Free Republic

Calif. Debate Turns Into Shouting Match 1 hour, 17 minutes ago By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The most-anticipated debate of California's recall campaign quickly turned into a shouting match Wednesday among four of the five leading candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites), forcing the moderator to repeatedly chide them for straying from the subject. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, came under fire for taking millions of dollars in Indian casino money. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was criticized for supporting a divisive ballot initiative nine years ago that would have prevented services...

<p>The most-anticipated debate of California's recall campaign quickly descended into a squabble of overlapping attacks Wednesday, forcing the moderator to tame personal comments by four of the five leading candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gray Davis.</p> <p>Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, came under attack for taking millions of dollars in Indian casino money. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was criticized for supporting a divisive ballot initiative nine years ago that would have prevented services for the children of illegal immigrants. State Sen. Tom McClintock was told he had the facts backward on the economy, and independent Arianna Huffington was hit for barely paying income taxes.</p>

Got popcorn? SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TV: Fox News ChannelKCOP-13 (UPN) (follows the Ricki Lake show, perhaps appropriately, we'll see)KCET-28 (PBS)KABC-7 LIVE AUDIO STREAMS OF THE DEBATE: KABC 790 AM Los AngelesKFI 640 AM Los AngelesKOGO 600 AM San Diego

<p>I don't think anyone won this debate. Schwarzenegger seemed a little too trigger-happy with his quips and retorts, most if not all of which sounded rehearsed. Bustamante was calm and collected but also rude in a passive-aggressive kind of way. McClintock demonstrated his encyclopedic knowledge of state government, steady and stable as usual, but didn't do anything to wow you. Huffington was shrill and cock-sure while Camejo sounded like a Berkeley economic professor, confident in the justice inherent in his world view but not very realistic. Schwarzenegger said this would be the "Super Bowl" of debates, but his performance was more apt for a pre-season game. He didn't exactly embarrass himself, but neither did he score any touchdowns. It's possible his performance will play better with the casual viewer than a junkie like me. It can be dangerous to judge these affairs before seeing the clips that play on the nightly news. But to me he seemed not terribly distinguished, unable to float above the fray or take up much space in the debate. It's possible that he lost by not winning, but I don't think this debate will prove to be a turning point. The campaign continues toward the finish line pretty much as its been for several weeks: Schwarzenegger unable to shake off McClintock, consolidate the center-right vote and pull away from Bustamante.</p>

<p>Arnold Schwarzenegger flexed his muscles last night in his first California recall election debate, accusing Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante of "pulling the wool over people's eyes" and telling liberal columnist Arianna Huffington that "you need a little more decaf."</p>