Those who will be asking the questions come from all over the United States, they were selected totally at random, and each and every one of them have sworn to us on stacks of bibles, cross-their-hearts-and-hope-to-die, stick-a-thousand-needles-in-t…..

Ted Faturos, the corn subsidies questioner, was an intern for Democrat Congresswoman Jane Harman.

–Jason

Jason Coleman on November 29, 2007 at 4:29 AM
Still a legitimate question though, and he didn’t get to badger the participants the way the Hillary-plant was.

Otherwise, I didn’t mind the General’s actual question so much, mostly because Mitt gave another waffling answer “…uh, there’s a war on, so ask me later. Nevermind my previous stance.”

Hollowpoint on November 29, 2007 at 1:09 PM

I somewhat agree with you and somewhat don’t. This is supposed to be the Republican primary, where Republicans get to examine and vet their candidates. When CNN/YouTube, Politico, and more collude to create agenda driven preference for Democrats asking Republicans questions, there’s a problem with the format/system.

We’re not getting to vet our own candidates, we’re having Dem activists getting more time in our debate than some of our candidates (like Tom T., I’m pretty sure Kerr got more time on mike uninterrupted than Tom T. did and maybe Hunter too).

That’s a problem. It’s also a problem when questioners are framing questions for lose-lose answers and there’s no real way for the candidates to challenge the question effectively. The more that is coming out, (see the updates at MichelleMalkin.com) is making it look more and more like CNN intentionally biased the debate and severly OVERSAMPLED Democrats in what was supposed to be a Republican debates.

To the point of even including a John Edwards supporter in their group of “undecided Republicans”.

The whole debate was bogus, a farce.

Connect these dots too.

–Jason

Of course, that still means there’s something like 4-5 million gays out there waiting to take a shower with you.

I suddenly feel so… filthy.

I think I’ll try out the “openly gay” shtick this week; e.g.,

“Hi, yeah, I’ll have the Combo Meal No. 5 with a Diet Coke. And I’m an openly gay man.”

What’s next? Bob Barker replaces Brian Williams?

( or is Barker dead? For that matter, does Brian Williams still have a pulse ? )

Just get it over with and hire Rosie to replace Katie Couric……..

4shoes on November 29, 2007 at 1:43 PM

Its not the question or the questioner that’s the problem. The problem is that CNN flew this guy in, not to ask a followup question, but to chastize the Republicans for giving the wrong answer.

I really don’t care if they are “plants” as long as they ask good questions. The harder the question the better in my eyes, I’m sick of seeing softballs tossed. If that comes from a plant it is fine with me. Just ask legitimate questions.

Hammerhead on November 29, 2007 at 12:21 PM

I agree. Not surprised at all that cnn would plant questions, and the harder the better, it just makes our guys look that much better, so bring it, Complete Non Network!

Ted Faturos, the corn subsidies questioner, was an intern for Democrat Congresswoman Jane Harman.

–Jason

Jason Coleman on November 29, 2007 at 4:29 AM

Still a legitimate question though, and he didn’t get to badger the participants the way the Hillary-plant was.

Otherwise, I didn’t mind the General’s actual question so much, mostly because Mitt gave another waffling answer “…uh, there’s a war on, so ask me later. Nevermind my previous stance.”

I thought there was something up the moment they went back to the guy in the audience to ask him if he thought his question was answered, then the guy goes on for another minute with, what felt like, a prepared rebuttal. My first thought was “why is CNN breaking format and letting this guy get more airtime, general or not? No one else got to follow up their YouTube question after it was answered with an open statement, why him?”. What a coincidence the general who submitted a question that was aired just happened to be in the audience, right there handy to rebut any answers given.

Planet Boulder on November 29, 2007 at 8:54 AM

Bingo, but I don’t know that Hillary’s campaign was necessarily involved. Do I take them at their word when they deny involvement? Of course not, but CNN is the primary target right now.

And I don’t mean the kind that grow in pots….

Not just one plant at the debate, but a whole nursery of plants as the facts flow in revealing the truth. And don’t tell me that no one at CNN knew, someone knew and set it up that way. How stupid do they think Americans are, when they all deny t …….

Hunter’s answer was 100% dead on. Recruiting into an all-volunteer force will plunge if the General has his way. I don’t care whether you like it or not. I don’t care whether you believe it or not. That’s just the way it is.

By the way, didn’t allowing (alledgedly chaste) homosexuals into the Catholic priesthood work out swell?

Seems to me, voter-wise, in the BIG picture..this just isn’t a huge issue.

I’m not anti-gay, but I’m anti-junk science. I know a lot of gays personally, but I’ve long suspected that 10 percent number is way high.

saint kansas on November 29, 2007 at 9:09 AM

I couldn’t personally care less about who is gay and who isn’t, but I’ve read a lot of research that supports your suspicion. I’m sure you can find plenty of it Googling around.

If I recall correctly, other more reputable (and more recent) studies have found the figure more in the 1%-5% range. I think it’s obvious that the reason the 10% figure is repeated so frequently is that its the highest of any study.

I’d wager that the actual figure is 1-2%.

Of course, that still means there’s something like 4-5 million gays out there waiting to take a shower with you. So don’t let your guard down. And if you drop the soap, just let it go, man. Let it go.

Only Drudge, Fox, and the right side of the blogosphere is talking about it.

Actions speak louder than words. If Hillary is so confident she will win the WH, why would she even bother tampering with the lowly Republican debate like she does her own campaign appearances? Maybe she isn’t ……