Comments on: No show of hands

By: casey

casey — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:57:57 +0000

Thanks. It’s snowing here on my site until Christmas, so I’ll have a white Christmas one way or another.

By: childlife

childlife — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:35:39 +0000

Ha! That was pretty funny! Love your festive snowfall you have going on here at your place : )

By: Kansas Bob

Kansas Bob — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:13:09 +0000

I did see much of the debate and think that too much is being made of Fred’s response.. I mean really.. standing up to the editor of a newspaper.. is that the best he’s got.. and I wouldn’t criticize Romney and others that were just trying to following the rules of the debate that they agreed to.

All that said.. I could support Fred in the end.. but I don’t think that he will be the candidate.. he comes across too condescending and pompous.. I don’t think that he can really connect with people the way that others can.. I guess we will know for sure in a few months though

By: casey

casey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:43:42 +0000

LOL, Mulled Vine. I hear ya.

By: casey

casey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:38:01 +0000

Scott, it could be the system as a whole, but from what I’ve read it was the moderator in this case. I didn’t see the debate, either (I’m in Japan), but by the facial expressions and condescending tone of voice she uses in the clip, I’m inclined to believe what I’ve read. Time restrictions are great, but she’s not giving them a minute to answer the question–she’s wanting a yes or no answer to a loaded question. “Do you believe humans cause global warming?” is not a question you can answer with a “yes” or a “no” without political ramifications. It’s not a fair question, and as moderator she should be asking fair questions.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:31:37 +0000

What were these “other reasons”? I mean I didn’t see the debate so I’m just asking. Also I think that moderators that actually stick to the rules of a debate, where they make these politicians stick to however many seconds, is a good thing. Also, who’s fault is it that the question is “loaded”, the moderator’s or the system as a whole? I say B.

By: Mulled Vine

Mulled Vine — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:00:36 +0000

I didn’t see the whole interview and don’t know the context, so I’d best be quiet. I was just reminded of how hard it is to get a straight answer from politicians. The so called “explaining” is to give them dodge room, not to provide a full answer in my experience.

By: casey

casey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:46:53 +0000

Well, for one, the question is asked like these people are children. It’s also a bad question because it’s loaded. If you say no, your political opponents will say you’re in the pockets of greedy corporations who want nothing more than to destroy the planet. If you say yes, your supporters will think you’re weak and unable to stand up to the radical environmentalists. That’s why Fred wanted time to explain his answer, but the biased moderator had other reasons for asking the question, so she wouldn’t let him.

By: Mulled Vine

Mulled Vine — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:48:04 +0000

At first I thought the “awesome” bit was the inability for politicians to give a straight yes or no answer. I personally thought the question was a fair one, bias or not: in effect, do you believe global climate change is a threat that can be dealt with by changing human behaviour. Why’s that a bad question?

Forgive my ignorance of US politics BTW.

By: casey

casey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:32:51 +0000

I didn’t catch the debate. From what I read, though, it was really boring thanks to the sub-par moderator.

As for who won the debate, it depends on who you ask:
“The winner: Thompson” (American Spectator, 12/12)

“This was hands down Fred Thompson’s debate. That was the Fred I know.” (Mark Levin, 12/12)

“This guy looks like he could eat most of the rest of the field for lunch.” (Jim Geraghty, National Review Online, 12/12)