Psssst, Ifill was raped by her father and had a 4th trimester abortion, pass it along......

Well, Tom Brokaw -- who's hosting the next presidential debate -- is demonstrably in the tank for John McShame. So maybe these cancel each other out? (MoveOn is orchestrating protests against Brokaw and his pro-McShame biases, BTW.)

Fine, let the whiny babies have their way. Let Ifill use her ankle as an excuse to bow out It won't matter who moderates the debate; even when Palin is being fed answers she gets them wrong and sounds ignorant in the process.

I've never met a bigger bunch of whiny babies than the current Republican party and their base.

Republican Hissy Fitâ„¢

As I recall Ifill is prone to bizarre lines of questioning. Of course, she buys into all villager narratives without question. I don't have great hopes for her, though Couric's willingness to press followups on Palin suggests it's becoming allowable for MSM journos to gag a bit before swallowing their Gooper shit sandwiches.

In other news the Dow is dropping again after yesterday's dead cat bounce.

I'd support getting rid of Ifill. I don't know much about her, but she struck me as being fairly dumb during the 2004 debate she moderateed. Not dumb by average standards, but relative to the importance of the role she's playing in our national discourse. Frankly, I think the whole moderator system needs an overhaul, as the debates always seem to be more about the moderator than the debaters. I really don't have any good answer for what to do instead.

As for working the refs to get Ifill to be nicer to Palin, I really think that's a mistake. For me, the thing that really makes Palin look worse is when her interviewer tries helping her out. Like when Charlie Gibson explained the Bush Doctrine to her, or when Couric assumes that a better answer would come out, if only she asked the question in a different way. And it just makes Palin look worse. I think she'd do better in a confrontational interview, where the interviewer was slightly browbeating her. If Ifill tries helping her out, that's when she'll really screw up.

Republican outrage is never authentic and is always sincere: if a thought is in their heads, it must be true.

The first question from Ifill should be, "Given the myriad challenges facing the nation, should we really try to reduce this campaign to one pre-emptive spinning after another?"

The wingers had their very own debate moderator at Saddleback, and, with the help of a leaky cone of silence feeding questions to McCain, they got their desired result. I did not hear a peep out of anyone ahead of time.

I'll bet anyone that the moderators for this series of debates were vetted by the McCain campaign for longer than they vetted Sarah Palin. They agreed to the rules, and have no basis to complain now.

Oh, sorry, I forgot. Those are the rules for the reality based community. The right wing GOPers get to make their own reality. When they don't like their chances, they get to change the rules.

Dump Ifill if they like. I'm sure we can find another sympathetic woman to fill in for her at the last minute. Like Rachel Maddow.

If I were Ifill, I would lob softballs at Palin about her favorite color and where she buys her shoes, then turn to Biden and pose questions about Azerbaijan's future and whether sovereign wealth funds really have a stabilizing effect on the world economy.

That way, everybody will be happy.

And Biden wins.

Question #1" "Ms. Palin, given the myriad challenges facing the nation, can yo define the word, "Myriad?"

I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if Ifill asked questions like Lehrer. "What about Iraq? You have 15 minutes to debate." OK, How about Afghanistan?"

"...if a thought is in their heads, it must be true."

Posted by: Jeffrey Davis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My coworkers and I get the usual amount of hate chain e-mails from other offices, friends and relatives. The conservatives I work with invariably press me, "Did I read what they sent me? Isn't it terrible Obama's Dad passed secrets to the Soviets? How can Biden show his face after it's been exposed he beats his wife?"
Literally anything, no matter how outlandish or cruel, becomes fact because they saw it in black and white on a computer screen. If you point out they should research the validity of the stuff and consider the source you may as well be speaking in a lost tribal dialect from New Guinea. It's no wonder regardless of the opposing candidate the Right manages rough parity with the Left at the polls. With an electorate this gullible Democrats are swimming upstream out the gate.

Of course the RNC knew about the book beforehand. They also knew that the voterbots did not know about the book beforehand. Therefore, they had a pre-emptive excuse they could unholster if they needed.

And sweet merciful crap! They need it.

If I were Ifill, I would lob softballs at Palin about her favorite color and where she buys her shoes, then turn to Biden and pose questions about Azerbaijan's future and whether sovereign wealth funds really have a stabilizing effect on the world economy.

"Governor Palin, can you demonstrate your economic expertise by telling us who's picture is on a one dollar bill?"

"Turning to science, Governor Palin, do witches float or sink?"

From what I've heard, Ifill's book includes interviews with the Republican Colin Powell.

Does this make her biased against Biden?

Discuss.

"Governor Palin, can you demonstrate your economic expertise by telling us who's picture is on a one dollar bill?"

I told Katie Couric I read everything in front of me. I don't have time to look at pictures.

Like it or not, writing such a book that debuts Inauguration Day - doesn't look right for a debate moderator.

Ifill is not a strong interviewer. Fine - get a different moderator. One who can ask tough follow ups. Palin & Co will be missing Ifill then.

steve duncan @ 10:26: ...had a 4th trimester abortion...

ROTFL. But seriously, who cares? They just ain't as cute after they're born. At 3 mos. old, isn't it time to get a job or drop dead anyway?

If Ifill were publishing a book titled "The Breakthrough: Politics and Age in the Era of McCain", who wants to bet that the Right would STILL be having a hissy fit? They assume she's biased toward Obama because that's what they want to believe.

I say dump Ifill as well. There are more talented, more qualified moderators out there.

For example, Tina Fey's schedule seems to have an open slot on Thursday evening. And you know we're gonna get to see Tina do Sarah in the debate anyway - it might as well be in real time.

Cheers,

"Ok Governor Palin, your category is Months That Start With Feb, and the answer is: This is the only month that starts with Feb."

"I believe that would be Febturday."

"No."

"Ahh, what is Febturday."

"No."

(And yes, that was a rewrite from a SNL Jeopardy skit.) Do you think we could get Alex Trebek to replace Ifill?

Given Ifill's broken ankle, isn't this the definition of kicking someone when they're down?

Elisabeth Bumiller, who covers the Presidential race for the Times, co-wrote Condi Rice's autobiogaphy/hagiography. I haven't heard any complaints from Obama that she be recused from covering the campaign..

Okay, I'm old. Not as old as McCain (is anyone?), but old enough to remember when most debates and public discussions were sponsored and hosted by the League of Women Voters. Oh, well, I suppose now that all political discourse is nothing but entertainment, it makes sense to have entertainers do the "moderating."

Hey Steve, "partially about Obama" and "don't know whether, or to what extent, it reflects support for... Obama"? The title of the book is - The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama! How much of a "breakthrough" would it be if he loses and how much money would Ifill lose if he does? Come on man, you're smarter than that...

I don't know...obviously they are trying to massage the ref here. But it seems to me that if as long as the questions are reasonable (i.e. not over Biden's head), and Palin embarrasses herself the way she has been lately, that will be the focus. Conservatives will whine, but the story won't be that Ifill was unfair. It will fit into the growing narrative of her incompetence. Ifill should remember that.

They know they can't touch Ifill, but they think they can browbeat her into going easier on Palin. But Ifill probably would have made some effort to minimize Palin's embarrassment even without the right wing mau-mauing. Ifill wants the public to be informed, but she doesn't want the debate to turn into a circus (i.e., Palin breaking down, or silent for some embarrassingly long stretch).

More proof that the Republican brand is dead. Everyday a different whine. Everyday they look like gutless wimp turds. Not only do they stink on policy issues that confront our country but they also seem encased in fear and a cornered defensive crouch.

Republicans now are the party of crybaby wimps.

If Schieffer is going to be disqualified it should be over the on-air man love he repeatedly spouts towards McCain every Sunday morning.

I don't think "working the refs" is going to cut it, unless they managed to scare Gwen into making every question read simply "Governor Palin, please spew some incomprehensible gobbledegook for 2 minutes. Go."

But seriously, talk about a mountain out of a molehill. The moderator was well-known when the debates were agreed to, and the format can't allow a whole lot of "unfairness".

I predict that Palin will actually flee the stage after a series of policy questions that she fumbles and Biden Aces.
The repubs will then express complete outrage at the "tone" and "bias" of the soft ball questions and all of right wing media (Sean Hannity will have a Gran Mal seizure on air) will trumpet how Ifill is a shill for Obama and that Pailn had no choice and was wise but to bail out.

Did some genius advise John McCain to run a campaign that makes him look as UN-Presidential as possible? Its as though the idea is to make him look absolutely unstable. If this is the way he behaves RUNNING for President how on earth would he behave AS President?! Its a chilling thought.

I was one of the many who was frustrated because Barak Obama was getting mean. I can see his plan now. He dispatched the clintons the same way he's dispatching McCain. The Clintons were reduced to rabid dogs by the end of the primary. Obama remained coll and collected right up to the end, through all the madness. Barak Obama has pulled a David Bowie. In the very early '70's Bowie re-fashioned himself and became an outregous sensation. The best description I've heard of what he did was..."he created a starring role and cast himself." Barak Obama has cast himself as "the President." Oh yeah, he has his message of change and newness, but in fact, he's presenting himself as a very self-assured, very popular incumbant. Neither the Clintons nor McCain have figured how how to handle him.

Gwen Ifill is not Palin's problem. Joe biden is Palin's challenge. Palin will not provide substansive answers, she will smear Obama all she can. That is all she is capable of doing.

Gwen Ifill is not Palin's problem. Joe biden is Palin's challenge. Palin will not provide substansive answers, she will smear Obama all she can. That is all she is capable of doing.

BLOGGERS: Call them racist for suggesting that an experienced, PROFESSIONAL, intelligent black woman can't fairly moderate a debate and publish a book about race in politics at the same time. DO IT! DO IT NOW!

I think the whole moderator system needs an overhaul

I don't understand why they don't have academics of some kind moderating these things. Here's something that would be really cool - a debate about the economy moderated by an economist! Wow, what an idea. Instead we get (as Greenwald says) these people who play journalists on television.

I was appalled at the behavior of the moderators in the only debate I watched during the primaries - the Obama/Clinton affair right before I voted. Tim Russert (R.I.P.) asked some of the dumbest questions imaginable. Farrakhan? WTF? Granted, it was hard to come up with anything that would help Obama and Clinton distinguish themselves, but that was ridiculous.

Here's another idea. How about having the debate moderated by two former VPs?

Too late now, of course, but these things can get truly ridiculous.

Ifill should have stage hands bring out a giant map of the US and ask Palin to find Washington D.C. on it. Ten bucks says she points to Washington, the state.

Question #1" "Ms. Palin, given the myriad challenges facing the nation, can yo define the word, "Myriad?" -Stevio

Well, ya know, it may not be right outside my window like Russia but I do know quite a bit about Latin America, and like, ya know a myraid is the buildings in Egypt which is in Latin America and ran by President Zapatos, and ya know I learned this from readin' all those papers and also from those documentaries about that nice guy Indiana Jones, and ya know, Indiana is a lot like Alaska, the state, not the myriad explorer, because it's right next to our enemy, Illinois, and ya know, I had to fly over Illinois to get to Indiana, so now I know all I need to know, ya know.

This is just one example of why I could never join the Republican party as it exists now: They perpetuate a culture of victimization. From the cries that the media is biased, to voting down a bailout bill because Pelosi was picking on them, to whining about this or that regulation is 'too difficult to overcome,' the party has become paralyzed in its message of victimhood. There's a boogie man around every corner, and someone out to get them up the street.

It's really, really pathetic.

I don't blame the climate change for Gwen Ifill, Charlie.

This is just one example of why I could never join the Republican party as it exists now: They perpetuate a culture of victimization.

What do you mean, "as it exists now"? The Republicans have exploited victimhood and resentment at least since Nixon.

Though the GOP's total rejection of reason seems a more recent vintage, about Reagan's time.

Of course the Bushie mafia don't mention that, as a woman Ifill might be prejudiced toward Palin as a member of the old girl network.

Even if Ifill isn't biased toward Palin as a Neocon, she may pull her punches in followup out of the sheer embarrassment that Palin is causing truly professional, intelligent, capable hardworking (as opposed to clever, ambitious, mean) women.

It will be interesting to see how the moderators dumb down their questions enough to not make Biden look brilliant while giving Palin a reasonable chance to comment. But not be so dumbed down that they are an insult to Biden, and any other knowledgeable American voter.
Palin’s only hope is if they ask about breast feeding and airplane hunts - about which Biden probably knows little or nothing. Maybe they could hang a couple of moose and see who can gut and dress one the fastest.

Lets face it, any interviewee who can make Katie Couric look like an aggressive probing questioner needs to be played down to. What magazines and papers do you read, is a gimmie question, not a gotcha question. Katie threw Palin an underhand softball pitch, and Palin who wants to play hard ball in the big leagues, whiffed it completely, and Katie then gave her a couple of extra swings and she couldn’t even bunt.

The myriads are in Egypt. Everybody knows that.

Gregory,

Heh, sorry, my experience of the GOP doesn't go back THAT far ;). But it makes sense. The victim culture and the can't do attitude must be decades old to be so entrenched in the GOP.

The intellectual dishonesty here has just reached epic proportions.

Anybody here remember the ABC Democratic presidential debate and the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Left in the days following for Stephanopolous daring to bring up William Ayers name to Barack Obama? I do . It was neverending.

Anybody think for a second that you wouldn't have had Gwen Ifill removed long before now as moderator for this debate if she had written a book with John McCain's name on it set to be released on inauguration day?

Anyone.

Try to remember your past actions before you pass judgment.

All of you.

The intellectual dishonesty here has just reached epic proportions.

Yeah, but the Republican trolls are desperate, and they just won't go away. Speaking of which:

Anybody here remember the ABC Democratic presidential debate and the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Left in the days following for Stephanopolous daring to bring up William Ayers name to Barack Obama? I do . It was neverending.

Then you'll have no problem linking to three prominent sources. Thanks in advance.

JWK wrote: my experience of the GOP doesn't go back THAT far

I wish mine didn't, but you can read all about it.

Then you'll have no problem linking to three prominent sources. Thanks in advance.

Here, Gregory, this article lists and links to over twenty liberal bloggers, including the author of this blog post, though just who or how many are prominent would be debatable.

Have fun. I'll wait for your thoughtful and honest response, O ye of such short and selective memory.

Well, clearly "if Ifill is writing a book that is at least partially about Obama, then she's necessarily biased in support of the Democratic ticket".

They have history as a guide.
I can't think of any authors who wrote about their time in the Bush administration who weren't biased in support of that administration.

Come on, don't be hard-hearted. Let the Republicans have Dick Cheney as moderator, like they want.

this article lists and links to over twenty liberal bloggers, including the author of this blog post

... criticizing the debate in general; not all of them -- and not the author of this blog post -- "wailing and gnashing of teeth ... for Stephanopolous daring to bring up William Ayers name."

Ayres' name isn't even mentioned by the prominent bloggers. A random Democratic Underground post -- and if we're going to play that way, jackass, then FreeRepublic is fair game -- kvetched; writers from the conservative NRO cited the mention approvingly, and the conservative Weekly Standard criticized it.

And what the criticism of Ayers' mention there was had to do with right-wing provacatuer Sean Hannity giving Stephanopoulos the talking point!

No sale. Your link does not support your assertion at all, unless you define one random DU poster as "the Left," in the face of cotrary evidence from actual prominent lefty bloggers, including Steve, to whom you wrongfully and misleadingly attributed support for your premise. Even the one leftish complaint is offset by criticism from the Right! Did you even read the post you cited?

Is that the best you can do?

I know Gwen Ifill ("Gwen Ifill is a friend of mine, and, governor, you're no Gwen Ifill"), and I'm sure she supports Obama. But she is also higly principled and smart (sorry, biobrain, she is), and very professional. I have no worries about her ability to run a clean debate.

Having said that, I agree with biobrain that the system needs a rethink. It's time to turn the debates over to non-partisan, non-media bodies, perhaps funded from the public campaign finance fund. All media people either are, or are widely perceived to be, biased. At the least, their employers have a direct financial interest in how a debate is conducted.

I'm sorry but Palin is not up to the job.It was a mistake to pick her to govern.Although it was a good political move to put a fire to John McCain's campaign.But now there is buyers remorse even among the GOP and conservatives alike.After the Couric interveiws the cat was out of the bag never to return.Palin might be ready in 8 years to run for President,but not VP in 2008.Sorry.

http://www.afa.net/viewerspledge/

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