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Sun. Dec 02, 2007

Questioning The Questions, Not The Answers

There’s been much hub-bub in the wake of last week’s Republican debate. Even some “blue-on-blue” action as the LA Times called CNN the Corrupt News Network. And then there’s this pointed rebuke:

Anyone who plays sports knows to avoid playing with lesser mortals. They will bring down your game.

And so it goes, too, with political debate.

The sophomoric CNN/YouTube debate Wednesday night proved again that even serious veterans of government and war can be made to look silly when playing with silly.

Republicans can’t say they weren’t warned after their Democratic counterparts suffered through the same format and entertained questions from children and a snowman. Apparently fearful of offending the childish vote, GOP rivals gamely donned their dunce caps for their turn on the block.

Jock wisdom enters political debate

As I understand it from the criticisms I’ve read, the problem was that the questions came from two kinds of people; [1] right wingers who, in the manner they asked questions about base issues like the Bible, guns, and abortion, made Republicans appear to be wackos, or [2] left wingers who posed questions in an effort to emphasize the same thing.

Also, in this and previous debates, critiques have claimed the problem has been the moderation and questioning by Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, and/or Anderson Cooper.

If we eliminate all of these allegedly objectionable questioners, I have to wonder just who would be left. And I also have to wonder why there is such a problem answering questions from average Americans who managed to somehow, by whatever means, get through the screening process.

Apparently, my problem in understanding this matter is quite simply that I am a peasant of low intelligence:

Though there were some moments of substance and clarity sprinkled throughout the evening, the YouTube debates were beneath the dignity of the man or woman who would lead the free world.

One also wishes they were an insult to voters’ intelligence.

Wow. I’m so very sorry that We The People have intruded on this media-politician event. We were under the impression that we not only had the right to ask questions of these people, but we would also determine the outcome. So sorry to get in the way of your private practice with our public concerns.

I do hope Ms. Parker will let us know what “dignified society” decides with regards to our next ruler.

At the end of her little barrel of condescension, we read that Kathleen Parker “writes for the Orlando Sentinel. Her column is distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group, 1150 15th NW, Washington, DC 20071. You can reach her at kparker@kparker.com.”

Oh, she’s got a domain! Which we find she purchased in early 1998. And nearly nine years later, it reads “Welcome to our new internet domain! Our Web Site will be online soon. Thank you for your patience while we build our site.”

Oh, yes, she’s a commentator who is on top of Our Times, with her finger on the pulse of, um, any of her co-workers still stuck in 1998, I guess.