Posted on 10/19/2012 9:58:14 PM PDT by John Semmens
While debates have been a part of the electoral process since the beginning of this country, MSNBC's host of the show HardballChris Matthewsquestioned whether they should be.
Should the President of the United StatesAmerica's 'first citizen' so to speak, and acknowledged leader of the free worldhave to put up with the likes of someone like Mitt Romney? Matthews wondered. Isn't it bad enough that Romney is allowed to traipse about the country lambasting the President's policies? Is it fair to force the President to be confronted face-to-face with his detractor?
Particularly irksome from Matthews point of view was the moment in last Tuesday's debate when Romney rebuffed Obama's interruption by urging the President to wait for his turn before speaking.
Who does Romney think he is? Matthews demanded to know. Obama is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. He should speak whenever he deems necessary. If the situation requires that he interrupt someone else then he should interrupt. Preventing him from interrupting strikes me as possibly unConstitutional.
Matthews further charged that Romney's notion that everyone should get a turn is simply childish. This is not some playground game. Treating it like it is was very disrespectful. While President Obama was too much of a gentleman to put Romney in his proper place I'm hoping the voters aren't so squeamish.
In related news, CNN dismissed GOP complaints that their moderatorCandy Crowleygave Obama more time to speak than Romney, interrupted Romney three times as often, and gave Obama the last word on 8 out of 11 occasions. This debate was in line with the previous two debates of this campaign, the network's managing editor Mark Whitaker maintained. Showing the proper respect for the sitting President and Vice-President is not something we should be criticized for. Governor Romney should consider himself lucky he was allowed on the same stage as the President. The President would've been entirely within his rights to refuse to debate Mr. Romney, as was President Johnson when he refused to debate Goldwater in the 1964 election campaign.
if you missed any of this week's other semi-news posts you can find them at...
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Opinion/121059-2012-10-19-semi-news-a-satire-of-recent-news-october-21-2012.htm
ping
ping
This is not some playground game
Right on John, it should be treated as the professional match-up it is. Thus, I propose the debates be moderated by NFL officials. All that’s needed is a stopwatch, rulebook, and a button that will cut to dead air if a speaker violates the time limit, which will be strictly enforced. Why should the most important competition in the nation be overseen by any less than the best, most unbiased and objective officials that oversee our highest sporting events?
Think about it...
Even the black and white uniforms are perfect to show no racial bias. A perfect solution!
I know it’s satire, but I somehow suspect that Chrissie wasn’t nearly as concerned about respect for the Presidency when Dubya was in office.
Stay away from guys named Ajax, and chicks named Clytemnestra.
/johnny
Matthews has that ‘battered wife’ look, kinda like he’d been beat up the night before but decided to come to work anyway.
Wow Chris Matthews is a total Obama groupie & in favor of deifying Obama to boot. Last time I checked the President was not supposed to be a dictator. Now THAT would be un- Constitutional Mr. Matthews. When I first read this I thought it might be from the Onion or something as Matthews is so over the top in his obsequiousness to Obama that it looks downright comical. I wonder if he knows how ridiculous he looks by making such pathetic points. I think he is in the wrong business as he would be better suited as a comic actor - oops - he is comic actor. Whether he intended it or not.
BUMP!
Matthews is a moron
All thats needed is a stopwatch, rulebook, and a button that will cut to dead air if a speaker violates the time limit, which will be strictly enforced.
Instead of cutting to dead air, can we get a button that administers a painful, electric shock?
Once again, your satires aren’t all that different than the reality.
Very funny, John. Thanks again for the ping.
Obama is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES....”
Yes he is. That makes him my employee. This is not a Monarchy. He is not a king. Matthews is speaking from a false, and dangerous, paradigm.
He does not deserve to have a public pulpit.
Funny - Ewwww.
What has been seen... cannot be unseen.
Zackly!
The networks should be PROHIBITED from running these debates and the “moderators” need to be selected from a less bias pool, and FORCED to follow some very specific rules.
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