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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Beyond the Sun
- WaPo: In Reid vs. Angle debate, neither side wins
- NYT: In Nevada Debate, a Clash of Philosophies
- POLITICO: Nevada Senate debate fizzles
- CNN: Analysis: Who won Reid-Angle debate?
- CBS: Nevada Voters Unenthusiastic About Their Options After Reid-Angle Debate
- AP: Reid and Angle disagree -- on everything
- WSJ: 2010 Election Catch Phrase? ‘Man Up!’
- Slate: Harry Reid and Sharron Angle have a lackluster debate
- USA Today: Harry Reid, Sharron Angle trade jabs in debate
Sun archive
Las Vegas pundits raced to declare Sharron Angle the victor after Thursday night’s first and only face-off between the Republican grandmother from Reno and Harry Reid, the U.S. Senate’s top Democrat.
But beyond the Silver State, most major news outlets cast the debate as a disappointing draw. Save for the birth of what may become the Tea Party’s 2010 midterm mantra, “Man up!”, (counting the seconds until somebody comes up with an auto-tuned YouTube remix) there were few surprises, game changers or memorable moments, the national media complained.
Midterm elections writ large can be a referendum on national politics, but rarely does one race capture so much national attention.
Perhaps that’s why so many national media outlets were disappointed the debate fell short of truly dastardly displays — Reid and Angle have been whetting our appetite for wonky attacks with the way they’ve been trading barbs in TV ads.
But this is Nevada we’re talking about — not the WWE. (Tune into Connecticut for that.)
And although the gaffe-prone grandparents have promised many things, Harry and Sharron never pledged to be prime-time.
THE PRINTED WORD:
The New York Times steered clear of casting judgment, highlighting “a vivid contrast of philosophy” on display at the debate.
The Washington Post may have put it most succinctly with this article title: “In Reid vs. Angle debate, neither side wins.”
Letting the Post elaborate:
“Neither rose above in Nevada Senate debate, but Reid left door open for Angle.”
“Angle is the aggressor … tough and salty … Reid is an erratic public speaker … but he committed none of the verbal gaffes that have become his hallmark over the years.”
“ … neither Reid nor Angle shone in their one-and-only debate of the race.” (The Fix blog)
USA Today bucked the trend, calling the matchup “a sizzling debate.”
“ … neither seemed entirely at ease. But Angle, a neophyte in such a high-profile political contest, never lost her smile and aimed a series of zingers at Reid.”
CABLE NEWS:
Fox News gave a slight edge to Angle.
“ … she didn’t come off crazy, and arguably won.”
CNN called an even score.
“Both sides landed some punches, but there didn’t seem to be a knockout in the high-stakes debate Thursday night …”
FROM THE BELTWAY:
Politico said “ … while neither gaffe-prone candidate committed a major error, both struggled … the much-anticipated showdown here had more flubs than fireworks.”
And this is the best we can do to find a mouthpiece for Nevada.
Downright scary.
It makes me think about chickens for checkups and onions for bunions, duck for luck and hope for our dying state as a fast flying bird whose winging image is disappearing in the setting sun.
Brains before bricks.
How can we build a future if we have crumbling foundations and wavering voices shouting at each other and never listening??
Letting the Post elaborate:
"Neither rose above in Nevada Senate debate, but Reid left door open for Angle."
"Angle is the aggressor " tough and salty " Reid is an erratic public speaker "
USA Today calling the matchup "a sizzling debate."
" " neither seemed entirely at ease. But Angle, a neophyte in such a high-profile political contest, never lost her smile and aimed a series of zingers at Reid.
--------------------
What Reid could not proof was that Angle was extreme and crazy
@Future...
"What Reid could not proof (sic) was that Angle was extreme and crazy"...
Already a widely accepted fact by anyone paying attention, excepting those Tea-Potter's that are blinded by their own idiotology.
Maybe, for fun, after work today, I'll make you a list of Angle's Greatest Hits... her "All-Time Greatest Gaffes; The "Neo-Nut Notions of Nevada's Nattering Naybob of Negativity", or somesuch...
If the "Media" has deemed this debate a draw, that means Sharon Angle won handily.
Angle made Harry Reid look like a tired senile candidate.
I was disappointed because Reid did not promote his good qualities like:
1) He supported Nevada's ban on gay marriage.
2) He voted for DOMA which allows Nevada to ignore gay marriages from other states
3) He often says he supports pro-life laws and says he doesn't want Federal tax money going to support abortions
4)He says he is a big pro-gun right supportor
5) He could have stated that Bush did not commit any crimes or scandals worthy of a Senate investigation
6) He could have stated that Bush had the right to appoint right-wing judges for that his why he did not fight that hard against them
7) He has strong support from the drug companies for that they ran TV ads in support of him
8) He has strong support from mining for he oftens defeats strong environment laws that might prevent or harm their mining efforts
9) He did not fight hard for public option or for single payer.
10) He has strong support from MGM and other corporations because he mights behind the scenes deals with bankers to get their loans. I wonder what the bankers got in those deals.
11) He was a point man into getting billions into the hands of banks and corporations that mismanged their own companies.
Reid ain't that bad. He is almost Republican. He has been a very weak leader in the Senate for Democrats. Some business fear that Democrats might vote for a stronger leader if he loses.
So the Republicans win either way. They get Angle or they get a weak Senate Democratic leader in which Democrats had to pour millions into the state to help get re-elected. That money could have been spent elsewhere.
Angle's performance was very good and we learned she isn't the extremist danger Reid said she is. We also learned that Angle is more intelligent than Reid because she knows what a "YES-OR-NO" answer means while Reid does not. Furthermore, Angle had some good, concrete ideas to turn this Obama/Reid/Pelosi disaster around while all Reid could talk about was where he has spent all our money and how he intends to spend much more. Finally, Angle correctly pointed out that a Senator's duty is not to create jobs, but rather to create a favorable environment in the private sector where job-creating businesses can flourish. To some of us, it appeared Angle "won" easily. She has my vote.
Reid doesn't need to prove Angle is crazy and nuts, she's proven it herself time after time. Again, a vote for Angle or any Republican is a vote against your own self interest. If you want to live under a bridge and eat from a dumpster then Angle & the GOP are your kinda people. If you want to have NOTHING thats what you'll have.
The only chance this election is the Democrats,...and hold your nose if you have to but vote for Reid. Its too early in the recovery to give any kind of power to the Greedy Old Party who will do nothing for Americans. Don't let short memories of the Bush era cloud your vote this time because the Republicans are evil and will prove it given any power.
Think before you vote,...and think about having NOTHING if you choose Republican
Question for Brian Sandoval: how will you balance the budget? If Sharron wins, there will be absolutely no assistence from Washington. None. Zippo. At least Harry delivered a few hundred million. Are we going to have a 3 day school week? Time to talk.
dipstick-Angle will win because Nevada with all of Reid's supposed power, is last or near last in almost everything good.
The fact that the race is very close tells you what a worthless puke Reid is.
Great job lap dog Harry. See Ya!!!
To tell the truth, I don't care what the media sources in the above article think.
The way I look at it... They are not from here. They won't vote on this election. They can say what they want, but most voters will reject their learned (and sometimes stupid narrow minded) view.
WE decide who gets back in office to elect us. Not THEM. WE decide mostly based upon who is best qualified to represent us in Washington DC. And WE decide also based upon local issues.
To prove my point, none of these national media pundits mentioned anything about a very, very big issue that will decide this race: Yucca Mountain Project (YMP). One person is from southern Nevada and wants to continue stopping it, fully realizing it is a totally bad idea, not only now but for future generations of Nevadans. The other one, who is from northern Nevada, wants it to happen so she can rake in money off of getting it to happen.
THIS is an issue that clearly decides this race for me. And it should for other people too.
I don't give a crap what the media says (sorry, Las Vegas Sun, but work with me), I am my own boss. And I do what I think is best as a citizen of the Sovereign State of Nevada.
My vote goes for Senator Reid. Because he is a proven leader.
No amount of money by Karl Rove, rich ultra conservative billionaires, the Koch Brothers, and foreign corporations can decide what will happen. WE decide. People got to understand that the rich and the corporations love to hold onto politics they want, in order to make more money. But what drives them absolutely bonkers nuts is...they can't control my vote. I say throw that money left and right. It's a waste. I can't be bought. No way am I voting for something that will hurt my livelihood and turn southern Nevada into a wasteland at the slightest incident and/or mistake in handling of nuclear waste.
Blow that money, Karl Rove. We'll take it here in Nevada. But you AIN'T effecting the outcome of this race.
In the early 90's, I had the opportunity to participate in a working lunch with Sen. Reid and 4 of his aides. There were 3 of us representing our city for a small group of 7. During the hour and a half we met, I'd guess over 20 different topics were discussed. For the most part , Sen. Reid "directed traffic" assigning each aide various "to dos" with regards to our issues. Within a month or so following our meeting, every single point was addressed through his office back to us. Some of them required cooperation to complete well past that time and all were. It was an incredibly effective display!
BTW I'd supported Reids opponent in the previous election (Santini), so I wasn't predesposed to fawn over Reid... he earned my respect.
Not a good speaker? OK... sure. Ineffective? Not hardly... the best I've ever seen!
And by the way, I watched Sharron Angle closely in her 8 years at the Legislature, walking the halls often unacknowledged by her peers. She WAS ineffective in getting anyone to see things her way and/or accompliching anything on her agenda. I see no reason things would be different today.
Harry Reid deserves to be returned to the US Senate.
According to many pundits I have read and heard, just becasue O'Donnell and Angle didn't come off as bat Sh** crazy, they did okay and maybe even Sharron won her debate? Have we really set the bar that low in American politics these days? Angle gave a convoluted answer on health insurance, babbling about Americanism and free markets that still makes no sense in the retelling. And this from USA Today:
" But Angle, a neophyte in such a high-profile political contest, never lost her smile and aimed a series of zingers at Reid."
Well, USA Today, Sharron NEVER does lose that creepy smile even when saying the most radical, crazy things. Telling your male opponent to "man up" is not a zinger, it is aping the Witch of Delaware who told Mike Castle to "man up." Must be a GOP or Palin talking point that female Republican candidates must do. Can you imagine the outrage if Harry told Sharron to soften up and act like a woman?
The real reason this debate was poor is due to POOR moderatoration.
1 minute responses are only good for soundbites. In addition the moderator should not permit either candidate to shoot ou sexual innuendos like man up into a debate.
The debates by tea party women candidates all used this Tactic which should not be permitted
Questionss and answers have to be solely confined to the topic
Let's keep our eye on the ball. Since winning the Republican nomination, Angle has pretended to moderate her way-out-there agenda: eliminating Social Security; using Yucca for the country's nuclear waste; letting insurance companies off the hook when it comes to responsibility for paying claims.
It's only because the media are tiptoeing around the elephant in the living room that America is declining. "Smaller government" and "less regulation" are code words for letting profit-driven corporations exploit the American people. ONE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT IS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN THE RICH/POWERFUL AND THE REST OF US. Of course the energy, financial, and insurance industries are contributing heavily to get Republicans back in power. Guess why?
Senator Reid stayed calm despite Angle's smug, self-satisfied, dishonest attacks on him. It's too bad that the American people want entertainment, not substance. Reid offered plenty of substance, while Angle tried to provide the entertainment because she has no substance.
What Great Grandfather Harry Reid needs to concede is that his political war is lost.
Here are some interesting highlights that occurred during the Reid/Angle debate:
1. Reid looked tired and frail. His opening statement touted ramblings of his father (with only a very limited time, one would have to wonder his strategy at this point).
2. Reid was vague on a lot of issues, including the first one about illegal aliens stating that "We have to stop talking and do something" (lots of details there)
3. Reid continued to state that the social security program was well funded for a long term, when it is clearly stated that this will be the first year that it will pay out more than it is taking in! Clearly Reid is out of touch on this issue OR he is just flat our LIEING!
4. Reid could not answer a simple YES or NO question with a, well, YES or NO!
5. Reid actually had the nerve to state that Obama Care would REDUCE the deficit! Yikes!
6. Reid touted some legislation that was a drop in the bucket with the money dedicated to helping foreclosure victims, and continued the BLAME BUSH rhetoric for all of our current problems! Pretty arrogant, especially coming from a Senate Majority Leader who was in command at the time the housing collapse was happening! Angle even had to ask Reid to MAN UP in admitting the problem with social security at one point!
7. Angle stated Reid should apologize for stating that the war in Iraq was lost, which demoralized our troops.
8. Reid confused the Department of Education with the Department of Energy at one point in the debate. Well, it was probably past his bed time!
9. Reid skirted the issue of continuing the Bush tax cuts, touting how we would need more money to be incorporated into the federal deficit (probably because they keep spending money)! Yikes! Talk about out of touch!
10. Reid claimed to make all of his money via being a successful lawyer and investing, but he only practiced in the late 60s for a few years, plus put his kids through school. How in the world could he have made his millions then and not while in the Senate?
All in all, Reid looked tired, confused, and showed just how out of touch he is with the problems that face our nation and state. This probably explains why he has done nothing to help us! I mean, if you don't know a problem exists, how can you fix it?
Bad Reid...Bad Senator http://aBadReid.com
Senator Magoo will not even make it to the "Bird and Bunny" commission.
Maybe his best friend, Barry, will hire him to polish his shoes...
I gotta say, it's one of life's most pronounced ironies the senator who today represents Vegas is such a dim bulb... However, come November 2nd, Nevadans will send a loud message proving they've endured all they can of Reid and his projectile nay saying.
When you ask around, most people will tell you they're bemused by the fact that the Libs fancy themselves as young idealists, who are gonna shake it up; and then they're forced to fall in behind Dorian Gray's lighting stand-in. When ever Reid speaks I half expect to see William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger and the rest of the 'CSI' team run out and put a chalk outline around the podium.
Next the voice: If it's possible to make Mr Limpet sound like Demosthenes, Reid does it every time he opens his ashen pie hole and haughtily forces out that tremulous, pale grey oratory that sounds like it's oozing from a stuck caulking gun ... get the picture?
To quote the great Steven Boyd, "the constant bring down from "we killed the Patriot Act", to "we'll gain House and Senate seats", to his magnum opus "we've lost the war"..... Reid has been unrelentingly bleak in his appraisal of the conflict of our lifetime".
I think Reid believed that getting his negative comments in early could be the one chance that a non-entity like he has at a place in history. His is a mediocre man's Thermopylae.... Only in the off the rack culture that we currently have, could a whiney hack like Reid, some how rise to a position of leadership.
The bad guys have looked to him to reinforce their belief that we are the weak horse and that we are imminently conquerable. He has made that assertion so easy for them that they no doubt view him as the derriere of said horse.
The senator forgot, the 1st rule of 'Fight Club' is you don't talk about 'Fight Club'.
Harry Reid is a vague translucent living shade who barely matters. If he really wanted to serve the country that affords a trifle like him the opportunity to delude himself into thinking that he matters, he should never, ever, speak out loud in public again.
Rev... I read your post twice and still don't know what it says?
to smartone618....
In a high-tech age that has seen the creation of artificial intelligence by computers, we are also seeing the creation of artificial stupidity amongst people who call themselves progressive.... So it is for these enlightened individuals, that Merriam-Webster now offers online access to their "word for the day". Do yourself a favor my liberal friend... and take advantage of their website.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-t...
Regarding the aforementioned narrow minded comments by aBadReid....
That is the same exact comment he made to a recent Las Vegas Sun article....
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct...
And if you were to look, you will see I addressed and refuted every one of those claims. The fecal matter blathered by aBadReid was so much that I had to make two separate comments to show point by point what crap it is.
Whoever aBadReid is, they are only concerned with throwing propaganda out there left and right. And it's the SAME post. Can't even come up with something new.
When you are a right wingnut trying to influence the vote, I guess it pays to be lazy. Just copy and throw it, fling it, keep throwing it, underhand, overhand, hard, fast, loose, hope it sticks to the wall.
Ain't gonna work, aBadReid. Really transparent.
I'm with smartone618. I read RevPettibone's comment two times. I even looked at it sideways. Still can't make heads or tails of it.
I think he's for Senator Reid. Not sure.
to CollinFromLasVegas.
People are all born ignorant but they are not born stupid. That happens after the fact..... And so it is, that in the case of most die hard liberals like yourself, the experiences of life have not helped you to outgrow whatever it is you were indoctrinated with in your youth.... You see my friend, when speaking truth to power, the most fundamental fact about the ideals of the political left is that they do not work...... But oh how I wish, instead of visiting them upon the American people, you Democrats would allow them to remain in your elitist institutions where ideas don't have to work in order to survive.
Rev... you're one of the most "entertaining" posters to come along here in quite awhile!
Tony, Tony, Tony...
I believe you have allowed your mouth to overload your brain when you stated: "...anyone who watched the debate realizes that this woman, representing Nevada, would be the trifecta in the laughing stock dept..." Anyone? Really now???
Way to go RevPettibone.....you nailed them!!!! LOL LOL LOL
Sounds like it was real Ho-Hummer.
RevPettibone......
Greedy republicans represent the rich, I guess
that's you.
Sharron Angle wants to PHASE OUT SOCIAL SECURITY.
Sharron Angle wants to STEAL HEALTH CARE REFORM
FROM LOW WAGE AMERICANS.
Do you think that's a good idea for your fellow
Americans?
Hey Larry, why are you still backing this nut-
case Angle?
We Americans need our Social Security and this
new health care reform.
MAN UP AND VOTE FOR HARRY REID.
Teamster- Stop lying, Angle couldn't get rid of Social Security if she wanted to, but that's not what she said, you hear just what you want to hear, She explained what she meant in the debate, and kicked Harry to the curb. You keep calling Republicans greedy, and Obama of giving the United States away to Socialism; Man you are Crazy
Teamster-Sorry I got a little carried away, I didn't mean to call you crazy. I got to give it to ya, you are one die hard for Senator Reid, I respect that, to bad you waited your vote on Senator Reid.
pmontg53...You say Angle couldn't get rid of Social Security anyway. But you say she didn't say that anyway. That's what could be called covering all your bases, I guess. But all people interested in anything like objective truth continue to wonder in amazement how Angle and guys like you can say that Angle did not say what she is clearly on camera saying in one continuous sentence: "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized." (Republican Primary debate, May 2010). And it's not that anybody thinks that Angle could go to Washington and just do that. Everyone knows about 41-to-Angle in the Nevada Legislature and her incompetence there. It's just, "why set a precedent or why help the Tea Party take over the Republican Party so they could in fact do some of these crazy extreme things?"
Yes, the teamster is one of a kind. But then again, I have a dog who is one of a kind. It appears that the teamster and my dog have something in common, they are both extremely set in their ways. I wonder if the teamster can lick himself???