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Web only video at:

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/11/19/open-thread-thanksgiving-family-forum-non-debate/

The feed on hot air is embedded from the site called citizens link.

The moderator is Frank Luntz.

My reaction posted elsewhere:

I’m groping for one word that describes what I just saw. Stunned? Perhaps. And not in good ways in some respects.

I've never seen a Presidential debate or forum quite like this. Perhaps they occur and are more common than I’m aware of.

Maybe it was a problem with my expectation. It was after all a Family Forum. There’s no surprise that social issues would be the overriding subject/theme for such a forum. But this?

Don’t get me wrong – there are some positive things that could be gained from this event I guess. Will all the land now know that Republicans do indeed have hearts? Perhaps it served to highlight that these candidates do really passionately believe in some of their causes – and that there is some real life experiences that form the basis for their passions (vs, cynical political calculations). Beyond that I don’t know what I was supposed to gain here. Maybe somebody could clue me in?

I can’t get a few things out of me head. Was that Frank Luntz or Oprah Winfrey? Dr. Phil? Billy Graham? Another thought that crossed my mind – was this a contest to determine who could conjure up the best tear jerker?

Maybe I’m warped…

Don’t get me wrong, I’m for alternative debate formats. I found the Gingrinch/Cain pseudo Douglas-Lincoln to be pretty useful. There was another held in South Carolina a while back that was also pretty good. I’m just not sure that I’ll be interested in future debates overly steeped in emotionalism instead of rational, logical, discussions of issues and solutions.

Still trying to come to grips with what I thought about this event. But that was my initial take.

I suppose I should expect some flaming...