I missed the debates last night - in a nutshell what did ABC do

[LynneSin]

other than the usual non-news stuff

[babylonsister]

1. Here's a good wrap-up. ABC got lots and lots of angry mail.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=108&topic_id=129349&mesg_id=129349

[Adelante]

2. Read all about it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5546511

[AspenRose]

3. Here's a humorous take

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5541695

[cyberpj]

4. Hi LynneSin

Greetings from Florida

Here's the short version:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5541695

Have a great Saturday! :hi:

[Shakespeare]

5. Here's a link to Salon's review (very even-handed)...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/04/17/dem_debate/

And http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com also has a good analysis.

In short, ABC should be ashamed. Here's the best line from Shapiro's (Salon's) review:

"Broadcast to a prime-time network audience on ABC and devoid of a single policy question during its opening 50 minutes . . . ."

[Kajsa]

8. Excellent review from Salon, Shakespeare.

I've saved it.

Thanks so much for the link!

:D

[Shakespeare]

11. Tom Shales' review in the Washington Post was also very good.

But I'm too lazy to go get the link right now. I think TPM has it linked on their front page. :hi:

[Kajsa]

15. Got it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041700013.html?hpid=topnews


Thanks, it is good.

:)

[Kajsa]

18. Shakespeare, it made the Greatest Page!

check it out
;-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5542150

:hi:

[Quixote1818]

6. Imagine if Joe McCarthy was one of the moderators and came up with the questions

and you will pretty much have the debate in a nutshell.

[Armstead]

7. Take your worst assumptions and magnify them

George Steph tries to promote himself by "breaking" the news that Obama sorta kinda knows some 60's terrorist radical who is a neighbor.

Hillary amplifies Step's nonsense.

[babylonsister]

10. And GS got his talking points from Hannity. Go figure. nt

[SoFlaJet]

9. they just basically sucked

big time Lynne

[SoCalDem]

12. She admitted she lied.. she said he could win and the hosts sucked

That's about all I gathered from the post-mortems..

I was busy and missed the whole thing..

[Buzz Clik]

13. I missed the first 60 minutes, which were supposedly horrible. What I saw:

1. The first comments I heard were from Obama (I didn't hear the question). Obama was suggestion some aspect of a tax plan and his view on estate taxes. Gibson stated flatly and argumentatively that repealing estate taxes ALWAYS stimulates the economy. I actually didn't know who was moderating at this time; I swore to God it was Rush Limbaugh, and I had watched a grand total of 45 seconds of the "debate".

1. Gibson asked a question about social security. Obama began his comments about how he'd fix it. Gibson interrupted him in the first 20 seconds with some editorial comment about whether or not Obama's suggestion actually being a tax.

2. Gibson questioned Obama about his views on gun control, particularly considering that Obama, as state senator, had his handwriting on legislation that would ban handguns. Obama had to correct TWO misstatements in Gibson's inflammatory question.

3. After correcting Gibson's horrible gaffe, Obama went on to answer his quetion. Stephanopoulos tossed a couple of questions to Clinton, and Gibson said, "Well, with all due respect, and I'm not sure I got an answer from Senator Obama. But do you still favor licensing and registration of handguns?"

I was friggin' shocked. Tim Russert is known to be relentless and aggressive in his questions, but this was simply argumentative and inflammatory. You'd think that Gibson was one of the participants, not the moderator.

[LSK]

14. started out with "bitter"

Then moved on to Reverend Wright.

Asked if Reverend Wright was patriotic.

Asked Hillary if she hears sniper fire.

Asked Obama why he doesnt wear the flag pin.

Asked Obama about his best friend from weatherunderground.
.
Thats about 1 hour into it. Now rush through real issues except a timeout to lecture Obama on why taxes are bad.

[demokatgurrl]

16. We didn't miss a thing ( I didn't watch it either). n/t

[Life Long Dem]

17. It took the moderators over an hour to ask a single question on policy

Need we say more?

[americanstranger]

19. TPM has a condensed version.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/189602.php

I didn't watch last night - I was out of the house all night.

But watching TPM's version was bad enough. Watching it in real time must have felt like a slow-motion car wreck.

- as