The Big Loser of the Night: CBS

The Corner ^ | 11/12/2011 | Marc A. Thiessen

[TBBT]

f there was a loser on the debate stage tonight, it was CBS. First, they scheduled their debate on a Saturday night between two major football games. Then they decide to only broadcast the first hour of their 90-minute debate. Then their Internet feed failed for the final 30 minutes. This was CBS’s first and only debate — and it showed.

Scott Pelley was a terrible moderator. He treated the men who might be the next commander in chief like schoolchildren, cutting them off in mid-sentence, lecturing them to answer his questions. He even lectured Newt Gingrich on policy, telling him that killing “terrorist suspects” is “not the rule of law.” Big mistake. Newt smacked him down, explaining that we are at war and in war we are allowed to kill the enemy without a court order.

[jessduntno]

Back in February, Newt said he would consider Allen West as his running mate:

Four way debate; Newt/West Vs. Obama/Biden?

I’d WALK through ten miles of OWS camps to see that.

[frogjerk]

How many debates have their been for the GOP now? I don't ever remember their being this many for the DIMs.

[TBBT]

One other thought that I forgot the mention (call me Rick)... As was noted during the debate introduction (or first question) - Presidents are sometimes confronted with an unexpected national security crisis early in their term. Will Cain be ready or will he still be studying up?

[Mozilla]

Poorly run debate with a bad moderator. I was with Football and tuned in late only to see it get cut off and Thus I went back to Football. The read the web feed had problems.

[bigbob]

Halfway through I was visualizing a poster with Dan Rathers face and “Miss me yet?” at the bottom...

Not quite, but Scott Pelley proved that we haven’t seen the worst SeeBS has to offer when The Perky One got booted out of Uncle Walters chair.

[bigbob]

Cain did fine in my opinion. He had to field the pop fly on torture and while it wasn’t something he had a prepared answer for, you could just watch him work through it and once he took a stand, he was firm and convincing. That is one of his strengths - the ability to analyze and think on his feet, rather than recite mush that’s been poured into his skull by debate prep.

[Seaplaner]

Scott Pelley was a terrible moderator. He treated the men who might be the next commander in chief like schoolchildren, cutting them off in mid-sentence, lecturing them to answer his questions. He even lectured Newt Gingrich on policy, telling him that killing “terrorist suspects” is “not the rule of law.”

Answers to debate questions are usually deductive, meaning that they build from general information to a specific conclusion. Pelley and the left-wing moderators know to interrupt the Republicans right at the very moment before the conclusion. Slimy, but I suspect that it was thoroughly planned by committees at CBS.

Pelley did not disguise his contempt for the candidates, and his imperiousness and arrogance were on display for all to see.

Since this is an important topic for debate, I'll go to the website and watch the final third.

[onyx]

Couldn’t agree more. Wonder how he would do with a serious full court press, 50 state campaign, baiting Zro all te way? I would love to see that.

I think (and hope) we're going to find out!

[SkyDancer]

I bet when there’s a debate between Obamalamadingdong and the Republican nominee they’ll be asking the Republican the hard questions and softballing Zero.

[Sun]

“telling him that killing “terrorist suspects” is “not the rule of law.”’

When I was watching I couldn’t believe it, even for C-BS. The moderator was debatting with the candidates.

[cookcounty]

"Well, at least Cain didn’t say he could see Pakistan from his front porch."

...and neither did Sarah Palin say she could see Russia from her front porch....ever. That was Tina Fey, who looks like Sarah's ugly sister.

[MN_Mike]

I’m sure the gals on The View would do much better /sarcasm

[Gene Eric]

It’s pathetic. At times, the mods are so argumentative, it seems they’re also competing for the nomination.

[SierraWasp]

If Bachmann were leading or even close, she would be being ripped to shreds over saying we should completely up-root LBJ's Great Society! Surely she must know that Medicare and the department of aging were two very popular elements that the people most religious about voting look to as a safety net they helped pay for through payroll taxes!!!

She has been one of my favorites as the most stauch enemy of Obamacare but I've now shifted to Cain as I want to see a righteous negro whup a "magic negro!" Herman better watch it though, singin them negro spirituals an stuff!!! (grin)

[SierraWasp]

Herman is going to be on Letterman this coming week I hear...

[TBBT]

Cain did fine in my opinion. He had to field the pop fly on torture and while it wasn’t something he had a prepared answer for, you could just watch him work through it and once he took a stand, he was firm and convincing. That is one of his strengths - the ability to analyze and think on his feet, rather than recite mush that’s been poured into his skull by debate prep. IOW's he was winging it... "you could just watch him" pull something out of his arse. You wouldn't have to do that if you had ever given the question any serious thought... I didn't view it as all that convincing... Just the opposite in fact...

[goat granny]

CBS has the only network show I watch...NCIS and i can’t boycott that show

[goat granny]

No flame, but those that like Newt have poor memories of his political past. Wishy washy, finger in the air to see which way the wind blows, defends liberal politicans, sits with princess nancy on globull warming, liked schuzzyfuzzy for political office, when she lost she supported the democrat candidate, was for Myers for SC that Bush tried to push through and she is a lib that worked in his white house. Cozy up to the Clintons when the republicans took over the house. Good at debate because of his background as a professor in a college. Not to be trusted and far from being a conservative, just talks like one when its to his advantage...Newt is for Newt....I am for Cain. Leadership he has experience in and is smart enought to bring in people that are smart also....

I read one time that a good CEO will hire people smarter than he is in area's of importance...I think Cain would do that...I also like that he doesn't use his family as a prop. Or at least hasn't until now...No suck face kiss like Gore did. That was enought to make one vomit...

[moonhawk]

Hotter, too!

[goat granny]

I had it programed into my TV but fell asleep before it started...I think that frozen margarita my son bought for me at the restaurant kicked in....