After last night's embarrassing spectacle, the wingnuts are predictably in no mood to talk about how pathetic their candidates looked. Cue the two minutes of liberal media hate!
Pajamas Media: (updated)
What we really saw tonight was CNN playing out its own agenda in front of a couple million viewers and seven or eight candidates, without anyone calling them on it.
This is utterly ridiculous. CNN should be incredibly ashamed and people should be fired over this.
This was a classic CNN con job.
They chose the questions so once again we get the liberal's perspective of conservatism.
They can't do much else -- it was a total freak show. As the liberal Weekly Standard notes,
So, a good night for for the lowest denominator, a bad night for the GOP. America got to see a vaguely threatening parade of gun fetishists, flat worlders, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers as well as various one issue activists hammering their pet causes. My cheers went to a listless Fred Thompson who easily qualified himself to be president in my book by looking all night like he would cheerfully trade his left arm for an early exit off the stage to a waiting Scotch and good Cuban cigar. The media will probably award a win to Mike Huckabee, the easy listening music candidate at home in any crowd, fluent in simpleton speak and the one man on the stage tonight who led the audience to roaring cheers by boasting that he had a special qualification to be president that none of the second-raters on the stage could match: A degree in Bible Studies from Ouachita Baptist University of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Ouch.
UPDATE
John Cole's take:
ZOMG! CNN let people other than Republicans ask questions during the debate last night! And some of them have even declared support for DHIMMOCRATS! Take it away, Michelle:
Update: More plant excavation…Abortion questioner is a declared Edwards’ supporter… and the Log Cabin Republican questioner is a declared Obama supporter…and lead toy questioner is a union activist for the John Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers.
Oh NOES
!
Despite earlier stating that “the questions were almost all coherent and well-framed,” we now have a full fledged SCANDAL because not everyone who asked a question at the debate had taken the Virginia GOP Loyalty Oath!
Seriously- I can’t even parody these lunatics anymore.
It's getting harder and harder -- that's for sure.
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EPU’d from last thread:
More on Turley’s Randi Rhodes appearance from Arthur Silber:
powerofnarrative link [link repaired by moderator]
‘Mornin Blue Texan!
In addition to all the specifics about what was wrong, I also agree with BooMan on the general feeling:
http://www.boomantribune.com/s...../3847/4491
eCAHNomics @ 2
Thanks
so…. let me see if i have this straight….
we hate cnn when they host the D presidential debates and right wing blogs hate cnn when cnn hosts the R presidential debates.
so why does cnn have anything to do with presidential debates?
eCAHNomics @ 2
link not working
selise @ 6
Oh, because CNN has the best political minds on teevee…./s
eCAHNomics @ 4
OT - but following up from the last thread - I did follow your suggestion with TPM - doing my little bit for the cause *g*.(I’m not sure if the world is ready for “hard-boiled detective accountant” - but they ARE out there)
“Freak show.” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I like it. How true. And as Thompson pretty gently pointed out, does Giuliani have any shame - harping on the fact that Romney hired someone who wasn’t legal. Nothing as bad as his buddie Bernie. How could he even bring this up?
A degree in Bible Studies from Ouachita Baptist University of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
With honors and shit?
Just to follow up on the “freak show” theme. It occurs to me that at the democratic You Tube debate, it was some of the questioners who were freaks. At the GOP YouTube debate it was the candidates.
I held my nose and watched a large portion of the debate. I thought McCain did pretty well - especially on torture and fiscal responsibility. Another interesting note: Bush was not mentioned yet every candidate was trying to out Bush Bush. Have to love that for the General elections. Being that Bush has had the lowest approval rating for the longest period of time in history. You also have to love how the Rightists have to blame CNN. Romney and Giuliani’s smack-down over immigration set the tone. It basically went like this: I know you are but what am I? This was before any You-Tube questions were started. But you know it was CNN’s fault that the GOP candidates looked petty, small-minded and completely out of touch with reality. Sure, that’s it.
Hucksterbee on hardball tonight
it will turn into a bash Hillary event –with Tweety praising Huckster for his ability to be the Ark attack dog and pressing the idea that he would be the ideal vp against a Hillary ticket
Tweety is such a fraud. Claiming Huck hasn’t gotten indepth coverage –but he will provide none
kdh22 @ 8
lol.
seriously though, it’s got to be the choice of the dnc, the rnc and the candidates themselves
because as bad as the debates are (hosted by cnn et al.), can you imagine a debate hosted by amy goodman (is there an equivalent on the right?)? that is something, i suspect, none of the candidates or parties would want.
snowbird42 @ 7
Maybe it didn’t survive c&P. Try this
http://powerofnarrative.blogsp.....ou-so.html
Looks like we’ll need some strict constructionists to criminalize dancing.
kdh22 @ 8
Modified for the talking heads @ CNN who might need reminding where the emphasis should be placed. *g*
I took an immediate loathing to that “declaration” when it first appeared….am now minus some portion of tooth enamel from the grinding that occurs every time it gets repeated (from blitzer especially).
All CNN did was show that the GOP-leaning primary voters have priorities way out of whack with most of the American public.
This is what happens when a party has gone so far off the rails that only 25% are still on board. Only the nutjobs remain.
katherine Graham Cracker @ 14
I guess the scent of Aqua Velva finally wore off,
and Tweety is off to his next homo-erotic obsession..
Just listened to wnyc coverage on Rudy’s billing practices. Apparently NYC taxpayers also paid for security on his senate race. According to the report, he offered to reimburse the NYPD, but they declined. On the show, they seemed to think that was the end of it. But somehow, I doubt that. Blood in the water, ya know.
According to Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning, that gay Brig-General who asked the question about gays in the military was an implant from Hillary’s campaign. Which of course will rile the Repugs even more against her.
When the Wingnut Daily says Republicans suck, they REALLY suck.
Here’s the latest bombshell about Giuliani from his nemesis, Wayne Barrett, in the Village Voice:
My favorite was the bible guy’s challenge. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? DO YOU? DO YOU BELIEVE?
Awesome!
Biodun @ 22
and yet
for those who still care about the general and his connection to the Clinton campaign - here’s his interview with John Roberts.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/vid.....e.wrap.cnn
There’s no smoke there. He’s a registered Independent, his name is on her GLBT steering committee, but he hasn’t done any work on it and was not put up by the Clinton campaign.
Posted by: pogo | November 29, 2007 10:22 AM
the wingnuts prefer the liars from nbc and msgop
Biodun @ 22
Lauer (like KKKKatie) are Republicans. Both also perhaps in part for family reasons, are MidEast war hawks.
“America got to see a vaguely threatening parade of gun fetishists, flat worlders, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers”
Ahhh….a drive through my subdivision.
Blue Texan @ 25
It would’ve been even more awesome for one of the candidates to shoot Article VI of the Constitution right back at him; you know, the part that outlaws religious tests?
Well, civics never was a GOP strong point…
selise @ 15
I guess this is
your brain on drugsthe debate they want. Isn’t the reason the League of Women Voters got out of the presidential debatin’ business because the candidates and the parties wanted to control everything including the podium size?Rudy was like a deer in the headlights on that question.
Ed*ard Teller @ 28
707!
I gotta agree with the wingnuts to an extent: The questions CNN selected were SILLY. It was like their goal was to allow the Gopers to paint themselves as completely out of touch with everybody but the religious wackos.
If that was CNN’s goal, they succeeded.
Boxturtle(Granted, the GOPers helped a lot)
“America got to see a vaguely threatening parade of gun fetishists, flat worlders, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers.”
AKA:
The Base
CNN just let the goopers be themselves.
What about the questions they asked Democrats?
what a bunch of whinny babies –too bad your candidates suck. You should have thought about that before you decided to cast your lot with Shrubco and refuse to cut him off.
Boxturtle @ 33
When the cameras panned the
faithfulaudience last night during thecircusdebate, did anyone else notice the glazed-over, hypnotic look on the faces of the spectators? It was a Stepford townhall meeting momement for me.Gee, they really do sound unhappy. But in a way, I do sympathize. The debates are crappy. Their candidate field is weak.
Not to mention that conservatism itself is in somewhat of a shambles these days.
On the upside, they’re taking important steps to address all these issues. They’re forcefully sitting down, and powerfully whining at the keyboard.
All the more reason to keep beating the drum whose sound is: “If you thought the last seven years under the Republicans was bad, voting for them again will only make things worse.”
Biodun @ 24
Wayne Barrett is a terrier with a rat - he won’t let go and the rat can’t get away. And the rat’s name? Rudy.
I have ventured into the abyss of Right Wing Blogosphere and I have surmised:
CNN is now the Fox equivalent to Liberals.
The RNC should be out in force protesting this because that’s what Howard Dean would do if Fox News pulled this on the Dems.
Ron Paul is a traitor for claiming we should have never been in Vietnam either.
That is was a random act of the Gods that Grover Norquist and Buzz Brockway were allowed to ask questions.
That the undecided Republican candidate who was asked if she was closer to making up her mind responded with if John Edwards is on the other Ticket, I would vote for him, was a CNN operative plant.
Should we send them some Cheese?
kdh22 @ 36
moment, not momement (is that even a word???)
Did we ever find out whether rudyrudyrudy preferred pearls or diamonds. Enquiring minds want to know.
katherine Graham Cracker @ 26
I think it was tweety on call-in to scar this morning who was jumpin’ up and down with this lie… with joyful relish. Par for the course. :-(
Boxturtle @ 33
One of the questioners was on wnyc. He thought the Q selected were representative of the topics of interest & that they were quite good. The reporter on the segment thought that the debate sounded just like the R town meetings with R prez candidates that she’d attended.
So, if you believe those reports, last nite’s debate portrayed the true R party. No wondeer they didn’t like it.
eCAHNomics @ 2
Thanks for the link. Sad but true, I think.
I liked this, that I read on the WaPo comments section…
Like watching a group of idiots reorganizing the deck chairs on the Titanic.
IrishJim -
I have ventured into the abyss of Right Wing Blogosphere and I have surmised:
[snip]
Thank you for going there….so those of us with blood pressure problems don’t have to!
Toby Wollin @ 39
fixed your typo ;)
nomolos @ 42
Definitely diamonds kind of guy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18108978/
eCAHNomics @ 4
They probably already know that Iran is coming, and that standing on that podium meant only going through the motion(movement) that DeadEye decided upon.
Rudy destroyed himself last night, Romney too. I doubt they can recover with independents. If I was a gooper, I’d be looking for a gun. [Mod note: let’s not go there]
So, if you believe those reports, last nite’s debate portrayed the true R party. No wondeer they didn’t like it.
Break the mirror, break the mirror!
eCAHNomics @ 44
So, therefore, CNN gave the participants exactly what they wanted and what they were looking for - those three or four topics are the only things of interest to them.
What do the Chinese say, “Be careful what you wish for?”
Well, the GOP has spent the last 10-15 years stirring the pot on these items - they have made these items the priorities…and now they have a party made up of people who have no other interests but these.
That’s tough, guys.
katherine Graham Cracker @ 14
I don’t watch Tweety anymore. Ever since he decided it was his solemn duty to take Hillary down, he makes me sick. And when she’s elected, he won’t matter.
Just now going back through the threads from last night and found this from Jane:
“Grandpa Fred looks like he’d rather be taking a nap.”
But the first time I read it I coulda’ sworn it said, “Grandpa Fred looks like he’d rather be taking a crap.”
Betcha I wasn’t the only one to read it that way. heh.
wnyc: 3% of Blacks said they’d consider voting in R SC primary.
Missed the debate. Did anyone ask the candidates if they would honor the Clusterfuck non treaty treaty for permanent bases in Iraq- or was that too political?
wnyc: flying Confederate flag in SC is a litmus test.
Even Salon seems to be buying into the wingnut meme:
IrishJim @ 40
Sure. Go ahead. You apparently have an excess you need to get rid of.
wnyc: More than half the voters in the SC D primary will be Black. Oprah is campaigning for Obama there.
Huckle-Bee in the lead in Iowa according to Rasmussen—gooper analysts claim that this is good for Rudy cause it keeps Romney from gaining a head of steam….
No one wants to say that it’s good for Huckle-
Bee- cause no one wants to take him seriously…perhaps they better.
Are we done with Hunter and Tancredo now?
I always thought Mitt Romney was a handsome guy. I’ve read the sorts of things that come out of his mouth, but to hear them is something else. As the evening wore on, he became uglier and uglier, and by the end of the evening, he looked scary.
IrishJim @ 40
I retract my previous comment. Misunderstood your post.
mc @ 55
Is it any surprise that Grampa Fred (notice how his nickname has changed from Fredrick of Hollywood. The close-up shots told the true story, lol) premiered the first attack ad? Time is not on Grampa’s side. I guess he wanted to get one out there just in case he doesn’t have another opportunity to do so.
Grampa Fred, why is Grandma Jeri wearing that slutty dress?
eCAHNomics @ 56
Whoa! Given the defections from the Republicans they could actually take control of the Party!
Freddie may not be gettin enough naps.
Marcus Aurelius @ 60
I am sorry you are so bitter. Perhaps you should seek therapy on your projecting of a dead Roman Emperor issue.
cinnamonape @ 66
As well as the D party! see me@61.
eCAHNomics @ 58
Butuyric Acid or Lye?
Here’s the Perfect Xmas Gift for that Very Special “Conservative” in your life
Talk about not getting your facts straight. Can’t PJ media even count, or is anything above the number two, too high for them?
Seven or eight candidates? You would think a wingnut would know how many of their candiates were on the podium.
More from Salon’s War Room:
(Same link as my 58.)
And speaking of Plants here’s an ideal “stocking stuffer”!
Marcus Aurelius @ 64
Ditto that for my snarkiness above.
IrishJim @ 67
Did you catch my apology?
I yam what I yam.
David Ehrenstein @ 74
Niiiice! I know just the person…
Finally, here’s a link to Towleroad where you’ll find the clip of the General and a transcript of his remarks.
cinnamonape @ 70
Further discussion on that issue involved Brian Lehrer asking guest (Leroy Chapman, government and politics editor at The State, the largest newspaper in South Carolina) how big a % that was. He replied that he didn’t know, but that even a small group voting on a single issue could influence the outcome, citing the R one-term governor who failed for relection on the basis of his stand to remove the Confederate flag from public buildings.
Hagel takes on the Bush Administration. This is kinda fun.
Marcus Aurelius @ 76
Yes, mine too is above.
Huckster du be simple. Sounds a bit over-qualified.
And back to Giuliani and his special al-Qaeda friend:
In the weeks and months to come, more bombshells will be disclosed about this guy that will sink him for sure.
(Same link as my 24.)
wnyc: immigrants (legal & illegal) contribute slightly more to NYS economy than they are as % of population.
huckabee had the nerve to say god wrote things in the bible he didn’t want you to understand
something like “if you can understand what god wrote you have a small god”
kind of retarded but that actually recieved applause
rwc
I have maintaine the Aw-Shucks Huckaby is the best chance the Repubs have.
Possibly because any remaining Rs with an ounce of sense know that their party is a wildfire, and you can’t rise from the ashes until the fire has burned down.
biff diggerence @ 17
Ahhhh, the old joke…
Why are Baptists against sex standing up?
They’re afraid it’ll lead to dancing.
Wow, someone over at HuffPo just called Jane a “journalist”.
Not sure if she was just complimented or insulted.
America got to see a vaguely threatening parade of gun fetishists, flat worlders, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers as well as various one issue activists hammering their pet causes.
The Republican party ever since Ronald Reagan, and arguably America.
And speaking of Plants here’s an ideal “stocking stuffer”!
Love those customer images!
Pectopah @ 88
I called her an ejournalist, so as to upgrade her status.
Loo Hoo @ 80
thanks Loo Hoo! I’m going to digg it
Think Progress permalink
digg this one, too
If goopers lose the White House- then it will become important to define what flavor of gooper was responsible for the loss.
The tax cutter goopers would like it to be Hucklebee- so they can kick that faction out of the driver’s seat- the chriso-fascist goopers would like it to be a Wall Street type- so they can blame the mess on the other wing of the party….
Decisions, decisions!!
Today’s my birthday. I’ve got the day off but other than that, whoopie.
The excerpt from Richelieu’s Weekly Standard blog is nowhere near as funny as the whole thing. I wonder by a WS blogger would use the name Richelieu. (snark) If my memory serves me well he was about the most corrupt Catholic cardinal evah. Wasn’t Dumas’ “Three Musketeers” about fighting his henchmen?
He’s right about one thing. I was outside the debate with St Pete For Peace and a host of other groups and we were deluged by the Ron Paul howling loons. They marched up and down the sidewalks shouting “Ron Paul blah blah blah” all evening. I did manage a brief polite exchange with John Roberts of CNN as he walked by me at a crosswalk. The homeless have been camped out at the venue for the last four days. It seems the Rethug women can’t stand the sight of the homeless. I heard a number of comments from women as they passed by, none of them kind. These people have about a much compassion as a mad water moccasin. One of the Ron Paul loons asked me if I was going to vote for Paul and I told him I don’t vote for racists. I thought he was going to have a heart attack in front of me. Good thing I know CPR. I didn’t see many chickenhawks outside the venue. I guess they all wanted to be inside with the rest of the lunatics. Great turnout, though. I’d say 200-300 people, maybe more. There was one Army second lieutenant limping around confronting protesters but for some reason avoided me like the plague. Must have been the cammies and ribbons. They don’t want to confront anyone who just may know what he/she is talking about. Only three arrests and two were for being stupid. One guy did his civil disobedience thing by sitting in the roadway (which was blocked off for blocks so he wasn’t blocking anything and wasn’t gonna get run over) but the other two wanted to play catch me if you can with the heat. And got caught. Not my idea of going to jail for justice.
Off to try to finish Fisk’s “The Great War For Civilisation.” That’s what days off are for, right?
wnyc: 5% of upstate (NY) population are foreign born, but 35% of upstate doctors are foreign born.
I haven’t seen much discussion on the; “Would your Vice-President have as much power as Dick Cheney?” question.
Fred went into the well it is a dual role mantra…….trailed off into unintelligble ramblings.
McCain said it was Bush’s lack of National Security experience that forced Bush to give Cheney so much power but that McCains VP would only have as much power as he would allocate to them.
I do not recall any other candidates answering this question.
I like this from Fred:
A freak show.
Hey SouthernDragon
Happy happy birthday.
Freddie’s guns are from the spanish american war- he bought em new.
Happy Birthday SouthernDragon!
musicsleuth @ 30
yes… and iirc, to exclude third party candidates from the general election debates (see ross perot).
eCAHNomics @ 16
Worked fine!!
Isnt this the smoking gun!!! What more do we need to hear than “Our leaders wont lead?”
I am having trouble even thinking of asking our Dems to do our bidding when they wont and its already decided!!!.