Some good news and bad news. The good news is that this is only the first debate and that the debate does not affect my vote. The bad news is that the first debate was brutal. I'm not even going to spin this one.
I don't know how else to explain this. It was brutal and painful to watch, especially since I've seen DeVos speak several times in person - and have spoken with him several times. He's better than that. Much better.
It wasn't due to Granholm's not lacking any openings. She kept attacking, but led with her chin and was open to a good political counterpunch. DeVos should have countered with "We've had 4 years of your plan. It hasn't work. Here's my plan" and then go down the list with the plan right there. I expected all attacks as that's all Granholm had. She's done about as good of job running the state as Matt Millen has running the Detroit Lions.
I did not expect DeVos to beat Granholm (a lawyer who also went to acting school) in a TV debate. I did expect DeVos to rise above Granholm's slogans and attacks with more substance than was at the debate. What's worse though is that he HAS a plan, and did not mention it at the debate. I was waiting for the next step in the debate after "We need new leadership." Both candidates had too many dodges, too much politispeak, and not enough substance. I expected that from Granholm (all flash, no substance), but not from DeVos. I've see the other DeVos, and that's what the rest of the population needs to see.
I know it's easy to armchair QB, but if I was DeVos' debate prep team, I would just trash the slogans completely, be all business, and be himself at the next two debates - treating the crowd as 5 million Board of Directors members. Just be straightforward, no slickness, answer all the questions, and go forward with the Michigan Turnaround plan. That's just my own opinion.
There's two more debates to go. We'll see what happens.
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I guess I have to agree. I thought he did a good job sticking to his talking points. He just needs to get mad and not be afraid to spar back. It is a really fine line because he can't "bully a girl". Tough spot.
I do think he should keep reminding folks that he isn't a polished lawyer.
" I thought he did a good job sticking to his talking points."
I agree, and think that was the problem. It reminded me of Bush's "It's hard work" and John Kerry's bad imitation of MacGuyver - "I have a plan!".
Defense wins championships, and I was expecting more counterpunches - especially when Granholm was hitting below the belt. DeVos didn't have to bully, but he didn't have to be as much of 'nice guy' as he was either.
Granholm did come off as an icy cold "rhymes with witch".
Wow, a little honesty from dan, that’s a change. But the wishful thinking and other spin made up for it. So, we were really going to hear about the Amway guy’s secret plan? And darn Gov. Granholm for not buying more cars from the Big 3.
Calling the governor “a lawyer who also went to acting school” is funny. What does one have to do with the other? Clearly, the amway guy is not equiped to run anything, not even his trust fund.
DeVos turned in an unexceptional performance but he learns fast and I expect him to do better next time.
Granholm was obviously the more experienced of the two, no surprise here.
Granholm used the debate as a platform to launch vicious personal attacks on DeVos. Probably DeVos expected the debate to be somewhat negative but I think he was thrown off balance by the nastiness of the personal attacks. He used much of his time trying to defend himself from these personal attacks but would have done better to simply ignore them so that he could focus on presenting his ideas.
Talking to people and listening to the radio today I heard many people express shock over the viciousness and personal nature of Granholm's attacks.
Overall, I would not call DeVos a winner but Granholm was definitely a loser. Granholm forgets that these attacks appeal to the Democrat base, i.e. those who already plan to vote for her, but not to the independent voters that she should be courting. The real shame is that DeVos failed to capitalize on her mistakes by showing the clear contrast of their personalities.
DeVos was plain and simple was awful. It certainly makes for a dull debate when you have one person with nothing to say but how dissappointing the other person has been. He was the huge disappointment. He couldn't debate! He wasn't up on the issues and could not articulate his plan or vision.
How is pointing out the amway guy's awful record a "personal attack?"
Keith, too many years on the road with Mick and the boys is still effecting your judgement. I’ll ask it again, since you and dan have a nasty habit of ignoring what you can’t answer, How is pointing out the amway guy's awful record a "personal attack?"
Shame on her for revealing the amway guy’s extreme views and sorry record. She must be a bitch.
Granholm herself will top the attack dog costume. For the 31st she is going to dress up in black, put on a tall pointed hat, and go to parties as herself. She will be carrying with her a book of ideas to fix Michigan's economy and a bag of tricks, which will be used to distract voters from noticing that the book is filled with blank pages. And if someone asks her about doing nothing while hundreds of thousands of jobs have fled Michigan, she will blame Republicans as she explodes a handful of snap & pops and vanishes in the smoke.
Again, you're right. She should have bought more cars, and she made it easier and more attractive for companies to outsource jobs by failing to enforce the fair trade agreements.
She has a plan. Where's the Amway guy’s plan? A pyramid scheme, move to Communist Chinas or should we all have our daddies give us a company?
The Governor showed DeVos who is boss. It's over, DeVos will lose and it won't even be close.
DeVos appeared to be a bit of a girly man. Isn't that a Republican term?
Plan? What plan?
Please tell me his plan!
We all would love to hear it.
All that money, and Amway Guy still can't learn how to speak comfortably in front of the camera. He can't get on Joe Citizens level as hard as he tries, even after all three debates. His second performance was his best, and that's not saying much at all. I saw him at the Detroit Economic Club and he was much more at ease there speaking to 1200 of his crohnies (big money, big business, but you got to wonder how many Alticor/Quixtar folks were there??) than he was with a camera stuck in front of him. Even at the third debate, he was literally shouting at the live audience members. Poor, poor Dick. All that money and still can't connect with voters. Well, that and he's got a secret plan that no one will know till after the election...Michigan voters are smarter than that.
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