Gwen Awful

[realFedUp]

hehehe...

http://jameswolcott.com/

Wolcott:

I concur with Matt Stoller at bopnews that moderator Gwen Ifill made a goose of herself last night. Some good succinct early questions were succeeded by questions so inane the candidates practically had zigzag lines across their foreheads to denote puzzlement.

Since Edwards had used Kerry's names numerous times in the debate and would do again numerous times afterwards (whereas Cheney only made stray mention of Bush), what was the point of the pointless exercise in which Edwards and Cheney were asked to discuss the presidential candidates using only pronouns? Or the silly request that they talk about each other's personal similarities and differences. It was as if she was making up games for kids at a progressive workshop. Asking Cheney what he would most like to say to Edwards were he to tuck him in for the night didn't strike me as the most fruitful avenue of inquiry, but perhaps I'm too "old school."

Some detected animus toward Edwards in Ifill's interrogations but for me the overwhelming impression, which I've gathered over the years from watching her on PBS's Wash Week in Review, is that this is a person with a case of the cutes. There's a preening coyness to her, as if she's smiling at herself rather than at the camera and expecting a cookie.

[EnfantTerrible]

1. Kick

I started a thread about this last night

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2456485

I didn't think anyone could do much worse than James Earl Jones did all those years ago...

I was WRONG!!!

[fob]

2. Hear hear! I swear the question was describe your differences

without using your OPPONENTS name. That's why cheney asked "you want me to describe my stance without usin John Edwards?"

And then John uses Kerry's name and Gwen Awful (apt moniker btw), then went all pissy.

I was so confused.

[gWbush is Mabus]

3. negative questions

to Edwards: "they say you're inexperienced"
to Edwards: "what about all this flipflopping?"
to Edwards: "Do you feel attacked when called a Trial lawyer?"
to Edwards: "Does your party's views on foreign policy mean you would have left Saddam in Power?"

Those are all classic republican talking points, phrased as questions and directed at Edwards.




the above has been lifted from another poster.

how many questions were about education
how many questions were about the environment
???

it was all, "what do both of you candidates think of these republican talking points reagrding senator edwards?"

[realFedUp]

4. She usually push polls her questions

I don't find her fair and balanced at all.

[realFedUp]

5. More discussion about the moderator on this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=985564&mesg_id=985564