The CNN/YouTube debate: Raised stakes, lowered expectations
Update: Stephen Green will be live drinkblogging the debates and issues a challenge:
Well, here’s a dare for you, Michelle. You match me drink for drink tonight, you with your camcorder and me with my keyboard. Between us we’ll split six three-ounce (or so) vodka or gin (your choice) martinis. At the end of the debate, we’ll see who produces the most–and most entertaining–content.
I wish I could accept. As I told Stephen, I can’t get through a single wine cooler. But hopefully, we can get Stephen on the phone during our livestream and check in with his, uh, progress throughout the night. 
Steve’s got his own set of YouTube questions at PJM.
***
The WSJ says the stakes are raised for tonight’s CNN/YouTube debate. Manage your expectations, of course. The questions don’t look so good–can’t say we didn’t try, though–and CNN itself predicts a “circus-y smackdown.” CNN blames the candidates. Yeah, well, we saw who the real circus ringleaders of the last debate were. I’ll repeat what I said back in July when I recommended that Republicans show up to this debate:
I know. The CNN/YouTube Democrat debate was a circus. I said so. But Republicans shouldn’t sit out their turn. And conservatives shouldn’t abandon YouTube to the moonbats and jihadists. The GOP candidates should see it as an opportunity.
If the questions are stupid, say so.
If the forum is biased, say so.
Wouldn’t it be a breath of fresh air to see a Republican candidate take command, show some intestinal fortitude, and kick some MSM/left-wing assets?
I’ll be liveblogging the debate tonight beginning at 8pm Eastern and you’ll be able to watch us watching the debate over at Hot Air. We’re going to livestream via UStream and you’ll be able to tune in, chat (register at UStream before you tune in), and witness the circus along with us.
Meantime, here’s satirist Scott Ott’s most important video question. Pretty much sums up the farce of the political season:
***
Tough luck. No UFO questions tonight:
As Republican presidential contenders brace for Wednesday’s CNN-YouTube debate, the executive in charge of the event is unapologetic about his decision to put mainstream journalists in charge of deciding which user-contributed YouTube videos the candidates will actually face on the air.
For all the talk about online voter empowerment, the web is still too immature a medium to set an agenda for a national debate, says CNN senior vice president David Bohrman.
“If you would have taken the most-viewed questions last time, the top question would have been whether Arnold Schwarzenegger was a cyborg sent to save the planet Earth,” says Bohrman, the debate’s executive producer. “The second-most-viewed video question was: Will you a convene a national meeting on UFOs?”
Thus, instead of using an online voting system to select video questions, CNN’s journalists are plowing through the contributions this week.
***
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I was hoping they would chose Bryans, but after reading MKH’s article this morning I realized it was wishful thinking.
lol @ scott. That would be a fun contest. we’d be laughing all day.
How about this: Let the candidates ask and answer each other’s questions. We will find out alot more about them then from staged “pearls or diamonds” questions.
Dollar says one of the questions will be: Do you still beat your wife.
I would like some conservative type questions: Name 3 entitlement programs you would cut by at least 50% or eliminate. Do you feel that the government can better decide the course of alternative fuels than the capitalist system? Name 3 debates in our society that government should stay out of.
Here’s my very important questions:
Do you wear boxers or briefs?
Is your belly button an outtie or innie?
Who’s your favorite on “Dancing with the Stars?”
It would be nice if the candidates pooh pooh the stupid questions CNN will pick? They probably picked Tre’s # 6 suggestions and anything that deals with Abu Grahib, Gitmo, and the poor children like the Gramme Frost.
Edit-typing too fast and not watching the “?” should be “!”. I know there is a preview key, should hit it more often!
Have you seen Fred’s wife? WOOT!
fyi Michelle the UStream link is kaput.
I’m sure the Clinton News Network will help Hillarity Robthem Clintoon tonight. It’s just sad that it’s so obvious.
Ott was priceless and unfortunately dead-on. Call me naive, but I never thought I would see the election of our nation’s highest office reduced to banalities that are, in effect, merely episodes of bad reality tv. Made for tv candidates that will sell their souls for glory and power. And an idiot, moronic public who finds this entertaining.
This was a bad move for the GOP. We’ll probably pay an electoral price for violating our principles and pandering to the circus the media has created in place of true debates of real, high priority issues.
We’ve played into the hands of agenda-driven MSM’ers and the Dem Party as YouTube & CNN admitted here: CNN-YouTube Debate Producer Doubts the Wisdom of the Crowd
I don’t know. I think a good ol’ UFO question could mock the Dem’s.
How about: What do you think the carbon footprint of a UFO is?
LOL Soap #14.
These guys have the best debate questions. Scroll down half way and do not drink fluids if you like your key board.
I disagree. The GOP was squeezed into a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.
Some said it was a ridiculous exercise to debate with these YouTube questions, especially in light of seeing the Democrat YouTube circus.
But if they ignored the debate, then they could be accused to being “elitist Republicans” who ignore the questions of “everyday people”.
I think attending the debate would be the best course, although having the Communist News Network selecting the questions would never bode well.
But they were at a debate hosted by Chris “Caveman” Matthews, so they should be somewhat prepared for any circus.
OT-
Goodness me, The judge at the oj hearing baffled him with the simplist of questions regarding his education.
how far did you get through school?
lmao, he looked dazed and confused. stumbled and answered college
We should get the Judge for the next Dem debate, maybe the easiest questions will cause them the most problems.
I’ll watch hoping the CNN/YouTube/left wing conspiracy gets a smackdown from one of the candidates.
Although dissing CNN would result in a bump in the polls among primary voters, I’m not sure any of the frontrunners recognize this.
The link for UStream in your post returned a 404 Not Found error.
If CNN was halfway honest, they’d ask this:
“Everyone on this stage with the exception of Senator Thompson has appeared on debates on every network which has had them. How do each of you feel about your Democrat couterparts refusing to debate on the Fox News Channel and the perception on the part of many voters that they are simply too scared to do so on a channel which may not be as sympathetic to their election prospects as others?”
I just wonder if Ron Gaul will deny that we were attacked on 9-11 again.
Polite questions filtered through the Washington sycophants.
I will be rooting for Fred Thompson or Duncan Hunter to deliver the smack down the Clinton News Network deserves. I have much lower expectations for the other candidates in the field.
Wish you and some other real conservatives would monitor a debate for a change, and be responsible for coming up with the questions, Michelle.
At least that way we could have a reasonable expectation of a substantive debate.
That would be great, but only Fox would allow that, and the Dems are frightened to the point of soiling themselves at the notion of debating on Fox.
True, but I don’t really care about them. I’d like to see Michelle, Rush, Laura Ingraham, etc., monitor a debate of the Republican candidates, since the understand the issues that animate the Republican base.
Over at hotair when this first came up I was against it. Because I knew how CNN and youtube would treat them.
Then I figured the backlash would be nasty. So just go and treat it for what it is. I’m just hoping that’s what happens.
Not holding my breath, but still a nice thought.
Here we go HUNTER here we go! *clap* *clap* *clap*
Ditto. And as I started typing he was introduced.
Good job Duncan!
You sound fine!
Not good Rudy!
Jordan,
There’s a bit more discussion on this other of Michelle’s pages, currently on the main page. Come and join us!
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/28/the-cnnyoutube-debate-edginess-elbows-eh/#comment-182073
Conservative Cat, I have posted a comments over there. I’ll go back and forth.
What’s up with the flag question?
Who do you think won the debate?