaugh commented today that Fred Thompson is the only true conservative in the race (a debatable point). But even Rush should know that it just isn’t happening for poor Fred. Jim Geraghty commented on National Review Online last night that “On a crowded stage, [Fred] needs more time, because he’s not doing nearly enough with the bits and pieces he’s getting now.” In a debate format where a candidate is given 60 seconds to respond, one can’t spend half the allotted time saying “ummmm” and fumbling through index cards. Again, I dispute the conclusion of some, including Rush, apparently, that Thompson is the only true conservative in the race. But I’m a pragmatist. I suppose for the ivory tower idealists, even Fred doesn’t measure up.
But even so, eventually, Rush is going to have to do the adult thing and candidly admit that the GOP will not have a 99-44-100% pure conservative heading the ticket next year (just like the last five elections…Sorry, I love Poppy, Dole, and W, but none of them were pure conservatives). Rush would do well to admit this, and then to council the true believers about the wisdom of pragmatism, and the need to revitalize conservatism as a force in American politics, because, in my humble opinion, it isn’t the candidates who fall short, but conservatism that’s gasping for air as we enter the 2008 election year.
Rush, go back and regroup for 2012 and beyond. Having a non-purist lead the party in ’08 isn’t the end of the world. Show us that conservatism still has substance and can still be a compelling and appealing force in American politics, that it stands for something more than the twisted monstrosity CNN turned it into with its manipulative debate format last night, a thing that can be summed up in the monosyllabic mantra of “Gods! Gay! Guns! (oh, and the Confederate flag).” Do the right thing: Endorse Rudy; defeat Hillary; and build a more vibrant conservatism for the future.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I was nodding along with your post, Greg, right up until your last line. For Rush to endorse Rudy at any time before he is (hopefully not) nominated at the convention would be a betrayal of everything Rush has worked for. If nominated, I expect most Republicans will hold their noses and pull the lever for Rudy (much like one does on a “regular” basis).
November 29th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I just can’t believe Hillary infiltrated CNN and planted questions. That woman is amazing. She can stage any Dem debate, but apparently – she can plant questions for even the Republicans!
Also, it is coming out that CNN had Obama & Edwards supports posing as “undecided Republicans.” Wow, either the CNN journalism is very poor or they are in the tank for the democrats.
What counts most is the ratings. Nice post Greg, I agree with the points made. My question is what were the rating for the CNN you-tube debate? I have not heard, but I’ll bet they were very good.
If Jerry-Springer freak show type events are what pulls down the dough, then that is what we can expect to see more of.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I agree, Irish. Rush maintains neutrality, and this is wise. My suggestion wasn’t to be taken seriously. But I do think Rudy will be the nominee; in fact, I wholeheartedly support him, and as I’m new contributor here, I’ll be explaining why Rudy should be and will be the nominee in future posts.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Rush’s support could be pretty valuable for Thompson. I think Rush is alot who is responsible for taking McCain down. It seems kind of ironic that he would say Fred Thompson is the only true conservative, when he would constantly beat up on McCain, considering Thompson and McCain seem pretty similar politicallly. I wonder whether Rush will go after Huckabee with the same vengance he went after McCain, it could be the difference between whether Huck wins or not.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I didn’t see much of the CNN/Youtube Democrat debate?
Were they getting questions that matched the zombie Bible guy, Confederate flag boy, or the gay general?
Maybe the Dems had a transvestite asking about gay marriage, or a guy who had been mugged by a gang of atheists?
November 29th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
“I just can’t believe Hillary infiltrated CNN and planted questions. That woman is amazing.”
Scary, is what she is. And thanks for the kind comments, cwpete.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Pete,
“I just can’t believe Hillary infiltrated CNN and planted questions.”
I heard the gay general was a Clinton worker, but is there more?
November 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
“Do the right thing: Endorse Rudy; defeat Hillary; and build a more vibrant conservatism for the future.”
Rush is not going to sell out so-cons by a Rudy endorsement. He is no Pat Robertson.
Besides, if doing the right thing is based on who polls best in hypothetical general election match-up 1 year before election day, then that candidate may be John McCain & not Rudy Giuliani.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Pete,
BTW, Hillary doesn’t “infiltrate” CNN, they are a wholly owned subsidiary of Clinton & Clinton.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
MWS wrote: “Were they getting questions that matched the zombie Bible guy, Confederate flag boy, or the gay general?â€
It’s interesting that CNN choose those video questioners. It says a lot about how CNN views the Republican Party, or at least how CNN wants the Republican Party to be portrayed. The GOP would do well to tell CNN to take a hike next time they offer to host a “debate.â€
November 29th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
If this race comes down to Rudy vs. Huckabee it will interesting to see what Rush does. I get the feeling that Rush is more of FiCon than a SoCon so I would tend to expect him to rip Huckabee apart. But than if Huckabee gains enough popularity before Rush is able to go after him, Rush may decide that he better not upset his listeners who like Huck.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
“I heard the gay general was a Clinton worker, but is there more?”
Apparently that is true. The Clinton machine is quite extensive. In fact, I’m convinced that the woman will not go on camera at all now unless the event is rigged / staged by her cronies..
November 29th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Greg,
I’m surprised they didn’t dredge up David Duke to ask a question.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
“I’m surprised they didn’t dredge up David Duke to ask a question.”
MWS, they probably couldn’t find the rock he’s living under.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
John, I don’t think Rudy would accept Veep, but what do folks think of a Rudy/Huckabee ticket? Possible?
November 29th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Greg,
“they probably couldn’t find the rock he’s living under.”
Sure they could. His rock is right outside the office complex shared by CNN and the Ministry of Truth in Tehran.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
“Rudy/Huckabee ticket? Possible?”
That is possible. Huckabee balances out Rudy’s social liberalism and Rudy balances out Huckabee’s fiscal liberalism.
Personally, I think Rudy has a close friend in mind for his veep. I think Romney’s veep could very well be Jim Demint which would be a nice balance.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
“Personally, I think Rudy has a close friend in mind for his veep.”
Well, we know it won’t be Bernie Kerik. LOL
November 29th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Good point, MWS, about the whereabouts of David Duke. Very funny.
You’ve got spunk.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
“CNN was doing its best to portray the Republican Party as a bunch of jerkwater rubes whose only concerns are God, gays, and guns”
Hey – y’all have no one to blame but yourselves. You are the ones who have put these issues to the fore over the last decade or so. Maybe you are ready to move on, but you can’t blame the media for appealing to the issues that you have historically put forward yourselves.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Oh Swell another Rudy supporter getting front page posting rights – imagine that!! Kavon sees his guy falling apart so now he is going to start to move his site more and more pro-Rudy. What a waste. This site had such great potential.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Ray, if I’m right (and I am), we’ll all be moving more and more pro-Rudy, if we’re serious about defeating Hillary next year.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
More of the CNN fraud coming in.
This from http://www.powerlineblog.com/
Worst pretense to an impartial news organization: CNN, part 2
Jim Vicevich alerts us to a few more Democratic plants at the CNN Youtube Republican candidates forum last night. Adam Florzak asked a question on Social Security. Jim comments: “Strange question, because he asked about paying back the social security trust fund? That’s a Republican question.” It turns out that Florzak quit his job with Caterpillar to work with Dick Durbin on social security reform. Then there was Mark Strauss, who pleaded with Ron Paul to run as an independent. It turns out he’s a Richardson supporter (more here). CNN must have know who Strauss is because he participated in the CNN/Youtube Democratic presidential debate this past July.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
And this:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/CampaignStandard/2007/11/richelieu_a_depressing_debate.asp
Richelieu: A Depressing Debate
November 28, 2007 • By Richelieu
What a depressing debate. CNN’s long slide into mediocrity accelerates. Is this what running for president of the greatest democracy in the world has become? Standing in front of CNN’s corporate logo in a hall full of yowling Ron Paul loons and enduring clumsy webcam questions from Unabomber look-a-likes in murky basements?
I feel lucky to be from an earlier century where your own founding fathers knew that the secret to government is to protect it from the daily mob. Clearly the boundless paranoia of middle-aged media executives about the kids and their mysterious “Internet” has led them to stoop to this kind of pandering foolishness. They should feel shame tonight.
So, a good night for for the lowest denominator, a bad night for the GOP. America got to see a vaguely threatening parade of gun fetishists, flat worlders, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers as well as various one issue activists hammering their pet causes. My cheers went to a listless Fred Thompson who easily qualified himself to be president in my book by looking all night like he would cheerfully trade his left arm for an early exit off the stage to a waiting Scotch and good Cuban cigar. The media will probably award a win to Mike Huckabee, the easy listening music candidate at home in any crowd, fluent in simpleton speak and the one man on the stage tonight who led the audience to roaring cheers by boasting that he had a special qualification to be president that none of the second-raters on the stage could match: A degree in Bible Studies from Ouachita Baptist University of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Pretty good snarky comments there
November 29th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Greg – you’re not right and the exact opposite will be true. The GOP will be moving further and further from Rudy as more and more scandals come out and his air of inevitability is shown to be a house of cards. All he has is 9/11 – what did he do to prepare NYC for that again: oh yeah, he put the emergency services control room in the Towers even though was the most likely target of terrorists – great idea. And oh yeah – he’s the only one who can beat Hillary; that’s right because apparently Rudy can see into the future that he can beat Hillary but he can’t see into the future about 9/11 or the Twin Towers being the number 1 target.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Ray, see you on Feb. 6th.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
At Rudy’s drop out speech after his “I’ll just wait until Feb 5th” plan falls apart? I will gladly see you there.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I think Huckabee is about to suprise more people as he continues to
surge in New Hampshire, S.C., and Florida. as for how the debate went
last night. Thompson looked better than I have seen him since he joined
in the race. Rudy tanked in the debate. Romney was wounded which is
going to help Huckabee and do nothing for Rudy. McCain although strong
at times, lost it all last night by looking angry and not calm. Huckabee
despite criticism came out okay with a couple of big responses. The big
winner is Huckabee.
November 29th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Huckabee rising in NH – what are smoking? It must be some good stuff!
November 30th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
[...] get even more hostile here, and everywhere else. However, I don’t think it’s a good idea to criticize someone for an endorsement or speaking positively about one candidate. Hey, I even kept my mouth [...]