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Fred Wins, Iowa Loses [Why Carolyn Washburn should keep her day job]
The Weekly Standard ^ | Dec. 12, 2007 | by Dean Barnett

Posted on 12/12/2007 6:09:32 PM PST by jdm

HERE WE WERE on Wednesday, a nation of political junkies gathered around our televisions to watch the candidates debate each other one last time, and we had as a moderator one Carolyn Washburn, the editor of the Des Moines Register. I don't mean to go all East-coast-elitist on you; I'm sure there are people in Iowa who could capably moderate a presidential debate. Unfortunately, and obviously, Carolyn Washburn is not one of them.

The bulk of the post-debate analysis will probably focus on how maladroit Washburn was at the job. She did the impossible--she moderated the last Iowa debate between the Republican candidates before caucuses and yet saw to it that none of the candidates engaged each other. In other words, the moderator ensured that the debate would be as lively as a 12 part PBS series on "How Grass Grows." A personal aside to the Des Moines Register--"boring" is not synonymous with "serious."

The problems went beyond Washburn's lack of mad moderating skillz. From the outset, Washburn announced that the candidates would not be discussing either Iraq or immigration. Swell! It's the biggest debate of the season, so let's take the two biggest issues off the table. For what it's worth, Washburn brought all the charm to her assignment of a latter-day Nurse Ratched.

At some point, the political parties will have to begin to wonder why they entrust such a critical part of our president-choosing process to people like Carolyn Washburn, people who obviously aren't up to the task.

I've always felt it a swell thing that Iowa and New Hampshire force our politicians to engage ordinary voters on a retail level. But if the local media are going to hijack the process and ruin it, as Carolyn Washburn surely ruined today's debate, then the parties are going to have to rethink parts of the process, if not the entire thing.

Okay, enough of that. On to the winners and losers (other than the Iowa media):

THE WINNER was Fred Thompson. Fred came to play. He also had the obvious moment of the day when he took on the officious moderator, refusing to go along with one of those idiotic "raise your hands" questions. Given the hour that the debate took place, a lot of people will probably see only a highlight package of the debate. The unquestioned highlight was Fred slapping down the moderator. Even putting that aside, Fred had his best day of the campaign. He was serious, thoughtful, and authoritative. It was a wonderful day for him.

THE SILVER MEDALIST was Mitt Romney. Romney continued his fine run. Actually, the overly dry format played to his advantage. His wonkiness shines through on virtually every issue, and because there was no interplay, this debate was all about the wonkiness. His answer on education nearly broke the Luntz-o-meter.

Then there was everyone else. Huckabee was off his game. It seemed like the weight of being a frontrunner wore him down. He was overly cautious. The freewheeling jokester of past debates was but a distant memory. Rudy did alright for himself, but he had to deal with one of those "Do you still beat your wife?" questions when the moderator asked whether or not his presidential administration will be more transparent as relates to scandal than his mayoralty. And McCain assumed the Invisible Man role that Fred Thompson normally plays.

I would be remiss if I left this analysis without dedicating at least a few sentences to Alan Keyes. If moderator Washburn was Nurse Ratched, Alan Keyes was a patient who went off his meds. I'm quite confident that he broke the presidential debate record for most frequent usage of the word "womb."

To bring it full circle, Keyes's distracting presence was yet another indictment of the unworthiness of the Iowa media for the enormous role it plays in this process. Keyes isn't just a frivolous candidate for president. He's not a candidate at all. And yet he was allowed on the stage to toss bombs and to perversely whine about his lack of airtime. Thompson and Romney, alone amongst the contenders, had the good sense to use Keyes as a comic foil.

SO WHAT RIPPLES WILL today's snoozefest send forth? The YouTube debate was a seismic shindig--it heralded the arrival of Mike Huckabee as a serious candidate in this race. Today, the incompetence of the Des Moines Register's moderator may well drown out all other stories.

But Fred Thompson had a big moment when he took on that moderator, and refused to play by her idiotic rules. That moment, and his overall performance, may well reignite his campaign.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 2008; carolynwashburn; election; elections; fred; fredthompson; gopdebates; ia2008; schoolmarm; thompson; winners
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1 posted on 12/12/2007 6:09:37 PM PST by jdm
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To: Politicalmom; Petronski; SE Mom

Ping.


2 posted on 12/12/2007 6:10:42 PM PST by jdm
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To: jdm

Clearly she’s a liberal hack (I’m being extraordinarily kind here) with an agenda to push and an axe to grind.


3 posted on 12/12/2007 6:14:10 PM PST by Windcatcher
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To: jdm

She is moderating the Dem debate, watch her play nice with them.


4 posted on 12/12/2007 6:15:46 PM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping that it will eat him last..)
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To: jdm; Windcatcher; Politicalmom; All

The Des Moines Register is to the left of Pravda! Why in the world would the GOP let them and PUBLIC TELEVISION sponsor a debate?! International ANSWER and Daily Kos would probably be more fair and balanced!


5 posted on 12/12/2007 6:16:45 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Your "dirt" on Fred is about as persuasive as a Nancy Pelosi Veteran's Day Speech)
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To: jdm
THE WINNER was Fred Thompson. Fred came to play. He also had the obvious moment of the day when he took on the officious moderator, refusing to go along with one of those idiotic "raise your hands" questions. Given the hour that the debate took place, a lot of people will probably see only a highlight package of the debate. The unquestioned highlight was Fred slapping down the moderator. Even putting that aside, Fred had his best day of the campaign. He was serious, thoughtful, and authoritative. It was a wonderful day for him.

THE SILVER MEDALIST was Mitt Romney. Romney continued his fine run. Actually, the overly dry format played to his advantage. His wonkiness shines through on virtually every issue, and because there was no interplay, this debate was all about the wonkiness. His answer on education nearly broke the Luntz-o-meter

Glad to hear the grownups did well, and also glad to hear that the biggest losers and worst players in all these debates - Chris Matthews, CNN, and this - have been the liberal MSM 'moderators'. A pox on 'em.

6 posted on 12/12/2007 6:17:16 PM PST by WOSG (Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-strong defense, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism)
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To: jdm

Fred did great in his shut down of the liberal climate/global warming question! Too bad he wasn’t allowed a minute to give an answer! The following is what Fred said on this subject back when he was sitting in for Paul Harvey. It would have been a GREAT one minute answer! :)
This is what Fred said when he was sitting in for Paul Harvey some time ago. :)

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NTQzYWY1MGM5NTkyZTM2YWVlMDMzMDlhMzQwNThhNDU=


7 posted on 12/12/2007 6:17:47 PM PST by seekthetruth
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To: jdm
For what it's worth, Washburn brought all the charm to her assignment of a latter-day Nurse Ratched.

I really like Barnett, aka Chowda, but that really is Rush's line. He uses it all the time about HillRodham.

8 posted on 12/12/2007 6:19:04 PM PST by NeoCaveman (No handshows - Fred Dalton Thompson for President 2008)
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To: jdm
Oh come on, she was wearing a rad Mao jacket!

Probably had a copy of a certain little red book in her bag.

9 posted on 12/12/2007 6:19:16 PM PST by Rome2000 (Peace is not an option)
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To: jdm
But if the local media are going to hijack the process and ruin it, as Carolyn Washburn surely ruined today's debate, then the parties are going to have to rethink parts of the process, if not the entire thing.

Problem is, it's not LOCAL media, it's the Media as a whole. They have literally announced their allegiance to a political party, and are now nothing more than activists.

Between paid plants, inept moderators, and transparent shills, the Left feels they have reached critical mass and will do what they will, without fear of reprisal from America.

10 posted on 12/12/2007 6:19:48 PM PST by Old Sarge (This tagline in memory of FReeper 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: seekthetruth

good answer..


11 posted on 12/12/2007 6:20:38 PM PST by silentreignofheroes (I'm Southron,,,and I Vote...)
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To: jdm

This author has a clue, and is not politically tone deaf (unlike some of the other journalists who have commented on this debate.)


12 posted on 12/12/2007 6:21:23 PM PST by sourcery (If Hillary is the next President, she may also be the last.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Not the best forum, but Fred made it work anyway.


13 posted on 12/12/2007 6:23:03 PM PST by The Pack Knight (Duty, Honor, Country.... Valor.)
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To: jdm

Fred broke his foot off.


14 posted on 12/12/2007 6:23:07 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Anti-Bubba182
"Fred broke his foot off."

Huh? I'm not familiar with that term...

15 posted on 12/12/2007 6:24:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Your "dirt" on Fred is about as persuasive as a Nancy Pelosi Veteran's Day Speech)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I believe he meant to say that Fred broke his foot off somewhere in the vicinity of Washburn’s 4th point of contact.


16 posted on 12/12/2007 6:27:01 PM PST by The Pack Knight (Duty, Honor, Country.... Valor.)
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To: Windcatcher
The funny thing is she is tooooooo stupid to understand that Fred Thompson made her look even more moronic than she is. She is probably gloating right this very instant “boy, I sure showed him.”

Gawd help the imbecilic media .... they are slowly destroying themselves. can you say implosion?

17 posted on 12/12/2007 6:29:38 PM PST by HiramQuick
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To: The Pack Knight

As in: “Fred done broke his foot off’n her ___? Okay, I agree with that 200%!


18 posted on 12/12/2007 6:30:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Your "dirt" on Fred is about as persuasive as a Nancy Pelosi Veteran's Day Speech)
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To: jdm; seekthetruth; prairiebreeze
A horse is a horse, of course, of course
And no one can talk to a horse, of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. FRed

Go right to the source and ask the horse
He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse
He's always on a steady course
That's our Mr. FRed

People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day
But Mr. FRed will seldom speak unless he has something to say

A horse is a horse, of course, of course
And this one'll talk 'til his drawl is hoarse
You never heard of a talking horse?
Well, listen to him, he's our "Mr. FRed!

Leni

19 posted on 12/12/2007 6:30:19 PM PST by MinuteGal (Three Cheers for the FRed, White and Blue !!!)
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To: jdm
Fred did fantastic, but could have added on the scam question, “If you think Global Warming is important enough to rate a question, why is it not important enough for comment?”

He implied that though, good enough.

It’s too bad that people think he is “tired” because he has wrinkles and doesn’t talk fast like Yankees do. In doing business with a lot of slow-talking Southerners I have learned not to underestimate them. Some of them are most dangerous when they sound like they are about to fall asleep.

20 posted on 12/12/2007 6:31:51 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (Fred Thompson's Federalism is right on.)
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