Well... it certainly was interesting, even if unenlightening. The only thing that CNN proved last night is that they have a definite preformed idea of what they think the Republican Party is made of:
1) Gun nuts
2) Racist Confederate Flag Wavers
3) Bible Beaters
The questions that were chosen were so ignorant and without substance that the candidates essentially had to take them in different directions. Even Anderson Cooper had to add his own questions to them to make them halfway decent.
The most shameful part of the night, though, was the inclusion of Keith Kerr, ret. Brig. General who is gay in the audience, who spent most of his time making a speech instead of actually asking a question. The best part is, that General is or was on a Hillary Clinton Advisory committee.
http://arlingtoncardinal.blogharbor....9/3381468.html
And FoxNews is the only biased news channel? Really? But honestly, I think the fact that the Republicans have consistently debated in what could be described as unfriendly media venues will be a huge reason why they will win the next Presidential election. Why? Because while the Republicans have been answering tough, challenging questions, the Democrat candidates have been living in a fishbowl. They refused a debate on Fox and the uestions they have been answering have been little more than prompts for vacuous campaign rhetoric. They have not been challenged on any real foreign policy and I don't believe terrorism has been mentioned very much, if at all. If the Democrats don't start developing substantive answers to these middle of the road questions, they will be in trouble when it comes to the general election.
Here is how I rate the GOP debate performance:
Rudy - Steady and articulate as always. Not much new, but thats not a bad thing. He is solidifying himself as my favorite candidate, but I'm not 100% convinced yet.
Romne - Kind of had a little trouble in spots. There are definite chinks in his armor when it comes to his past policies.
Huckabee - Wow, he is getting good. Smoother than a peanut butter and banana milkshake. His religious past still worries me, though, and his overly soft spoken nature.
McCain - Same old commander in chief stuff
Thompson - An improvement, but still not much substance.
Tancredo - Is he still running?
Ron Paul - Crazy as ever. Honestly, I don't see how no one has asked him about the donations he's accepted from white supremacist orgs.
Once again, the questions last night were so idiotic that I don't think anyone really gained or lost ground. Romne may have lost ground, but thats about it.