Reason #783 that Phnee shouldn't be allowed near politics

[mousme]

There was a lot of screaming at the television tonight. A lot of it involved the words "LIAR!" and "OHMYGODDIDYOUHEARTHAT?!?"

I flicked between the U.S. debate and the Canadian debate. Palin made my ears bleed. "Nucular." Didn't the U.S. learn their lesson about letting people into the Oval Office who can't pronounce "nuclear?" (Yes, yes, I know it's an "accepted" regional difference, blah, blah, WRONG!)

The Canadian debate made me want to throw heavy things at the television. Not because of what was said, although there was plenty of screaming about that. No, what got me was that the moderator intervened, not once, but several times in Harper's favour, defending him against both Dion and Layton on at least two occasions that I can think of off-hand.

What. The. Fuck?!?

I don't understand why this happened. I don't understand why all five leaders didn't jump on him and tell him to shut the fuck up. I kept looking back at my mother and asking: "Why is he speaking? Why are they letting him speak? Why is he letting his lips flap with opinions about the content of the debate? Why?"

There are no words. I am incensed. So much for a "neutral" moderator this evening. The French moderator was fantastic, but sadly only French-speaking Canadians got to see what a well-run debate looks like.

Comments

[karine.livejournal.com]

Moderator: Steve Paiken.

While I don't share much of your evaluation of this debate, I agree with you that he did come to Harper's defense (Conservatives=barbarians?)

May came off as a good critic, but I didn't see much of what her platform had to offer. She had a tendency to shriek over the others, and that annoyed me.

Layton taking stabs at Dion = LOVE. I completely disagree with Layton's politics but I'd love to have him in opposition because I KNOW he'd make things move. I do NOT like Dion at all (my mom thinks he's a weasel and I sort of agree with her).

I did like that Harper was listing off the things he got done. As for the not looking at the camera, it's because he would rather face an actual living person to speak to rather than a camera, which can't give you visual feedback on the things you are saying.

If I had done the Debate Drinking Game, I'd have been DRUNK off my ASS with the mentions of "Green shift", "Carbon Tax" and "Working Families" (Thank yew *hic* Mr. Layton)...

[mousme.livejournal.com]

While I don't share much of your evaluation of this debate, I agree with you that he did come to Harper's defense (Conservatives=barbarians?)

It just pissed me off that he intervened at all. I can quite truthfully say that I would have been equally as pissed off had he intervened on anyone else's behalf. No matter how awful the candidates are with each other (and I agree that some of the attacks were pretty egregious), it is not his place to intervene with an opinion. Interrupt to give a chance at rebuttal, yes, but not to rebut himself.

I can understand not talking to the camera because of the lack of visual feedback, but come on! Harper isn't a novice, and everyone else managed to look at the camera. He wasn't preaching to the moderator, he was trying to talk to his country, and as such the not talking to the camera resulted in fail.

Oh, God. I would *love* to sit and have a chat over coffee with Layton. He's a riot.

[karine.livejournal.com]

He IS! I'd love to do the same. He was the BEST at talking to the camera Canadian People at Their Kitchen Tables.

It's funny, though. Everytime I watch a debate, I sort of expect it to inform people, to clear up some facts and confusion about things spouted in ads and campaign rhetoric, but all that ends up happening is that people get from debates what they WANT to get. You're a conservative supporter? Harper was strong and clear and held his ground with FACTS. You're anti-Harper? He was spouting lies and the others called his bullshit. You're a Liberal? Dion really shined and impressed people. You're a Green? GO MAY GO! Show them who's boss! You're a socialist? You sure are glad Layton's looking out for the little Working Family by punishing those Big Corporations.

My anti-Dion bias makes me reject any positive he might bring to such a debate. I'm not anti-Liberal, I'm anti-Dion. Same for a lot of people who are not Anti-Conservative, but they are Anti-Harper. So in that sense, these leaders can do no right.

This brings me to make this statement: There's no such thing as an objective voter. There are a lot of people who, when their mind is made up, will refuse to be confused with the facts. Am I wrong? Are the debates even useful in that sense?

[ai731.livejournal.com]

Maybe the debates are most useful for people who are undecided, who don't already have a strong affiliation with a particular party?