As I read this, I felt so grateful that you continue to provide insight and perspective on key issues and events. Loved the 2015 debate story. That’s what happens when serious journalists facilitate a debate vs the talking airheads from Fox.
Thanks, Terri. It was a bit of a different time in politics. Things weren’t quite so polarized as they are now. A lot has changed since Trump normalized outrageous behavior. Our national dialogue has suffered as a result.
These debates used to be moderated by the League of Women Voters until the parties wanted more control. In Iowa most Leagues still have forums for city and school boards. Last year for state elections one party chose not to participate.
Only you could provide we Iowans with this insight prior to the next round of GOP candidate debates. Less experienced moderators earlier this year let things get out of hand and it was clear they feared for themselves rather than controlling the fiasco their own lack of planning helped to create. I'll be a better "watcher" because of your commentary.
The world is watching Iowa to see if it will sideline the Trump machine. Many think Iowa is the last hope and I'm not very hopeful myself. This debate? It appears its for the silver medal and one that the gold medalist will ignore. Methinks most of America will ignore the debate.
Thanks for an incisive look behind the scenes into the planning that goes into an event like a debate. Excellent work as usual.
What this recounting tells me is that there is a high degree of “show biz” in these presidential debates. If it takes months to plan questions and script them because it’s important to the sponsoring NETWORK to get it done first class, why should we expect anything from the CANDIDATES but “rehearsed one-liners”? If the reporters could come up with new questions overnight and candidates could answer them to produce a strong serious debate, then maybe such spontaneity would be good and planning to the Nth degree is overrated.
Rich, I was amazed at the extent of network planning that went into the debate. They are really good at it. But the question brainstorming was aimed at NOT producing rehearsed one liner answers. It’s always a guessing game, I suppose, by both the journalists and the candidates.
As I read this, I felt so grateful that you continue to provide insight and perspective on key issues and events. Loved the 2015 debate story. That’s what happens when serious journalists facilitate a debate vs the talking airheads from Fox.
Thanks, Terri. It was a bit of a different time in politics. Things weren’t quite so polarized as they are now. A lot has changed since Trump normalized outrageous behavior. Our national dialogue has suffered as a result.
These debates used to be moderated by the League of Women Voters until the parties wanted more control. In Iowa most Leagues still have forums for city and school boards. Last year for state elections one party chose not to participate.
Only you could provide we Iowans with this insight prior to the next round of GOP candidate debates. Less experienced moderators earlier this year let things get out of hand and it was clear they feared for themselves rather than controlling the fiasco their own lack of planning helped to create. I'll be a better "watcher" because of your commentary.
We will watch and see. It's as simple as that.
The world is watching Iowa to see if it will sideline the Trump machine. Many think Iowa is the last hope and I'm not very hopeful myself. This debate? It appears its for the silver medal and one that the gold medalist will ignore. Methinks most of America will ignore the debate.
You may be right. I don’t understand how there’s no political price to pay for skipping all debates.
Dave,
Thanks for an incisive look behind the scenes into the planning that goes into an event like a debate. Excellent work as usual.
What this recounting tells me is that there is a high degree of “show biz” in these presidential debates. If it takes months to plan questions and script them because it’s important to the sponsoring NETWORK to get it done first class, why should we expect anything from the CANDIDATES but “rehearsed one-liners”? If the reporters could come up with new questions overnight and candidates could answer them to produce a strong serious debate, then maybe such spontaneity would be good and planning to the Nth degree is overrated.
Rich, I was amazed at the extent of network planning that went into the debate. They are really good at it. But the question brainstorming was aimed at NOT producing rehearsed one liner answers. It’s always a guessing game, I suppose, by both the journalists and the candidates.