A Few Comments on Tonight’s Format Posted by James Lamond

Tonight’s debate had a format that I found a little puzzling. Essentially it was high-level and well-connected conservative wonks asking conservative candidates questions about conservative policy positions. I understand that this is the the GOP primary and conservative voters are the audience. However, many of questioners are individuals that either have worked or are likely to work in a Republican administration. There is inherently a conflict of interest in this relationship. Worse yet the construction of many of the questions provided a clear answer within the question.

For example Ed Meese, the former Republican Attorney General asked: 

At least 42 terrorist attacks aimed at the United States have been thwarted since 9/11. Tools like the Patriot Act have been instrumental in finding and stopping terrorists. Shouldn't we have a long range extension of the investigative powers contained in that act so that our law enforcement officers can have the tools that they need?

And Danielle Pletka, Vice President for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute asked: 

Yesterday the United States and the U.K. slapped new sanctions on Iran. But we haven't bought oil directly from Iran in over 30 years. We've had targeted sanctions on Iran for more than half that time. 

Nonetheless, Iran is probably less than a year away from getting a nuclear weapon. Do you believe that there is any set of sanctions that could be put in place that would stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon?

Admittedly, not all of the questions were quite as leading or as troubling as above. However, there was a general trend and the format does seem a little strange. 

The more important question on process, however, is how did Paul Wolfowitz get to ask a question?

Comments

[USB mouse]

We haven't bought oil directly from Iran in over 30 years. We've had targeted sanctions on Iran for more than half that time.

[marc]

CNN has obviously come to the conclusion that serious journalism does not sell soap.

[ugg]

We haven't bought oil directly from Iran in over 30 years. We've had targeted sanctions on Iran for more than half that time.

[hermes bags]

You can read the whole thing here

[Nike Air Max]

between friends all is common.

[Air Max Shoes]

A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.e

[red bull hats]

Thanks for making my morning a little bit better with this great article!!

[replica handbags]

Thank you so much!

[cheap essays]

Cool post! Thanks for sharing.

[ネイティブ フィッツシモンズ]

アジア杯の上の惨敗は私達を中国のサッカーの立ち後れることがはっきり見えさせて、日本のサッカーはすでにみごとに世界に向かいました。アナイキ スニーカージア杯の(以)後で、pumaは日の本文で霊感の2足のサッカーシューズに変わることを出しました――PWR-C1.10 TokyoとV1.10 Kanji。PWR-C1.10 Tokyoは東京街頭の文化を霊感にニューバランス h710して、下手な字を書く方法は日本語の“東京”の印を白色の靴の表面の上にあります。V1.10 Kanjiの中Kanjiは日本語の“漢字”の意味です。設計者は漢スニーカー字の“高速”の印を靴の表面の上で、際立っているV1.10のスピードは思います。哀れみを誘うのは中国の文化の代表の漢字にするのが意外にも日本の文化の元素にして今回の付けてはいナイキ ジョーダンけない設計の霊感の出所になったのなのです。見たところサッカーシューズの領域にもっと多い発言権を持ちたくて、中国のサッカーの後れているレベルは最大の妨害です。