Full time election debate moderator

cancel all the debates. He came across poorly, hesitantl, and cherrless. McCain had some goood conservative answers and was witty and upbeat. Some powerful messages too, the POW stories, adoption etc went over well with the crowd. Warren did a good job.

Sounds like the concerns were overblown somewhat. I’m glad to see he came through with a good forum for the candidates and didn’t shy away from any important issues.

All I can say is that Warren was masterful beyond my wildest expectations.

I updated my blog:

http://www.redstate.com/diaries/gamecock/2008/aug/14/non-imposing-christian-evangelical-land-heali/

The keys that made this so successful:

1-The cone of silence
2-The exact same questions
3-The low key approach

more later

It’s ok for a federal law/court decision to rule on abortion – but he CLAIMS he thinks states should decide on Marriage….EXACTLY the way abortion used to be dealt with.

I have remained stubbornly neutral towards John McCain. I know I won’t vote for Obama, but I have been on the fence about McCain. He pulled me his direction tonight. A wise VP candidate could get me all the way off the fence.

Rick Warren and his questions were both fantastic.

…. why Obama has refused to do the Townhall meetings with McCain so far. Because McCain would wipe the floor with him! As much as “my friend” grates on me a bit, Obama’s “uh, uh, ah, um, ah, well, um…” will be his downfall. He is NOT the orator people are claiming.

Yes, he gives a good prepared speech with a teleprompter, but if it’s unscripted, off-the-cuff, he truly sucks.

Hunter, it’s good of you to give Warren Kudos, but why the suspicion in the first place? Why the fear he wouldn’t? I don’t get this default assumption that Warren wouldn’t address abortion because of a press release. We evangelicals have a bad habit of assuming the worse and giving knee-jerk reactions, instead of keeping our mouths shut until we have something to confirm our suspicions.

starting at 11 PM. Just FYI for others who missed it.

He did not wear an American flag pin! What’s wrong with him?

And to think, many of our social conservative contingent here on RS could have sworn they heard the blare of the Snipe Hunting Horn signaling a fresh round of intolerance directed towards religious folks.

But stay ever vigilant for the sound of the Snipe Hunting Horn.

…several hours before the event and noticed an early 70′s pick-up truck, patched together with masking tape and a prayer. The tail gate had been replaced with a sign that said, “War Sucks!” – right above a Ron Paul bumper sticker. Not sure if the Paulnuts inside ever found a place to land and re-launch Ron Paul’s REVOLUTION 2.0, but I suspect they’re still driving around trying to figure out why King Paulnut wasn’t invited.

Kudos to Rick Warren and Saddleback church. This was the most excellent candidate forum I’ve ever seen. I hate that nasty back and forth in debates. This is soooooo much more preferable for me.

I vote to never have another network debate. Just let Saddleback handle it all.

Proper grammar saves lives.

Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.

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Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

or skill as a moderator. He didn’t try to control the discussion or make himself part of the story. He just asked tough questions and let the candidates reveal who they are by their answers. No timers, no interruptions, just question and answer.

It’s amazing how something so simple can be so effective.

McCain was as impressive as I have ever seen him. Obama revealed who he was, I could see the gears turning in his head when the questions were asked, trying to find the most pandering answer, trying so hard not to offend anyone. His answer on abortion was pure gobbly gook, and the idea that he has ever favored limits on late term abortions is a joke.

I missed. Rick just asked about Russia and Poland,Obama took so long in his bla bla bla he didn’t get that question(he didn’t go there) McCain got off the planned interview and Rick let him. KUDOS.

He did a good job asking questions the MSM is too afraid or in the tank too ask. I think he could have proded more on Obama with abortion and both on them on taxes. Obama made it seem like he wont raise taxes on anyone making under 250k when in reality by his own answer that number is 151k. I went into it thinking it was going to be a Larry King type interview and I came out it thinking it was a near Russert interview.

on the issue, from every angle, and I credit the man for the fortitude and dedication that requires.

The tone of this thread, in regards to Warren, is such a contrast to the previous thread where everyone was bashing him and/or doubting his. Nice change.

Glad that he did a good job and put those fears to rest. And glad that the answers of the candidates were so revealing.

It was a nice change of pace to actually have a fair moderator, instead of one who is in the tank for one candidate or another. The questions were relevant, to the point, very instructive, and he got a lot of good information from the candidates, not just talking points or memorized sound bytes. The candidates had to think on their feet, and as others have noted, this is not where Obama shines. Its perfectly reasonable, since he has so little experience, that he doesnt really understand the issues very well yet. McCain has served his Country most of his life and knows the issues intimately, because they are his life’s work.

If the GOP and the McCain campaign play their cards right, that Obama gaffe on abortion will be his undoing, that was a tremendous blunder indeed. To actually admit that he has no idea when life begins? That its ‘above his pay grade’? Thats just admitting what most people already knew, whether they wanted to admit it or not, that he just doesnt have the knowledge and experience to be President. The idea that he doesnt know when life begins, but whether they’re alive or not he’s perfectly content letting millions of children be killed if it means more votes for him, it just boggles the mind. Bill Clinton used to hide behind a nice sounding phrase ‘safe, legal, and rare’. Obama instead flaunts his pro-abortion position, which makes sense considering he actually voted against protecting children even AFTER they were born. This is the most pro-abortion major candidate for President in American history, and tonight the relatively thin veil on that fact was lifted, revealing that truth to the world. Great job Rick Warren, you did a great service to the American People, you showed them the truth. Well done sir!

on abortion was a copout is because the line has to be drawn somewhere legally, our government can’t just pass the buck on to God when it comes to a legal definition of life.