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comment by thenewgreen
thenewgreen  ·  4508 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Vice Presidential Debate 2012 Live Stream -Anyone watching this?

She seemed to counter Ryan's answers more imo. Plus, I thought she could have said "VP Biden it's Congressman Ryan's turn". That said, it's Ryan that needs to call Biden out for being overly aggressive.





mk  ·  4508 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    She seemed to counter Ryan's answers more imo.

Yes, but he did answer so few. He used the same method Romney did, say something general about what needs to be done, then specifically criticize Obama and his administration. Raddatz call him on it more than Lehrer did. Of course, it's easier for an incumbent to talk specifics, but Ryan had so very few. I would have thought with the hoopla about him evading budget specifics, he'd have something more than 'a framework'.

thenewgreen  ·  4508 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I don't disagree, but imo the largest role for a moderator is to maintain order and she failed, as did Lehrer, in this way. With the Obama/Romney debate both candidates were guilty of straying from the format while tonight Biden was the only one that interrupted and was blatantly uninterested in procedure. Procedure is her primary function.

mk  ·  4508 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yes, it's definitely a role that both Raddatz and Lehrer could have done better with. However, if they don't answer the questions, there is no point in asking them. I think that getting us answers is her primary function, and good order is a part of that.

thenewgreen  ·  4508 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I agree that getting answers is a big part of their role too. But also, maintaining the etiquette.