The 28 Iowa Republican assembled by pollster Frank Luntz for today’s GOP debate had various opinions about the candidates, but were virtually unanimous in panning the performance of Des Moines Register editor and debate moderator Carolyn Washburn, calling her “boring,” “antagonistic,” and “like paint drying.”
In the debate, Washburn frequently cut off exchanges between the candidates, and at one point sparked a mini-rebellion when she asked for a show of hands on the issue of climate change. When former Senator Fred Thompson said he preferred a minute to explain his position, Washburn told him no.
During live coverage on the Fox News Channel a few minutes after the debate ended at 3:30 ET, Luntz turned to his focus group: “How many of you thought that this was a good moderator? Raise your hands.” As most of the group either laughed or groaned loudly, one man in a blue sweater raised his hand about half way. “She asked good questions,” he mildly suggested.
“How many of you thought the moderator needed help?” Luntz then asked. Nearly every hand shot up. “Just for the heck of it, one word or phrase to describe the moderator,” he asked the group. Those in the front row offered their answers in turn:
“Boring.”
“Dry.”
“Antagonistic.”
“Boring.”
“Dull.”
“Rigid.”
“Like paint drying.”
“So even though they picked up information, they did not like this — let’s hope the moderator herself doesn’t run for office,” Luntz quipped. Several minutes later, he showed how the focus group reacted to the moment when Thompson and Washburn clashed — the voters enthusiastically sided with Thompson against the moderator.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
yikes
December 12, 2007 - 19:10 ET by candanceI watched the tail end of that and it was pretty bad. Didn't help me make up my mind at all.
Tail End
December 12, 2007 - 21:53 ET by steve2526Speaking of tail end, she should have been seated. Her caboose makes HRC look like J-Lo!
A member of the right-wing media
Thompson got my vote in
December 12, 2007 - 19:11 ET by danboThompson got my vote in that debate. If for no other reason than he had the balls to call that jerks hand.
We need more of it.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Saw her
December 12, 2007 - 19:17 ET by FOXFANI saw a little of this. She reminded me of the tightly wound virgin(and will always be) school marm who lives by herself. And her cat.
I didn't see all of it.
December 12, 2007 - 19:29 ET by danboI didn't see all of it. Other than Thompson. the only one to call the idiots hand was Keyes. And I have to agree with him on his comments on elitist making decisions for everyone. And the need for taking control outof thei hands and returning it to the people.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Didn'[t see any of it, but
December 12, 2007 - 19:48 ET by FastEdto say, "school marm who lives by herself. And her cat." - Not fair to the cat!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Why, why, why ,why
December 12, 2007 - 19:13 ET by c5thenAre the republican candidates allowing the liberal media to dictate the format, venues, questions and moderators of their debates??!!!! Why are they all at times when the vast majority of the country is at work and can't watch??!!!! Why do they all have twits as the moderator????!!!!
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
I totally agree c5. Why do
December 12, 2007 - 19:21 ET by DaBirdI totally agree c5. Why do all debates have to be moderated from the left? Why can't we have one moderated from the right? Or center? I just don't get it.
I agree, what part of not
December 12, 2007 - 21:34 ET by dscottI agree, what part of not letting a liberal run Repub debates do people not understand? Ok, it's really getting annoying when people don't listen and keep making the same mistake over and over again. You know it's getting to the point that I'm not going to give a crap if these bone heads keep making bone head mistakes. So here it is Repub leadership, get your act together, grow a pair and start demanding a conservative moderator or someone competent like the first Fox sponsored debate to ask questions about subjects we want to hear the candidates talk about, i.e. reveal their positions. No more settling, take control of your future. Failing that, just concede the election now and save everyone a lot of money because I'm fed up.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
c5...
December 12, 2007 - 21:38 ET by Clear thinkerWill you include Fox news in the "liberal media" catagory?
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/ Rush then stated that the conse
I believe the Fox News
December 13, 2007 - 16:07 ET by Cape Conservativedebate with Brit Hume was the best conducted in the entire campaign year, both parties included! It was handled professionally from the initial questioning, advice on time left, to keeping any discourse civil.
I couldn't be happier than with Fred Thompson's response yesterday! I have been waiting and waiting for someone to finally demand respect, and he did! And he wasn't rude in so doing, either. And there was NO tantrum! The msm cannot stand to be shown as the biased liberal left they are, and that's why they are constantly finger-pointing.
Keep up the good work, Fred. Your supporters are cheering you on, even from the bluest of blue states in the union! You are the true conservative amongst the Republicans and you must keep emphasizing that fact!!!
Thanks!
PS When I looked at and listened to the Des Moines moderator, all I could think of was that she was a prime example of what is sitting behind the desk at our msm/pbs media offices all across the land...and she fit my perceived image to a "t" - a dissatisfied woman, with a bias that cannot be hidden toward any and all conservative thinkers, trying to explain to "us" common folk what "they" (the liberal intelligentia) are saying and what we should think about it.
Editor of the Des Moines Register
December 12, 2007 - 19:21 ET by ThisnThatShe's editor of the paper. Very apparant that she's not a good editor, given her choice of questions to include (and to exclude).
Raise your hands??? Does this mean your answer is no, Mr. Thompson? No, you can't speak!
Did this woman have an agenda? You bet she did. Why do Republicans put up with this crap? They need to stop all debates at these forums, and simply ask Fox News to host all of them from now on.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
TnT... Hear!
December 12, 2007 - 19:33 ET by bigtimerTnT...
Hear! Hear!
Could not agree more....
Why do Republicans put up
December 12, 2007 - 23:40 ET by motherbeltWhy do Republicans put up with this crap?
Because they know the media will flay them 6 ways from Sunday if they don't. Because they think by playing the game the way the liberal MSM wants them to, they might get a fair shake. Because apparently they don't have the testosterone to refuse.
mb,
December 12, 2007 - 23:45 ET by BlondeSince you & I are the duct tape ladies here.....
I suspect we need to pass it around at the next (R) debate....let them get it on...and throw the duct tape at the lib moderators. That's what I would have done.
Although I have to give Fred credit for not doing the "hand raising" thing.
Next time...throw the bloody duct tape at the lib moderator....better yet, cap them in the knee with a really great conservative question.
I am sick of these libs controlling our discussion.
Well and truly.
I'm a lady...but I'm sick and tired of the inanity shoved down our throats by these liberals.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Evening mb... I just
December 12, 2007 - 23:53 ET by bigtimerEvening mb...
I just hope, (maybe you know) if these debates were already agreed to months ago?
I just hope that they have a clue by the General election...and go for Fox, possibly Russert or Brian Lamb and C-SPAN for the debates or NOTHING ...nevertheless they had better have learned something by now.
Well a gal can hope.
Sister Mary Elephant
December 12, 2007 - 19:24 ET by Gat New YorkI watched this debate and this so-called moderator.
All I could think about was Cheech & Chong’s Sister Mary Elephant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk5UnA7aQ4s
You mean, "Claaaass,
December 12, 2007 - 19:43 ET by Chris NormanYou mean, "Claaaass, claaaaass, SHUT UP!!!! Thank you." :)
Where did they dig her up from?
December 12, 2007 - 20:03 ET by Gat New YorkThat is pretty much what she told Fred Thompson when he asked if he could answer instead of raising his hand. She sternly said, "No you may not."
Well, she does resemble one
December 12, 2007 - 20:05 ET by Chris NormanWell, she does resemble one of the humorless biddies one sees on public television.
aww be nice
December 12, 2007 - 21:28 ET by UndercoverConservativeit's nothing a few hours with a *real man* couldn't cure. perhaps she's unhappy with the feminazi brainwashing. :P
"Where did they dig her up
December 12, 2007 - 23:41 ET by motherbelt"Where did they dig her up from?"
I don't know, but you could see shovel marks on her.
Like I said on OT... She
December 12, 2007 - 19:31 ET by bigtimerLike I said on OT...
She must be related to Hillary...
Talk about a cold fish, ice queen ect.
I also commented on Fred's not raising his hand, which I thought was great and broke up laughing saying ...you danged right Thompson....outloud to nobody...hehehee!
Btw...McCain made me sick with his answers about Global Warming which is what this was about, and most of the rest did too.
Iowa in the middle of an ice storm and this was the big issue, she said not going to talk about illegal immigration...
She was really bad, PBS..whats new.
Thompson
December 12, 2007 - 20:56 ET by stratmanI saw Katie Couric's question with the candidates segment on (very) late night CBC news. She asked if the threat of Global Warming is over-hyped. Most candidates on the Left thought the warnings were not strong enough. All the Republican candidates thought Global Warming was real and that Man was the major driver of the warming EXCEPT for Thompson who gave the ONLY negatory answer to the Perky One:
Huckabee almost gave no answer, but then delivered the goods for Katie as if a registered Democrat, calling for cap and trade and "declare" "oil free" in a decade. The words sound nice but maybe you should sort this out "scientifically", as you alluded, before spending our money. But Mike's was not the biggest flip-flop of the answers...
The funniest line of the segment was delivered by the "pure and good" Hilary:
So, we have time but must act now! I voted for it before I voted against it. Whatever is is. Flippity-floppity obfuscation hard at work.
See the vidiot and read the transcript (very unprofessionally done) here.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Another dreadful debate
December 12, 2007 - 19:37 ET by Jack BauerAnother dreadful debate summed up by two words: Alan Keyes. Anyone gotta clue what he was doing there?
I do blame the Republicans though. They seem to be remarkably CLUELESS in laying down ground rules.
Note to Presidential candidates, the debate organizers actually NEED YOU all to turn up. How about showing a little uh -- backbone.
How about stating right now that whoever wins the nomination will only take part in any Presiential debates with the Democrat, if one venue is organized by FOX News. And that CNN will not be tolerated because of its underhand behavior.
In other words Re: her GW / man-made GW question that ...
December 12, 2007 - 19:47 ET by drillanwrfired up Thompson, et al,
“Show of hands please … How many of you beat your wives, and how many of you believe wife beating is wrong?”
Possibly Newsbusters could
December 12, 2007 - 19:47 ET by BuffNBonePossibly Newsbusters could help shape a future debate. Or at least contribute some of the questions.
I propose we create a thread(s) concerning questions we would like to see asked. Then after we have developed the pool of questions, we use the blog's polling capability to rank order them within their topics. We could even identify to whom the questions should be asked.
Nay sayers could say this may take away the element of surprise for the candidates. But truth be told we're getting pretty much canned and cutsey responses already. This way at least we could hear responses to things we are concerned about.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
They forgot "obnoxious",
December 12, 2007 - 20:28 ET by fitzfongThey forgot "obnoxious", "condescending", "rude", "partisan" and "disinterested" among other things. And her moderating wasn't the only part that was like paint drying...did you get a load of her makeup application?
I noticed that too....
December 12, 2007 - 21:08 ET by doug1950I thought it might just be me but I thought her make up made her look like a crack whore or a character out of a Chuckie movie.
Luntz group set-up?
December 12, 2007 - 21:04 ET by Clear thinkerOne of the "independent" focus group members who was interviewed by Fox News was Nathan Burd. If you watched the focus group, you should recognize him when you see this picture of him standing right next to Romney.
http://www.evangelic...
Burd is the founder of a group called 'Americans for Mitt'. Undecided? Yeah, right.
The Focus Group was clearly set up.
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/ Rush then stated that the conse
Every Action Should Have An Equal And Opposite Reaction
December 13, 2007 - 00:10 ET by Intellectual HonestyWhat would have been a good angle for one of the candidates to take was to have studied up on the editorial positions of the moderator's newspaper (liberal is my understanding) and briefly mention said opinion as the way not to deal with said issue.
So when the moderator talked about Global Warming (and after the justified refusal of Thompson) say something to the effect of, "Well what I first wouldn't do is declare the global warming debate is over like your newspaper's editorial staff did two month's ago."
...or...
"I would not limit the question to "Is Global Warming caused by humans or not?" like your editorial staff did two month's ago."
...or...
"There are many questions that need to be asked as opposed to the one question you just asked that your editorial staff recently concurred with: Is the planet warming? Are humans the main culprits? If humans are then what is the remedy? How long does the remedy have to prove itself true? How far are we willing to dictate human activity before the cure is far more worse than the desease?"
Also:
"Hillary Clinton's position is in synch with your newspaper's editorial on ....."
"I remember reading your newspaper's view on _______ and I have to say that I completely disagree."
"Your newspaper's editorial board never seemed to have a problem with any citizen that holds the same view on Global Warming. They are given as much weight as a scientist. But if someone disagrees then they are an ostrich with their heads in the sand. A rube."
''If the teachers, professors, scientists, school presidents, union members all belong to one side of the political spectrum, a spectrum your editorial board is in synch with, then wouldn't it seem to follow that their power, advancement must stay in synch with the political positions of the party that agrees with that political philosophy?"
You get the gist. The whole idea is to gently, sometimes bluntly, hint/say what ideological angle the moderator, network etc. is coming from.
SMUG
December 13, 2007 - 01:01 ET by LiveFreeOrDieAnother high-tech lynching of republicans who desire to prevent the Marxist take over of America. This rigid debate format looked like the trials at Nuremberg with a Treblinka interrogator as moderator. For those who are REAL slow on the uptake, there is a media bias and it swings WAY to the godless left. Beware the government/media complex. Where did they find that dreadful bulldagger?
Prediction...
December 13, 2007 - 01:04 ET by Clear thinkerThe Dems get to tango tomorrow with the same moderator with the same set-up. Who wants to wager that it goes a lot different for the Dems?
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
Ct... Of course it will
December 13, 2007 - 01:09 ET by bigtimerCt...
Of course it will be different...and to think I have to go out of town and miss all the fun...
I'm sure I will be filled in here later though...heheheee
bt...
December 13, 2007 - 01:11 ET by Clear thinkerHave a safe trip!
Night all.
BTW...Fred won the debate!
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
Thanks Ct... Catch ya on
December 13, 2007 - 01:15 ET by bigtimerThanks Ct...
Catch ya on the other side.
Later...
Thompson/Hunter '08!
LiveFree - SO TRUE !!
December 13, 2007 - 01:11 ET by MrShySo true! I don't have a working TV, but I'm seeing all these screen grabs and thinking "man, what's with the all-black background, and this woman who looks like Death?"
Meanwhile, back at the DNC/Clinton Headquarters of CNN, all the most cutting-edge and hip designers/effects people were hired for that "estravagaaaaanza"...
"No wonder I turned out so amazingly amazing."
-- Leon (Robin to Professor TP&C's Batman)
MrS... ...don't know if
December 13, 2007 - 01:13 ET by bigtimerMrS...
...don't know if you caught any of my posts from much earlier but I swear Hillary and that leftist cold fish have got to be related somehow...
Maybe from a long line from Sir Hillary eh?
Media Magic
December 13, 2007 - 02:29 ET by LiveFreeOrDieThe republicans have no one to blame but themselves if they surrender control of production value to the media host. (80% of the media admit to being liberal and will always choose to sabotage republicans.) Just look at the CNN debate, nothing but Kamikaze neo-fascist fighters, all fellow Marxist travelers. As for death, yes it is fitting that the moderator looked like death as she is representing the growing portion of our culture who are no more than death worshippers. See Folsom Street Fair, Girls beating girls videos and now pay per view actual committing of crimes. God has a funny way of outsmarting the death cult (which the new democrat party is) and despite all of the smoke and mirror attempts to make them look palatable, God makes them look like just what they are. It's getting VERY late.