The Great Debates

Just some quick thoughts on the debate between the Democratic candidates for President, some relevant to the candidates, some about CNN's presentation.

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag. A well-groomed, articulate douche-bag but still a screaming, self-important, douche-bag. Wolf Blitzer: Douche-Bag for CNN


Set design: Looks like aesthetics trumped utility. The sound problems with the journalists would not have made a difference if they were not seated at the end of a long triangle that stretched almost across the floor section of the auditorium. What the @#$! was going on here? This was a presidential debate, a set looking like something out of Star Trek (1960's Trek) was not necessary. I bet the cameramen cursed the set designer as he had to work around that damn triangle monstrosity while filming.

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag.

Camera work: Distracting. All the competent directors on vacation? Couldn't borrow one from MSNBC, C-SPAN, FOX, the local public access cable station?

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag.

As for the candidates - my opinion who did the best, in order: Biden, Kucinich, Obama, Clinton, Gravel, Richardson, Edwards and Dodd. Biden for his willingness to speak truthfully and his passion about Darfur - he might know something of just war theory, Kucinich for questioning basic assumptions about health care reform, Obama for not only addressing questions but understanding the larger concerns behind the questions, Clinton for her willingness to not to play hypothetical question games and her good humor in dealing with the question of her husband's role, and Gravel for giving all of them hell. Richardson, Edwards and Dodd just didn't do anything for me. I'm feeling quite a bit more positive about Clinton.

I liked the format of the debate and the voter questions. I got something out of it despite CNN's best efforts. I hope CNN ditches the stupid ass set design, poor direction and Wolf Blitzer, who is a douche bag, for the Republican debate.