As an exercise, what do you think about the different kinds of questions asked the two sets of candidates. As a question, do you think this reveals the oft-rumored "media bias" or can it be more accurately summed up as "Chris Matthews is the worst debate question-writer ever?"
Questions asked the democrats:
"Do you agree with Senate Leader Harry Reid that the war in Iraq is lost?"
"Can you be against the war and yet still fund it?"
"What would you consider to be a "mission complete" status in Iraq?
"Do hedge funds make America better?"
"Is it right to make personnel decisions based on a person's race?"
"A majority of Americans approve of the Supreme Court's ban on partial-birth abortion. Is this because America and the Supreme Court have different opinions than their elected officials?"
"Who is your model Supreme Court justice?"
"Did the federal government fail the students at VA Tech in any way?"
"Has the massacre made you reevaluate your position on gun control?"
"Do any of you own guns in the house?"
"What taxes would you raise to better fund socialized health care?"
"Do you agree with the NAACP asking tourists to boycott the state of South Carolina until they remove the confederate flag?"
"What's the most significant political or professional mistake you've made and what have you learned?"
"Do you support amnesty for illegal aliens?"
"How would you reverse the trend of other nations producing smarter students than ours?"
"Why do employees have to pass drug tests to get paid, but welfare recipients don't?"
"Why is the price of gas still rising?"
"Who are America's greatest allies?"
"Who are America's greatest enemies?"
"Why are Republicans considered better for national security?"
"Is there a such thing as a global war on terror?"
"Who wants to impeach Dick Cheney?"
"Is there a difference between gay marriage and civil unions?"
"How do we fix global warming?"
"Is Wal-Mart good or evil?"
Questions asked the republicans:
22% of the country thinks we're on the right track. How do you get back to Reagan's "morning in America?"
Most of America's pessimism is because of Iraq. How do you win in Iraq?
55% of america believes the war can't be won. Shouldn't America have a president who listens to them?
The Islamic world hates us. How do you win the war if every dead terrorist is so easily replaced?
So many Islamic nations hate us. Shouldn't we work on that hate, instead of just fighting terrorists?
Would you have fired Rumsfeld before last November?
Should we fire more cabinet members?
Why should we go into Iran? What would be our "trip wire?"
Israel calls and says they're about to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. What do you do?
Should employers be allowed to fire people for being gay?
Should Catholics be allowed to deny communion to pro-choice politicians?
Is the best way to win the election the Arnold Schwarzenegger Centrism way?
Would you hire Karl Rove?
Is the increased influence of Christians in your party a good thing?
What's with your party and all the corruption? (That's a direct quote)
What programs would you cut?
How would you rate Bush's handling of the Iraq war?
What does being a pro-life president mean?
Who disagrees with strong anti-illegal-immigration? Anyone?
Did you watch "An Inconvenient Truth?"
What's your take on stem cell research?
You voted against Bush's tax cuts but now you support them. That's crazy talk. What up?
What tax would you like to cut?
What Democrat would you put in your cabinet?
Who doesn't believe in evolution?
Would you keep any of the current cabinet members if you won?
What's the difference between a Sunni and a Shia?
Do you trust the media?
Do your religious beliefs affect your political policy
Are you for a national ID card?
Would you pardon Scooter Libby?
Who should have had the last say on Terry Schiavo's life?
Should the Clintons come back to the White House? (Seriously. They asked the Republican candidates to answer a question about whether the Democratic candidate should win. :|)
Questions asked the democrats:
"Do you agree with Senate Leader Harry Reid that the war in Iraq is lost?"
"Can you be against the war and yet still fund it?"
"What would you consider to be a "mission complete" status in Iraq?
"Do hedge funds make America better?"
"Is it right to make personnel decisions based on a person's race?"
"A majority of Americans approve of the Supreme Court's ban on partial-birth abortion. Is this because America and the Supreme Court have different opinions than their elected officials?"
"Who is your model Supreme Court justice?"
"Did the federal government fail the students at VA Tech in any way?"
"Has the massacre made you reevaluate your position on gun control?"
"Do any of you own guns in the house?"
"What taxes would you raise to better fund socialized health care?"
"Do you agree with the NAACP asking tourists to boycott the state of South Carolina until they remove the confederate flag?"
"What's the most significant political or professional mistake you've made and what have you learned?"
"Do you support amnesty for illegal aliens?"
"How would you reverse the trend of other nations producing smarter students than ours?"
"Why do employees have to pass drug tests to get paid, but welfare recipients don't?"
"Why is the price of gas still rising?"
"Who are America's greatest allies?"
"Who are America's greatest enemies?"
"Why are Republicans considered better for national security?"
"Is there a such thing as a global war on terror?"
"Who wants to impeach Dick Cheney?"
"Is there a difference between gay marriage and civil unions?"
"How do we fix global warming?"
"Is Wal-Mart good or evil?"
Questions asked the republicans:
22% of the country thinks we're on the right track. How do you get back to Reagan's "morning in America?"
Most of America's pessimism is because of Iraq. How do you win in Iraq?
55% of america believes the war can't be won. Shouldn't America have a president who listens to them?
The Islamic world hates us. How do you win the war if every dead terrorist is so easily replaced?
So many Islamic nations hate us. Shouldn't we work on that hate, instead of just fighting terrorists?
Would you have fired Rumsfeld before last November?
Should we fire more cabinet members?
Why should we go into Iran? What would be our "trip wire?"
Israel calls and says they're about to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. What do you do?
Should employers be allowed to fire people for being gay?
Should Catholics be allowed to deny communion to pro-choice politicians?
Is the best way to win the election the Arnold Schwarzenegger Centrism way?
Would you hire Karl Rove?
Is the increased influence of Christians in your party a good thing?
What's with your party and all the corruption? (That's a direct quote)
What programs would you cut?
How would you rate Bush's handling of the Iraq war?
What does being a pro-life president mean?
Who disagrees with strong anti-illegal-immigration? Anyone?
Did you watch "An Inconvenient Truth?"
What's your take on stem cell research?
You voted against Bush's tax cuts but now you support them. That's crazy talk. What up?
What tax would you like to cut?
What Democrat would you put in your cabinet?
Who doesn't believe in evolution?
Would you keep any of the current cabinet members if you won?
What's the difference between a Sunni and a Shia?
Do you trust the media?
Do your religious beliefs affect your political policy
Are you for a national ID card?
Would you pardon Scooter Libby?
Who should have had the last say on Terry Schiavo's life?
Should the Clintons come back to the White House? (Seriously. They asked the Republican candidates to answer a question about whether the Democratic candidate should win. :|)