I'm actually quite impressed with the coverage that the Hartford Courant gave to the Lieberman-Lamont debate. It's as close to truly neutral coverage as I have seen recently.
WEST HARTFORD — Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman relentlessly attacked Ned Lamont during a televised debate Thursday, painting his challenger as a rich neophyte with a single issue – the war in Iraq.
Unlike the collegial tone employed in his vice presidential debate with Dick Cheney in 2000, Lieberman was alternately caustic and dismissive, leaving Lamont wide-eyed and visibly rattled in the opening minutes of the one-hour confrontation.
But at the end of the nationally televised debate, each side claimed victory. The incumbent's camp said Lieberman dominated, while Lamont's backers said the challenger showed he could stand up to a three-term senator.
"It was a good night for Ned Lamont. He did what he had to do, which is establish his credibility as a U.S. senator," said former Democratic State Chairman George Jepsen, a Lamont supporter. "Joe was way over the top with his aggressiveness and personal attacks."
John F. Droney Jr., a former party chairman allied with Lieberman, said the incumbent outclassed the challenger, successfully defining Lamont as a Greenwich businessman unable to match Lieberman's record or poise.
"Lieberman was good on the issues, and he was up against a Cub Scout from Greenwich," Droney said. "Lamont is not ready for prime time."
The consensus from most experienced watchers of politics is that Lieberman won handily, with the usual shouts of, "Did not!" coming from the usual quarters. Regardless, the Courant does a nice job of giving balanced coverage in this piece.
It’s dangerous to judge the results of a debate based on commentary on the debate.
I remember the Bush-Ferraro debate back in my righty days. I’m telling you, Bush was embarrassing–if they had been the Presidential candidates it would have been enough to have changed my vote, as Bush came across as shrill and uninformed. My jaw dropped when the commentators said it was a draw.
By the way, that was the beginning of the end as a Repbulican for me. When they nominated Bush in ’88, I left the party.
Ferraro!!!
Help me Rhonda! ROTFLMAO
Thanks for your efforts to improve the GOP. Our success depends on contributions like yours. Again, we appreciate all you’ve done, and will do, to ensure a GOP majority for the 21st century. BTW, are there any more at home like you?