Schieffer and the extensions

[erpowers]

Is it just me or did Schieffer extend each time the question was addressed to Bush and very barely when the question was addressed to Kerry? It seemed to me that on just about every occasion when Bush got the question first and Kerry was able to rebut, Schieffer extened the debate about the question to allow Bush to say more things. Kerry was also allowed to speak during the extension, but it seems unfair to me in that Schieffer it seemed as if Schieffer either never did the same for Kerry or very barely did the same thing for Kerry. Does anyone have a different view? Did Schieffer really gives more extensions to Bush than Kerry?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. All 4 debates were like this.

I thought this one was better than the Gwen Ifill debate. She was horrible.

[GalleryGod]

6. Ifill? Condi's Secret Sorority Sistuh!

I left the room when she asked Edwards if their position on foreign policy seemed "NAIVE" ? Could've used 3 dozen words in there...I bet she took that query right from a Condi E-Mail.

[charlie]

2. You know what I want to see?

To hell with these moderated "debates"!

I want all candidates shipped overseas for a full week of Question Time before the British Parliament. The lesser smoking ruin that comes back gets to be President.

[Alpharetta]

3. I noticed a few times last nite Schaeffer refused extensions for Bush

I never noticed Bush even ask Gwen for extensions -- he just butted right in.

I thought Schaeffer was fair. In fact, it looked to me like refusals to Bush were more numerous than the refusals to Kerry.

[NYCGirl]

9. Gwen Ifill moderated the VP debate. Bush was not involved. (eom)

Edited to add: I agree that Schieffer was just fine.

[wurzel]

4. I thought Schieffer was the worst of the moderators.

He threw questions to Bush about "faith", "family", and the "vaccine problem" which has nothing to do with anything. He even allowed Bush to ask and answer his own question. He was more pathetic than Gibson.

[Free2BMe]

5. Lehrer was the only + although Gibson was better than I..

thought he would be...we all know where GW leans (after all, look at her initials) and bs ...well those initials are telling also.

[Cocoa]

7. good band name

Bob Schieffer and the Extensions.

Seriously... Schieffer screwed Kerry on the extensions and Kerry knew it. Kerry looked knowingly off to the side toward someone in his camp, almost rolled his eyes.

[Rob H.]

8. It wouldn't be a surprise if Schieffer favored Bush

After all, they're old friends. (Muchos gracias to Bob Somerby at The Daily Howler for bringing this point up.)