A big part of the problem is CNN, other mainstream media and Liberal Elites truly believe that those were pertinent questions for Republicans and that conservative voters had a burning desire to know the answers. Idiots.

Let's face it, if they had a allowed numerous questions about immigration, taxes, healthcare, social security, states rights, the state department, judicial appointments, education and foreign policy they would have shown up our rivals, the Democratic presidential hopefuls, to be seriously lacking in substance and good policy platforms.

>>What would Jesus do?<<

I dunno. I think it's a very pertinent question for any politician who goes on about being a Christian.

Embarrassing, certainly. But pertinent nonetheless.

And Noel comes along to prove the point, Daphne. I've seen other leftist trolls on other conservative blogs insisting that the questions asked by the phony conservative questioners are, in fact, relevant.

CNN did a really horrible job of it - - and now everyone knows just how badly of a job they did of it.

So far these debates have been almost worthless to me in making my decision. Someone I know suggested that the network news channels really shouldn't have anything to do with the debates. Perhaps the League of Women Voters could organize it. I can think of atleast 5 formats that would work very nicely. Surely the vaunted, supposedly well educated, journalists who are serving up this crap ought to be able to do it.

CNN proves, yet again, that it is a lefty-biased network, and that it is primarily interested in providing a platform for Democratic policy pitches well in advance of the general election.

So it's a mirror-image of Fox News then? Like the Dems get a fair-wind there! LOL!

Peter - more fair than CNN.

Why is what Jesus would do relevant to the political well being of my country? Or who I'm going to choose to lead it? That's a stupid question.

The dems have a lot of nerve calling Fox News "Faux News". I am positive that Fox News would have given a fair shake.

>>And Noel comes along to prove the point<<

What point do you think I was proving, Monica.
I like to see committed Christians in politics, and even dyed-in-the-wool conservatives, like your inimitable partner, have a certain coherence to their arguments. But I challenge anybody to claim he's/she's a committed Christian while espousing most modern conservative viewpoints of the kind you see aired here daily without making himself/herself look silly.

And the question "What would Jesus do?" is one thing that makes them look very silly, which is why they avoid it as long as they can.

Daphne
The Republicans have played the christian card for all it's worth, to the point where they have the bible belt states guaranteed. So it does not seem unreasonable to challenge thm on their chosen ground.

Monica
If you seriously think that Fox is anything other than a Republican propaganda station you are missing the obvious. I watched their coverage of the mid-term elections a year ago and there was no pretence of being "fair and balanced". They were practically in tears as they had to report on the Republicans losing both the house and the senate.

The point of a debate is to make a candidate look silly? Noel - that is not the point of a debate.

The point of a debate is to hear the candidates position on many pressing issues that will affect the future of our country. This republican debate was supposed to help republicans in this country make a decision.

What would Jesus do is not relevant to that. Do you see? Can you understand that? What you have proven is that you actually think that it is relevant when it is, in fact, not relevant.

That is a very typical leftist reaction to the situation we are facing with CNN's handling of the debate.

I repeat - Along comes Noel to prove the point.

Peter show one example where fox setup a Dem? If you can't admit your head is up your...

Peter - you have no idea what you are talking about. I disagree. Strongly.

I know many leftists (such as you) who insist that Fox News is a right wing propaganda machine. That is a lie.

Monica

See my post at 11.55. Why should the Republicans not be challenged on religion when they have made it a central point of their platform for years?

Peter was that the analysys that included Bob Beckal, Cohlms and about 5 other leading Democrat analysts???

Monica

So Bill O'Reilly is a commie? LOL!

Did you watch the "fair and balanced" coverage on Fox of the mid terms results last year? Did you see the tears?

What candidate has made Christianity the central point in their platform?

Please address Troll's question.

Is the fact that Fox includes conservative viewpoints a problem?

Peter, don't you smear with that paintbrush.

Bill O'Reilly? Are you kidding? Conservatives don't watch him!

True Daphne. lol!

I would like to ask Peter, 'Is the fact that a candidate is a Christian a problem?'

We like Savage!!!!! Red Meat!

Troll and Monica

You seem to believe that Fox is really "fair and balanced".

We are not going to agree on this, but I suspect that anyone on this side of the pond can see the blatant bias to the Republicans. No doubt the other US news channels are biased towards the Dems, but it's just not as obvious, to us anyway.

Murdoch has said this week that he would like to see Sky News as a British version of Fox (presumably supporting either UKIP or the BNP) but unfortunately for Rupe the laws here insist on real balance in news coverage. Still, he can console himself with his domination of newspaper ownership in the UK (about 40% of circulation) and his 18% stake in ITV, neither of which would never be allowed in the states.

>>What you have proven is that you actually think that it is relevant when it is, in fact, not relevant.<<

I didn't know that this debate thing was set up for the country's Republicans (to be honest, there are still many things about a candidate's long road to the White House that are beyond me, despite mahons' best efforts.) , but if it is, I see your point.

However, I think a lot of politicians try to do a balancing act between many mutually contradictory positions just to secure as broad a political base as possible. I think any questioner or interviewer is justified in poking a finger into the contradictions. This should help reveal the politician's true beliefs. It doesn't have to be done to make them look silly or hypocritical (although it could have that effect), but to let people know where they really stand. American Republicans should actually be more interested in finding out this than anybody else.

Besides, would you really complain if someone forced Democrat candidates to face their own contradictions during a Democrat Q&A?. Now honestly?

Noel - I am not interested in making a candidate look silly. I am interested in hearing about where they stand. I am most interested in hearing where the Republican candidates stand as I wish to make an informed decision in the primary. That's it.

Peter, I've learned something very important from my time on ATW. It's that good, hell, great people from both sides of the aisle see things from a fundamentally different point of view. Sometimes we are disagreeing because we aren't seeing what the other one sees. You see a horse, we see a giraffe - our perceptions can be radically different because we are not even talking about the same thing. I wish I could explain it better, but this leads to a lot of misunderstanding amongst us that turns personal and ugly.

We are not going to agree on this, but I suspect that anyone on this side of the pond can see the blatant bias to the Republicans. No doubt the other US news channels are biased towards the Dems, but it's just not as obvious, to us anyway.

LOL people who allow terrorists to run for office and believethe BBC for aren't capeable of analyzing anything

Thanks Troll. Brilliant response.

Peter - you are silly.

Mort Kondracke, Bob Beckel, Mara Liasson, Juan Williams, Alan Colmes just to name a few.

Get real.

Monica

None of those names mean anything to me. As a fellow-traveller, are they lefties I should know of? If so, I don't recall them on Fox on the night of the mid-term results. Rightworld was totally in charge that night, no room for dissent, only tears.

Peter like we were both trying to tell ya your ignorence is laughable

As I said earlier - you have no idea what you are talking about. Keep it up, though! I'm sure that all of your little friends will titter and agree with you. lol!

>>I wish I could explain it better, but this leads to a lot of misunderstanding amongst us that turns personal and ugly.<<

No need. You're so right, Daphne, and I know exactly what you mean. I wish you would develop this point a bit and present on ATW bigger and more often.

= and present IT on ATW

Man, Monica & Troll - ya'll are a serious tag team! Remind me never to get on both of ya'lls bad side at the same time - scary rough sh*t! :-)

Oh come on! We're not scary and rough. We just like having a good time. Lively debate. That's all!

A family who tag teams together stays together!!

Lively? - I think you scare the piss out of some of these folks! You guys are one of the reasons I stayed on this site when I found it. Ya'll are solid in my book.

yeah we like you too Daphne

>>I think you scare the piss out of some of these folks! <<

I think there's only one person that a lot of folk on ATW are scared of, and she ain't here tonight!

Cheers!! Time for more beer! Yeehaw! I love Friday! Let's go discharge some firearms into the air!

**want to join the lovefest Peter .....come on over to the dark side.....it's nice here and you're sooo close, just let the remaining ingrained detritus go...............:-)

We adore you, Daphne. I don't know why anyone should be scared. I try not to call names, I try to maintain a sense of humor. I cannot abide such ignorant comments as to how Fox News is a right wing propaganda machine, when they obviously highlight many points of view. Actually - FN annoys me to no end with covering lots of fluff and crap when there is so much going on in the world. I guess they are all doing that though.

I totally enjoy many FN news shows where they pit persons of different political persuasions face to face.

I try to maintain a sense of humor. I cannot abide such ignorant comments as to how Fox News is a right wing propaganda machine,..

LOL!

You guys need to get out more. Ask anyone on this side of the pond about Fox and you'll get a short answer.

I may be ignorant about some of the nonentities you listed as (presumably) token liberals allowed to appear on Fox, but you guys sure have no idea about how Fox is perceived over here.

But keep on with your "fair and balanced" delusions by all means, if it floats your boat.

Noel - thank god - she's a royal pain.

I'm glad you understood what I meant. I think it's important because I've met so many wonderful, intelligent, and highly articulate people here who just crucify each other over points that the others don't even see. We're shooting blind half the time. Clarity is difficult under normal circumstances and here we are trying to thrash things out and connect when we can't hear inflections, see expressions or know backgrounds. It can be a recipe for disaster and very hurt feelings when you see A and I'm talking about B and we collide in the middle.

I like you too Noel, very much. I think you're brilliant, kind and very witty. I always look forward to you being here to talk to or argue with. Lucky wife you've got there.

Pour a drink Peter and chill out. Go listen to some Tom Petty that David provided - smile darlin'!

Noel - thank god - she's a royal pain.

Who is?

Me?

Lord No Patty! Not you.

Oh well...I liked the Royal part... :)

Being the Queen is always good! Go get your crown out and have a little dance.

I'm off!

Peter. *sigh* I really don't care what you think of Fox and I really don't care what most Limeys say about Fox. You're wrong. The people I listed are not 'non-entities', but if you need to tell yourself that then by all means be my guest.

Oh go on say it -TYPHOO.

For what it's worth, of course Fox has a Right wing bias. I cannot understand why Monica and Troll won;t admit it. yes it allows left wing voices to be aired but the whole ethos of the channel and most of it's presenters is to empathise with a conservative point of view. Anyone of all political persuasions can see that, and there's nothing wrong wth it so why pretend it isnt the case.

Monica and Troll can only see 2 things on the media, 'left wing bias' or 'fair and balanced'.