Bookraft

ABC TV's George Stephanopoulos had the most interesting Presidential debate this summer. No small feat given a)its is summer, b)so many debates and styles have already been tried including a CNN/YouTube quiz, c)it was the Republicans who don't have their 2nd strongest candidate, Fred Thompson, officially declared in the race and d)it was the Republicans who are still trying to play/pander to a gerrymandered and dwindling base of fundamentalist Religionist soldiers, We-Know-Best-How-to-run-Things Businessmen, and perplexing melange of anti-gay, anti-gun control, anti-immigrationists who are endeavoring to cut off the cheap labor so vital to many small to medium sized Republican businessmen.

So I did not have high hopes for this debate.

But George Stephanopoulos showed how having a very politically and informationally astute moderator in charge - can make all the difference. As he does on his ABC TV Sunday morning This Week program, George did not let the presidential hopefuls glide and slide on by some of the tough questions put by both he and Co-inquisitor Jeppsen. And in fact, frequently when the pontificating reached high wind, George would interrupt with a quick summary - "so this means you do not support the proposal" or " a simple up or down yea or nay will do on this question, Senator".

Yet all of the debaters clearly respected the clarity and rough fairness on how the questions were directed - they largely deferred to George's moderation. This made for some interesting dialogs between for example Senator Sam Brownback and Governor Mitt Romney on pro-Life and anti-abortion sentiments. Or Mayor Giuliani and Senator McCain refining their notions on the prosecution of the War in Iraq.

George is up again this weekend - seving as moderator of the Democratic debates - tune in - they should be very lively!