Not A Potted Plant: GOP Debate

May 4, 2007

GOP Debate

At Oval Office 2008, I offer an objective assessment of the candidate forum last night at the Ronald Reagan Library. As you might expect, I was rooting for my candidate, but even so I have to assess that there was no clear standout. I thought it might be interesting to take a survey of some major media outlets covering the event, and how they headlined it:

ABC: Republican Field Running to Reagan and Away From Bush
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Giuliani alone on Roe v. Wade at GOP debate
Associated Press: GOP Contenders Embrace Reagan Legacy (AP feed led to a newspaper in Joplin, Missouri)
Boston Globe: Republican candidates show their differences
CBS: GOP Hopefuls Evoke Reagan At Debate
Chicago Sun-Times: Issues Divide, Reagan Unites (note: debate coverage was difficult to locate; political news in Chicago was on a purported slumlord who contributes lavishly to Barack Obama)
CNN: Debating in Reagan's Shadow, Giuliani Bucks GOP Field
Dallas Morning News: GOP hopefuls focus on their credentials (note: debate coverage was difficult to locate and was reprint of AP coverage)
Faux News: Abortion Divisive Issue at Debate
Knoxville News-Sentinel: No coverage apparent
Los Angeles Fish Wrapper: Differences emerge as Republicans debate
Miami Herald: GOP debate focuses on Iraq war, abortion
MSNBC: Giuliani's Gamble: Former NYC calculating libertarian stance may not be a liability
New York Daily News: GOP Hopefuls Duke It Out: Rudy gets wobbly on abortion views
New York Times: "...a debate that highlighted a party in flux..."
NPR: Republicans Debate In Reagan Country
Philadelphia Inquirer: No coverage apparent
Reuters: 2008 Republicans back war
San Francisco Chronicle: GOP hopefuls gather under Reagan mantle
Washington Post: GOP Field United On War, Divided On Social Issues

If you're a junkie, you'll have watched the debate already and can discuss it at Oval Office 2008.
Here, I think it's interesting to note that about all the media found of interest to report on were the frequent references to Ronald Reagan, and Rudy Giuliani's attempts to articulate a nuanced stance on abortion.

2 comments:

zzi said...: "It would be OK to repeal," said Giuliani,

I thought the term was overturn. Please enlighten. In less than 2500 words ;-); 5/04/2007 4:27 PM
Burt Likko said...: Easy. You're correct; Giuliani should have said "overturn."; 5/04/2007 5:13 PM

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Q: Why do you write under a pseudonym? And why did you pick “Burt Likko” as that pseudonym?
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Q: Where have you been transplanted from?
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Q: What’s the “Potted Plant” thing all about?
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Q: What would convince you that God was real?
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Q: Why do you refer to God as Jehovah?
A: It's the proper name of the diety most people are referring to when they talk about "God." I use the name despite the Biblical injunction against doing so because I do not believe in or fear magic spells or incantations in any form.

Q: You sometimes capitalize “God” and “Jesus.” That’s proof that you think they’re real and that they’re divine, isn’t it?
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Q: So you were a Catholic, is that why you don’t believe in God anymore?
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Q: Evolution is just another kind of religion. Believe in it if you want, but it isn’t real.
A: You’re entitled to your opinion, of course. But you’re profoundly incorrect. A “religion” by definition involves the relationship of a person with at least one supernatural entity. Evolution, by its very terms, eschews reference to supernatural causal factors with respect to the question of the manner in which biological organisms speciate over time. Evolution enjoys overwhelming support in the forms of the fossil record, species diversity, and the ongoing, observable phenomenon of speciation.

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A: Generally from Wikimedia Commons, XKCD or FARK.

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A: No. I think it’s cool.

Q: Didn’t your recent post on [subject] overlook [important fact]?
A: Maybe it did. That’s what the “comments” section is for.

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Q: Why the Green Bay Packers?
A: Because my family’s roots are in Wisconsin. I’ve rooted for the Packers since I was a little boy.

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A: Oh.

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A: Life is lived best with good food and good wine enjoyed amongst good friends. When I cook, and it turns out well, I like to share the joy that brings. If food, cooking, and recipes do not interest you, skip the posts about them.

Q: You really hate Sarah Palin, don’t you?
A: No, I don’t. I admire that she achieved high political office at a relatively young age. She has charisma above and beyond her good looks and seems to be a basically likeable and appealing person and would probably be a great dinner guest. I respect that she is protective of her family. But she’s a) too socially conservative for my taste, and b) not been able to demonstrate a thorough enough grasp of public policy issues I care about to be the kind of President I would like.

Q: Do you think this blog got you dooced out of your job in Tennessee?
A: It certainly didn’t help. But I've no regrets about that.

Q: Why do you hate Tennessee so much?
A: I don’t hate Tennessee at all! Tennessee had some really good things going for it. Its politicians have figured out how to provide for an adequate state government without any income tax -- California should take a lesson from them. It’s beautiful and green. Housing was affordable. We made and still have some very good friends. I think it's something of a disadvantage there to not be (or at least claim to be) a Baptist, though. And I got a great offer to return to California.

Q: If you could be any kind of a tree, what would it be, and why?
A: Anything in a national park. That would minimize my chances of being turned into furniture.

Q: For someone who claims to not have a television, you sure seem to know a lot about what’s happening on TV.
A: The internet is a remarkable thing.

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May 4, 2007

GOP Debate

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May 4, 2007

GOP Debate

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