It's Debatable
We've had a lot of Republican debates very early in this election cycle and the question is asked, is anyone watching and do they mean anything?
When going up against an incumbent, the out-of-power party has the debate spotlight all to themselves. In the early going in September 2003, the Democrats pulled record ratings for CNN with 1.8 million viewers. This year, three September debates for the Republicans pulled in an average of 5.04 million.
Last Saturday Night's debate on ABC brought in 7.6 million viewers, about what they did in December of 2007, but still almost 2 million less than Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did prior to their Iowa mash-up just a day later.
What might be considered encouraging is a 20% increase in young viewers for the GOP debates this year vs what they pulled for that demographic four years ago.
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! ABC admits Christiana Amanpour was a bad fit at This Week and another ABC "journalist" joins the Obama Administration as Jim Scuitto becomes US Ambassador to China Gary Locke's Chief of Staff.
Here's a list of "journalists" who left their positions as trust-worthy, non-partisan observers to worship at the Obama altar:
- Linda Douglass (ABC) Since resigned
- Kate Albright-Hanna (CNN producer)
- Aneesh Raman (CNN)
- Jay Carney (Time)
- Peter Gosselin (LA Times)
- Warren Bass (Washington Post)
- Jill Zuckman (Chicago Tribune)
There for the Grace of God go I.... A major graphical blunder on Fox News or a Freudian Slip?
Said Megyn Kelly after the graphic aired, "As it turns out they are not the same man. Not philosophically, not ideologically, not in any other way… our apologies for that error.”
Some at Ricochet may differ, Ms. Kelly. Me? I just report. You Decide.
ADDENDUM Here's something depressing from the "sports" department:
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Comments :
Sep '10
Re: It's Debatable
Pass the brie.
Oct '11
Re: It's Debatable
Didn't someone earlier today write a post lamenting that Ricochet was already in the tank for Romney?
Sep '10
Re: It's Debatable
Nobody ever thinks to ask the pets what they think.
May '10
Re: It's Debatable
Sep '10
Re: It's Debatable
EJHill · Dec 16 at 9:27pm
Edited on Dec 16 at 09:28 pm
Oh, top drawer, EJ. Top drawer. My paws off to you.
May '10
Re: It's Debatable
I think I'm going to give that one its own thread!
Sep '10
Re: It's Debatable
EJHill
I think I'm going to give that one its own thread! · Dec 16 at 10:09pm
My mom will be thrilled.
Sep '10
Re: It's Debatable
The threads are pretty lively with people stumping for their preferreds, and I don't think there's a runaway winner yet.
May '10
Re: It's Debatable
We might be able to judge the importance of debates over the next two weeks as they recede into memory in the run up to the voting in Iowa. More traditional forms of campaigning will now dominate during this period. If the men with the money rise, we'll know that life hasn't changed that much.
For me, Newt is never higher in my opinion than immediately following a debate. Then he sinks as the exhilaration of his performance fades and I begin to think more clearly and soberly about the matter (or less clearly and soberly, depending on your point of view).
Jan '11
Re: It's Debatable
Pseudodionysius
The threads are pretty lively with people stumping for their preferreds, and I don't think there's a runaway winner yet. · Dec 16 at 10:40pm
We're haggling. It's a good thing.
Jun '10
Re: It's Debatable
Scott Reusser: We might be able to judge the importance of debates over the next two weeks as they recede into memory in the run up to the voting in Iowa. More traditional forms of campaigning will now dominate during this period. If the men with the money rise, we'll know that life hasn't changed that much.
For me, Newt is never higher in my opinion than immediately following a debate. Then he sinks as the exhilaration of his performance fades and I begin to think more clearly and soberly about the matter (or less clearly and soberly, depending on your point of view). · Dec 17 at 6:49am
Newt needs to use his ad buys to show clips from the debates that get the big ovations. He can keep the momentum going this way.
May '10
Re: It's Debatable
To answer your original question, I'm not watching because I'm 1 of the 8 people in the country who doesn't have cable. Every once in a while they have one on broadcast, and I don't notice because I'm not used to being able to get to them. Oh well, I get the impression I'm not really missing that much. I still really don't much like any of them.
May '11
Re: It's Debatable
Also responding to the first question, I haven't followed the debates because I can't muster any respect for fora that let Ron Paul on the stage, or let sneering left-wing newsreaders from the major networks pose the questions. Moreover, the endless discussion about the debates, and the individual candidates, has me convinced that the entire exercise serves the limited purposes of (1) making sure we're all sick of hearing about the Republicans a year before the election, and (2) giving the cable news folks fodder for the full 24 hours of each day. I'm all in favor of a limited election cycle with a single national primary day (to end the disproportionate influence of Iowa, ethanol producers, and other select interests on the process) followed quickly thereafter by the national election. I honestly dread the coming year of political news, and can't even bear to tune in to my favorite news shows, like Fox News Sunday, anymore.