I honestly preferred the recent ABC Presidential debate where everyone sat at a table, and there was no time limits to what was being discussed on a variety of issues. I was expecting Fox to successfully carry out such a well run debate format, and not ABC. This latest MSNBC debate format returned again to the time limit format, and this created the limited “soundbites” yet again from all of the GOP Presidential candidates on all of the issues brought up instead of anything of decent substantial quality on all of the issues that were brought up by the “leftist” reporters.
I liked the ABC debate also. Each debate lets us know a little more about each candidate. Unless a person has access to a candidate who is campaigning, the debates are the best means for sizing up the individuals and comparing them with each other directly. Actually, I thought the questions and responses were quite informative. Even if the intent of the question was to put the candidate off balance, it served to keep them alert as well as to give them experience in keeping their minds focused on the issue at hand. The candidates tonite seemed more at ease than at other times and also quite serious with their answers. They were all knowledgeable and confident and held their own quite well. They are educating the public with each debate they participate in, and that is good thing.