The Debate Feedback
Aaron Miller ·
Aug 11, 2011 at 9:58pm
Let's hear it.
Some of those questions were disgraceful. The moderators spent as much time playing "Gotcha!" and setting candidates against each other as getting candidates to speak on the issues which will define this election.
Newt and Bachmann did most consistently well. Newt will gain the most, as Rob said.
I wasn't kidding about Ricochet trying to host our own debate. But it shouldn't be a video debate. It should be a series of threads on Ricochet. Pick five topics and put them in different threads. Then allow the candidates to debate each other... without our participation (otherwise, the threads would become too long and convoluted to keep the candidates' interest). Treat it like a special conversation between Guest Contributors.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
That's from our friends. Imagine what our enemies will do. Better toughen up now.
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Iranian clerics and nuclear engineers love Ron Paul. Israelis not so much.
Dec '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Here's my answer to Ron Paul.
How did Newt manage to stay on the reservation for the whole thing? Whoever wins should hire him as an advisor.
Huntsman was an honest Romney.
Pawlenty and Santorum are earnest and good men. Monday they should withdraw and put their support behind someone else.
Cain needs to be in the next administration just not at its head.
Bachmann is good, but it would be like shooting fish in a barrel for the MSM.
Romney looked good, but I expect that from the Stepford candidate. Like any android he cannot violate his programming.
I think we all agree that Bryon won though.
Dec '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
I thought the disgraceful questions were honest and refreshing. Sometimes being impolite is required when dealing with politicians.
Aug '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
First hour was pretty good, the second was boooring!
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Huntsman needs to follow the example of his staff and abandon his campaign. When he first appeared he looked like he was going to cry. Then he just looked frightened. It was only in the last six or seven minutes in the debate did he sound semi-coherent. But at no time during the debate did he ever look, or act presidential and not much of anything he said resonated with the audience or I would hazard to guess many Republicans around the country. He was more stalwart than Barney Fife...but that's not saying much.
Jul '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Great idea, Aaron!
Concur on Newt. He said the right things and addressed the the concerns of the electorate in a way no other candidate did. He was comfortable speaking directly to the structural problems and wasted almost no time on the sniping. I think he helped himself and, in my book at least, moved himself into the maybe column.
I counted Bachmann as maybe second, but she is better off addressing the issues than sniping with Pawlenty and others. If she continues that way, people will begin to suspect she has an idea deficit.
I loved Ron Paul laying into the monetary system. But talking about the "mainstream" the way he does he places himself in the margins. His questions really did not touch on his weaknesses, like foreign policy.
Getting the field caught up in the question of where the rights of the individual States end and the people begin was a complete waste of time.
Jobs was the last question. Madness.
I love Byron York but it is questioners who are interested in the inside Washington give an take. For Americans:
1) Jobs, what's wrong, what will you do different?
2) Bailouts, will you end them?
May '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
I know who was hurt most tonight.
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Cain should be in the next administration as the voice for small business either as Secretary of Commerce or Director of OMB. I love hearing him speak about matters to do with economic policy where he is strongest. A good man and could be a great asset in the next administration. I just don't think he's strong on foreign policy and that will be critical especially if Europe and the Middle East start to disintegrate into chaos.
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Brutal...but true (and hilarious).
Nov '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Aaron Miller:
Some of those questions were disgraceful.
Byron York's "submission" question for Bachmann qualifies as one of the most obnoxious ever asked by any member of the MSM.
MB handled it beautifully, responding with her usual grace and aplomb !
Edited on Aug 11, 2011 at 9:10pmJun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Newt, Newt, Newt. Hmmm...He was very strong and probably won the debate. He had his Nashua "I'm paying for the microphone!" moment as Rob pointed out. But what is a likely scenario...that a senior campaign team materializes again to support him? Perhaps...but I think that's a tremendous challenge especially after Perry enters the race. Unless Newt can build on this evening's momentum then he remains a potential Secretary of State appointment. I think Newt's issue going forward is Newt. He needs to get out of his own way - if that makes sense - and not speak about policy minutiae but about larger, grander themes like he did when he took out after the Super Committee. He might do better to stay out on the campaign trail rather than keep visiting the nightly or Sunday talking head shows.
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Elizabeth Dunn
Aaron Miller:
Some of those questions were disgraceful.
Byron York's "submission" question for Bachmann qualifies as one of the most obnoxious ever asked by any member of the MSM.
MB handled it beautifully, responding with her usual grace and aplomb ! · Aug 11 at 9:08pm
Edited on Aug 11 at 09:10 pm
Agree. Condescending, snooty and uncalled for. Bachmann handled it very well. York's worst moment.
May '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
EJHill
That's from our friends. Imagine what our enemies will do. Better toughen up now.
My thoughts, exactly. I hope Breitbart can scrape together the funding and the strategy to better rival Fox News for public attention. Fox is an embarrassment half the time... and this a time when we needed them most.
Only liberals could believe Fox News is an arm of the Republican party.
To Bachmann: "As President, will you submit to your husband?"
To Cain: "Do you hate Mormons?"
To Gingrich: "Will you make Muslims take a loyalty test?"
I'm paraphrasing, of course.
Dec '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Better our people ask them in a controlled environment than to let the MSM do it in a setting of their choice.
Jun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Aaron Miller
EJHill
My thoughts, exactly. I hope Breitbart can scrape together the funding and the strategy to better rival Fox News for public attention. Fox is an embarrassment half the time... and this a time when we needed them most.
Only liberals could believe Fox News is an arm of the Republican party.
[edited for length]
Wallace was an embarrassment and very petty especially after Newt put him in his place as exemplified when he turned to Huntsman and said, "Governor Huntsman, I'd like to ask you about your record as governor as long as it doesn't raise Speaker Gingrich's ire." A childish remark.
Wallace has a free rein to do this on his own show and must have thought it translated well to this forum. He only made himself look petty and small. Brit Hume would have been a better choice to fill Wallace's chair.
Bottom line - Newt was right. Wallace was wrong. And Americans want to know what visions these candidates have for the country and how to get us out of the mess we're in. Wallace doesn't seem to care about that.
Edited on Aug 11, 2011 at 9:46pmAug '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
The King Prawn: Here's my answer to Ron Paul.
. · Aug 11 at 8:41pm
Yikes!
That's quite a rebuttal. .
May '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
For months I have been thinking that any of our guys could beat Obama...tonight was pretty depressing. All it did was make me wish for one of our A list guys.
If you want to see what I mean, go back and listen to the Paul Ryan podcast with Marco Rubio. Now THAT is two candidates who could wipe the floor with Barry Soetoro.
sigh.
Edited on Aug 11, 2011 at 10:25pmJun '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Keith Preston: For months I have been thinking that any of our guys could beat Obama...tonight was pretty depressing. All it did was make me wish for one of our A list guys.
If you want to see what I mean, go back and listen to the Paul Ryan podcast with Marco Rubio. Now THAT is two candidates who could wipe the floor with Barry Soetoro.
sigh. · Aug 11 at 10:24pm
Edited on Aug 11 at 10:25 pm
No argument there. The real talent is in the JV squad. I would gladly vote for a Ryan-Rubio or Rubio-Ryan ticket. But they're not asking to be put in the game.
Aug '10
Re: The Debate Feedback
Elizabeth Dunn
Aaron Miller:
Some of those questions were disgraceful.
Byron York's "submission" question for Bachmann qualifies as one of the most obnoxious ever asked by any member of the MSM.
MB handled it beautifully, responding with her usual grace and aplomb ! · Aug 11 at 9:08pm
Edited on Aug 11 at 09:10 pm
It had to come up some time, I think Byron did her a favor by giving her the home field advantage while getting out in front of it. It is a tricky thing to address but even trickier to avoid.
They are already framing her as a religious kook, so it is best for her to answer soon and well. Even the liberal women at Slate respect the way she is handling the attack journalism.
Ryan Lizza's New Yorker piece Leap of Faith is no Newsweek/Tina Brown craven hit piece. It is a substantial examination of her legal, religious,and intellectual influences. If nominated, she will have to answer his reporting.
Lyzza and Ramesh Ponnuru discuss it at length here.
I think Bachmann will benefit from American's being generally open minded toward a persons intellectual, and even theological development.