[counterpunch]

Do you think Fred’s smackdown of Micheal Moore was one of Fred’s defining moments ?

No. You're missing the point about the defining moments.
What is defining about such a moment is that they come at a time in the campaign that confirms or dispels the stereotype of a candidate that has been building over time. Like the video of John Edwards primping his hair.

You see, the significance of a defining moment is that in a single instant, a quip, or gesture, a look, an exchange, everything suspected or supposed about a candidate is either forever reinforced or shattered and rendered powerless. A defining moment for Fred could be him getting in an interviewer's face and intimidating them Lyndon Johnson-style into apologizing for insulting his "trophy" wife. That would clinch the nomination for him if he did it at the right time and opportunity. It would show that he has that "fire in the belly" and he's not going to take crap from anyone.

 

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I don't know about you, but, when Fred did his smack down of Micheal Moore, we could have heard a collective " Hoorah !! way to go Fred " ..
That my friend was a conservative's defining moment, with also the smack down of that liberal moderator at the last debate.
What those 2 moments told conservatives was ? that Fred is not going to take no crap from the MSM and speak his mind.