Time Not On Kucinich’s Side
Promises, promises. CNN moderator Wolf “Grizzly Adams” Blitzer at the Democratic debate in Las Vegas the other night:
“Everyone’s going to get time tonight. Don’t worry. We got a lot of time. Go ahead.” And later, just to make it perfectly clear, “Let me just point out, everyone’s going to have plenty of time tonight … we’ll bring everybody in, I promise.”
Okay, I suppose technically the razor-phobic Master of Ceremonies did live up to his word. All Democratic free-world-leader-wannabes were indeed given their time on the soapbox. Obama had his eighteen minutes. Clinton had her sixteen. Hell, even Richardson was allowed over fourteen minutes of stiffly delivered speechifying, topping Edwards’ eleven! How that happened, I have no idea.
My new bud Dennis Kucinich, though, got … five minutes. All right, it was nearly five and a half. Still coming up short (pun intended) to even Dodd and Biden, who respectively were permitted seven and nine minutes of chat time.
Nothing new, I guess. It seems that in every debate, Kucinich is routinely dismissed, although he consistently makes the most sense when given a chance to speak. I am becoming increasingly committed to tossing my hat into the DK camp when the primaries roll around. I will subsequently, no doubt, then have to decide whether to join the Clinton or Obama parade, but at least I’ll know I tried.
CNN’s debate moderators suck. Wolf in particular. I’d like to, just once, see a forum of potential candidates, each given the opportunity to respond to every question, given equal time, and not simply a parody of a debate such as what was aired the other night.
If for nothing else, Kucinich deserves props for snagging a hot wife, half his age and twice as tall. With a tongue stud, no less. Go, Dennis! Maybe those moderator guys asking the questions are just a wee bit jealous. You’ve got to hand it to the little dude, he got game. It’s just too bad he’s usually benched when it comes to these presidential competitions.
At least, when given the rare opportunity to speak last Thursday night, Kucinich did make the most of his limited time, as is summarily presented in the following video compilation of the man-who-should-be-president’s rationed participatory comments.
On a final note, I should probably apologize for being so critical of CNN and Mr. Blitzer. After all, had Kucinich been allowed to ramble on, there may not have been enough time at the end of the program for Hillary to respond to the question that we all desperately wanted answered … diamonds or pearls?
dennis kucinich, election 2008, presidential election, democratic debate, presidential debate, cnn debate, kucinich youtube video
November 17th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Well Doug, whether we like it or not the media is going to tell us that Hilliary is going to be the nominee. It’s as if the whole thing has been decided already. I like each and every one of the candidates running, but as of now I’m leaning towards Edwards. I think Dennis is a good guy and I hate the fact that he’s always picked on in the media. It seemed as though he wasn’t really into the whole debate the other night. My son told me, he was probably upset because he didn’t get asked that many questions. The media and the commentators should show Dennis the same respect that they show Hilliary and Obama.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
I would pretty much bet my money that Hillary will be the one in the finals, at the end of the day. I like her, that’s fine. I like them all, but have become particularly a fan, obviously, of Dennis. Your son is right, he was upset (it was kinda obvious) because he didn’t, and doesn’t, get asked that many questions. These media debates have simply determined that it’s going to be a Hillary vs. Barack contest, with John as a possible contender should something go terribly awry. I like John, too, so that would be okay. Biden does make me laugh, though. That might not be such a bad thing, either.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I also get a kick out of Biden. I thought everyone did a good job the other night. Obama stumbled a little on the drivers license question. I think he answered the national security or human rights question the best. I really do like each and every one of the Democrats running. They all bring something new and fresh to the table.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:01 am
Hi,
I’m new here, having crawled over from Winnie’s Watching the View site. Looks like a good site!
I like all the Democratic nominees, too, though I haven’t made up my mind yet between Obama and Edwards. Actually my pick would be Al Gore, but I’m sure he won’t run.
Question: Is anyone terrified of the broken-glass syndrome — that having Hillary win the nomination will gavanize people on the right who have hated her for so long to crawl over broken glass to vote for anyone who can beat her? I admit I am. I am spooked by having heard so many people on the right since the nineties howl at the moon at the mere mention of her name.
I feel affection and relief whenever I see all the Dems standing at their podiums at all of these debates They are so much more thoughtful and smart than what we’ve had to endure since 2000. I like them all, really, and appreciated Mike Gravel’s trying to keep their feet to the fire.
I can’t stand for the media to set the story line, to prescribe rather than describe. One of the story lines that I’m sick of is to compare Obama to Adlai Stevenson, Bill Bradley, and all the intellectual candidates of the past who could not possibly win the general election. If he ends up in that camp, so be it. But don’t repeat it so often that seem as though you want to make it so.
Well, I’ll sign off now and will check other threads on here at another time. Rainlillie, I meant to thank you on the View blog for the David Brock (mediamatters) link and other links. That blog has gotten so busy with so many postings I have gotten lost in space trying to keep up with it all. I also wanted to tell you I happened to see your Set the Table Nancy piece on buzz and posted a comment. Congrats! Loved it.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:36 am
Hi, Peaches! Gotta love a fellow View Watcher. You bring up a good point, with the broken glass syndrome. Yeah, Hillary is kind of the token target now, but I have a feeling that there are those that would crawl over broken glass to vote against whoever ends up as the candidate with a (D) behind their name. And, seriously, what happened to Gravel????? Where did he go? I want him back. I liked him, too.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:12 am
I was listening to the radio last week and it was said that THE MEDIA is the one pushing for the two nominees. Those two will most likely be Rudy and Hilary. They say they (corporate media) have a lot to gain moneywise. I can’t remember the specifics but what was said made a lot of sense. I believe the media has been pushing these two so long that they are engraved into our heads. They get more airtime, talktime, storytime…
Whoever the Dems choose will be a plus for me. I agree with you all, there are some good choices. I really would love to see a Gore/Obama ticket but I know that won’t happen.
I admit, I am ‘debated’ out so I did not watch the last Dem one. Did someone really ask a ‘diamonds or pearl’ question??? ((gag)))
November 18th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I’m also fearful that a Hilliary nomination will energize the GOP base. Then it again, regardless of who the Democrats nominate the GoP slime machine will try to swiftboat them. I thought the media really played a huge part in Kerry’s downfall.
It was never widely reported that the claims made against Kerry were proven false by the Navy.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20040826/ai_n14580881
Thanks Peaches for your kind words on my Buzzflash article. Stacee, I watched Hardball the next day after the debate and it was all about Hilliary and Obama. I hope the people will decide not the media.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Stacee - Yep, there really was a diamond or pearls question. Probably, and has been speculated, another planted question. The gal who asked the ? even ended, after Hillary responded, something along the lines that she was the only one shining up there.
Rainlillie - I didn’t see Hardball, but I saw some CNN follow up the next day, and it was all Hillary and Obama, too, with not a single mention of the “lesser” of the contenders. Yep, the media has pre-determined the candidates for ‘08.
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