Once, just once, I'd like to see someone moderate a debate with a focus on the issues. The debates are like a spin room to the masses and I hate spin alley. The only person I've ever seen effectively manage a debate is Gwen Ifill (PBS), who did a crack job of moderating the vice-presidential debate in the 2004 election. Here's an outtake I found on the archived blog, Tales of a Shrink -- which is obviously by a Democrat:

We all made a new friend last night, didn't we?

Gwen Ifill.

I watched the Vice-Presidential debate last night, and it angered up my blood so I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm sure that other people will talk about the issues raised, so I'm not going to do that. Besides, no one cares about the issues. The wonderful thing about a two-party system is that people already know where the candidates stand on the issues. This was about image, likeability, leadership, and effectiveness. Remember that 80% of your message is how you say it, and only 10% is what you say. I'm calling this one a draw, but if I had to, I'd give it to Edwards. Here are my thoughts:

1) Gwen Ifill (the moderator) rocks. Take this exchange:

Cheney (chuckling malevolently): "It'll take more than 30 seconds to rebut that."
Gwen Ifill (no-nonense tone): "Well, that's all you get."
Audience: Snap!

2) Dick Cheney is evil. Just look at the man. And a little hint to the Republicans: Don't dress Cheney in a black suit. It doesn't help his image. I'm thinking I should come up with a clever way of referring to our Veep. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards something like Mr. Evil, MBA.

3) John Edwards is likeable, and has that all-important I-Sound-Like-Andy-Griffith thing, which tends to comfort American voters.

4) Edwards did a good job of taking the debate to Cheney, confronting him on misleading the American people, and on giving no-bid contracts to his former company. However, Edwards missed a lot of opportunities to strike back at Cheney, and he didn't do such a great job of defending his own positions.

5) John Edwards gave one of the best closing statements I've ever heard, period. I wanted to jump up and shout, "Edwards in '04!" All those years as a trial lawyer paid off.

THIS is why we need the candidates to agree to come on-camera with one of our contributing editors and answer the questions in our Voter Manifesto.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Strong language!

I would love to know what behavior you found so "disgusting
because I had to miss the debate and tuned in here to find out what ya'll think. What did Sens. Clinton and Obama do to elicit your response? Know you're an Edwards fan, so see my outtake from his 2004 debate with Cheney above.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette