Random observations about the G.O.P. "debate"

Didn't Lincoln and Douglas debate for six hours at a stretch in packed houses with no air conditioning? Something Neil Postman said in another context applies here, I think. He said that kids don't learn to love learning by watching Sesame Street; they learn to love television by watching Sesame Street. In other words, this is less a public debate than a dog and pony show.

Are these the stupidest questions you've ever heard or what? My favorite, to Mitt Romney: "What do you dislike most about America?" Um, duh, lemme see . . . gee, that's a tough one . . . there are so many things I dislike that it's hard to name just one . . . Ummmmm, but I'm going to have to go with New Jersey.

Apparently, Ronald Reagan was a Republican.

John McCain sounds forceful and presidential, and I like his tie.

Is it my imagination, or are they tailoring Giuliani's questions so as to make it clear to the Republican base that Giuliani is not a "real" Republican? If anybody were actually watching this, it might be annoying.

Some of the candidates are obviously running for Vice President (except Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul). Giuliani/Brownback anyone?

Giuliani has a nice voice, doesn't he?

Several of the candidates are impressive, but only one of them is dreamy, simply dreamy.

[My little joke about New Jersey was, of course, just a joke. Some of my favorite people are New Jerseyites.]