The First 2012 Debate

Wednesday, 17th November 2010

Will be held next spring at the Reagan Library. So soon! What joy! Andrew Sullivan notices that Hugh Hewitt thinks it's terrible that the questions will be asked by "mainstream journalists". Hewitt wants "different kinds of journalist" to set the agenda. By different he means the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity Mark Levin and Michael Medved.

Andrew complains, hyperbolically to be sure, that this is "like Stalin being grilled by the Politburo". But actually, I would be interested in watching a Presidential debate moderated by the likes of Limbaugh and Levin and co. Lord knows, there will be plenty of opportunities for Wolf Blitzer and Brian Williams and the rest to ask dumb questions. Why shouldn't the conservative movement's own favourites have the chance to do so in a nationally-televised format too?

In fact, a Levin and Limbaugh moderated debate would be more interesting and probably more fun than most such affairs. Who doesn't look forward to the spectacle of Mitt Romney sucking up to talk radio hosts while simultaneously trying to appear loftily Presidential and above the fray? It could be delicious. Indeed, this kind of debate might be much more illuminating than most "debates". Which candidate, if any, will dare to suggest, even mildly, that the Great Limbaugh might be mistaken about anything? More probably, which candidate would most thoroughly abase themselves before their inquisitors?

In its way, then, Hewitt's notion could produce a debate that might actually reveal something useful and even important about the field. Just not, perhaps, in quite the way he imagines.

I'd also like to see a Democratic equivalent. Perhaps with a panel of moderators including Keith Olbermann, Katrina Vanden Heuvel and Michael Moore. And then they could swap debates: Republicans grilled by lefties; Democrats by the talk radio boys. Who needs Anderson Cooper?

Filed under: 2012 (167 more articles) , Conservatives (2298 more articles) , GOP (332 more articles)

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ndm

November 17th, 2010 8:32pm Report this comment

A Republican debate causes problems for Sarah Palin because she will finally have to fish or cut bait. Interest in her political views will crumble if she decides to cut bait. But then reviews of her new Alaska TV show suggest she doesn't know how to fish. Twitter seems ideally suited to Palin's political views since the 140-character limit conveniently matches the extent of her knowledge of any policy.

These debates are really aimed at beltway insiders rather than the public. I saw a teeny bit of only one debate last time round but it contained the most memorable moment of the entire campaign - Joe Biden telling a questioner that he needed psychiatric help if he regarded his massive arsenal as "his baby."

Craig Strachan

November 18th, 2010 1:11am Report this comment

Nah. Can't see Rush managing to pry himself out of his home studio and away from his, um, support system.

Finzi Holst

November 18th, 2010 4:11am Report this comment

Alex, and the two commentators thus far, your ignorance is showing.

Hewitt is right, Sullivan is wrong.

If you aren't sure what Hewitt meant, Alex, why not ask him instead of putting thoghts into his head.

normanc

November 18th, 2010 7:10am Report this comment

The left commentator interviewing right, and vice versa, debates I'd actually consider watching.

Would be interesting to see who went reddest in the face. There may even be a heart attack.

Think of the ratings (and advertising dollars) that would bring in!

Rhoda Klapp

November 18th, 2010 9:08am Report this comment

Here's a modest Rhoda prediction. They will all come with pre-prepared positions and soundbites. The questioners will ask the same old gotcha questions. And if anything interesting looks like happening the moderators will shut it down pretty quick.

Finzi Holst

November 19th, 2010 6:30am Report this comment

Dear Alex-

Nice to know you edit posts and include typos in them.

All I did was recommend that there be Conservative, Independent and Liberal moderators leading a debate each.

Liberals have more problem answering questions -- I mean really answering questions -- than do conservatives. They can't even call things what they are: homosexual/gay; illegal alien/undocumented worker; abortion/pro-choice; liberal/Democrat; small government/racist; low taxes/racist; Islamic terrorist/enemy combatant; conservative/racist; free speech/racist; and to top it off groping/enhanced pat downs.

Edit away, Alex.

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