Van Jones was as bad as Pence!

[LAS14]

In one small way.

Pence infuriated me when he totally ignored the moderator who was doing her best to hold him to his time limits. Such a pristine example of male arrogance.

But then Van Jones said the moderator "did nothing." Shut up, Van!!! Just because she doesn't have a voice like yours and because the camera didn't shift to her you dissed her!!!! Do better next time!!!!

[choie]

1. Van Jones is right

The moderator sucked

[Atticus]

3. Amen! nt

[whathehell]

2. Van Jones is wrong..Susan Page was more effective than Chris Wallace

was with Trump, imo.

[Demsrule86]

5. I thought she was terrible myself.

[whathehell]

8. Why?

[Demsrule86]

11. She allowed Pence to continue talking when his time was up, interrupt Sen. Harris,

and actually gave Pence extra time a couple of times...I was yelling at the TV screen...
'shut him up'.

[whathehell]

12. So did Chris Wallace, and he has FAR more experience as a moderator

Something that might tell you how very hard it is to get someone to stop talking when they refuse to do so.

[Demsrule86]

14. I was furious with him too...and it would not be tough simple continue saying in a loud voice

"Your time is up..."I think both moderators sucked and I believe they could have done better. Susan page hosted a Trumper event too...bad choice.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2020/09/10/susan-page-hosts-event-for-seema-verma/

"Page, a longtime member of the D.C. press corps, was recently picked by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host the vice-presidential debate on Oct. 7.

Her leading role in hosting the event at her home raised eyebrows on social media from observers who suggested that it conflicted with her ability to cover the administration as an impartial journalist. Reporters are supposed to maintain an arm’s-length relationship with their sources, and hosting parties for them arguably compromises this role.

The investigation targeted Verma’s “use of taxpayer funds to retain communications consultants with strong Republican political ties.” A report, including billing documents, was released on Thursday. The investigation was conducted by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Senate Committee on Finance (minority party members) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (minority party members)."

[whathehell]

16. " It would not be tough simply talk in a loud voice.."

Are you kidding?.. Both Wallace and Page spoke in loud voices and indicated the candidate's time was up.

Beyond PHYSICALLY shutting someone's mouth, there is simply NO way to force someone to stop talking, and that's why many favor changing the protocol to allow the offender's mic to be cut.

[Demsrule86]

17. Well then what is the point of any debate...unless you can cut off his mike. But Page is a Trumper

IMHO. And despite his obnoxious behavior she gave him more time. That is just my opinion...I respect yours.

[LAS14]

13. What, exactly, could she have done differently? She repeatedly said, "Mr. Vice President...

.." "You're time is up." She apparently couldn't mute him. He just talked over her as if she wasn't there. Marked contrast to Harris, who, when she really wanted go over time, addressed Page and said "No, I really have to say this."

[whathehell]

19. Lol..She DID do that! She spoke loudly and firmly, as did Wallace

Whether or not their exact words "your time is up", were used is irrelevant, as that was the obvious meaning.

Again, it's virtually IMPOSSIBLE to shut someone's mouth unless you do it physically -- This is why many just want to cut the mics AFTER their allotted time expires..

[superpatriotman]

4. Jones has no credibility

He is moldy leftovers at the back of the fridge

[hamsterjill]

6. I've said all along that Paula Reid should moderate.

It needs to be someone who can hold the debaters to the agreed upon rules. Move on to the other candidate and ignore the one speaking out of turn.

[mcar]

7. Van Jones drives me crazy but in this instance he was right

Susan Page did a terrible job holding Pence to his time limits. Then, she'd turned to Harris and say something like, "just 30 seconds please," after Pence had gone over his time by way more than that.

She never once pointed out that Pence (and sometimes Harris) didn't answer the question. She could have taken some time to say, OK, but why won't you answer the question.

[whathehell]

9. She did as well as the far more experienced Chris Wallace,

He, however, seems to be getting a comparative pass

One can't help but wonder why..

[mcar]

10. He didn't get a pass from me

He was absolutely horrible and yes, worse than Page.

I haven't seen that he got a pass in the media, either.

[whathehell]

15. I think everyone bitching about how bad both moderators were

should tell us how THEY would succeed in getting candidates to shut up when two experienced journalists couldn't.

[mcar]

18. Isn't it their job?

I'm not a debate moderator so I don't know how to do it. Apparently, neither do they. Which means they were not up for the job.

I'm not saying there's a perfect answer. But both moderators should have done a better job. Period.

[whathehell]

21. No, again, you cannot FORCE someone's mouth shut

without doing it physically, which would qualify as battery.

You can silence the sound of their VOICES by cutting off the mics, but again, this is NOT the same as forcing them to shut up.

[mcar]

22. Did I say force them to shut up?

Why no, I didn't. Cutting their mikes is a good option. Giving the other debater extra time to make up for the miscreant's actions is another. Fact checking, challenging the debaters to actually answer the questions.

Susan Page never really tried to get Pence to shut up. Her "Mr. Vice President, Mr. Vice President" were too polite by half. Then, as I've said, she didn't even try to give Harris anything vaguely resembling equal time. IOW, she held Harris to the 2 minute standard and let Pence get away with much more time.

What might have happened if Page had said, after the first or second of Pence's overtimes, "Senator Harris, I'm giving you an extra minute to keep the time equal?" Maybe Pence wouldn't have stopped with his "I'm above the rules" white male privilege that Page fed into.

[whathehell]

23. What part of "That would be the only other option" do you not understand?

The ability to cut off a candidate's mic is set forth in the Debate Rules. Those are negotiated ahead of time by the debate sponsors and the campaign committees -- It's not within the purview of the moderators.

[Solomon]

20. "She could have taken some time to say, OK, but why won't you answer the question."

She was too busy trying to make sure she got all her questions in rather than hold anybody's feet to the fire. That's the thing that disappointed me about her. Rather than follow up, she even said several times, that she had to move on or she wouldn't get all the questions in.

Other than that, I thought she did a reasonably good job.