Debate coverage - first wave

WWJ 950 (4.00 / 3)

I tuned into WWJ News 950 AM (Metro Detroit area) at 10:30pm. The announced that the politics got ugly during tonights debate, then they played the soundbite of Granholm being asked about the 10 Commandments being displayed, and the questioner grilling her about her position on the matter. Although she answered the question each time it was asked, the questioner continued to try to make something out of nothing.

The recording continued to Devos, and how he was asked if he's avoided certain issues. Devos continues, discussing having gone to 83 counties in this state. The recording ends just before Devos gets asked about his extremist views.

It was a hit job excerpt from WWJ. Very unfairly and unprofessionally edited.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. LJ's Blogorific

---

by: LJ @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 21:59:54 PM CDT

WOOD review (4.00 / 1)

"Sounded like their commercials"

Hit on the nursing home story. Looks like that has legs. Played the clip of Dick making excuses.

"DeVos lowered expectations" so he gets a pass on his performance. What a crock. Albin won't say who "won"- that's up to us in Nov.

---

by: wizardkitten @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 22:09:10 PM CDT

WDIV-TV will do a story on Alterra tomorrow (4.00 / 4)

The "Rescue 4" investigative team has been working on the Alterra story for three months. Tomorrow it will report on the 12 Alterra homes in Michigan and interview family members of residents of those homes. Not good news for the Amway Man.

Please read "Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now" by George McGovern and William R. Polk.

---

by: Hy Dudgeon @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 22:10:52 PM CDT

beautiful (4.00 / 1)

i love it

---

by: Jon K @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:03:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh man! (4.00 / 1)

Someone was definitely on the ball on that one! Remember kids - you heard it here first!

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never." - Winston S. Churchill

---

by: matt @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:10:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Debate (4.00 / 2)

I did not listen or watch.  My somewhat apolitical husband watched until he couldn't stand watching DeVos not answer even one question.  Then he turned the TV off and listened to it on the radio thinking it might help.  It didn't.  He said DeVos totally turned him off because he wouldn't answer any of the questions.  Instead, he deliberately wandered up, around, under, near or far into left field.  My husband would have voted for Granholm anyway, but now he feels strongly that he needs to vote for her.  If DeVos won't answer to us now, he sure as hell won't answer to us as Governor.  I can't wait for new polls. Of course, the dumbest 32% will vote for a jackass as long as it says GOP (Greedy Old Perverts).

---

by: dkmich @ Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 04:21:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

WXYZ TV Detroit (Ch 7) (4.00 / 1)

Ch 7 had pretty fair coverage of the debate. They too refused to call a winner, but they did show some positive highlight clips of Granholm.

They also went into the press releases from each camp, declaring victory and how a clip of Devos saying he wasn't trained in debate at harvard law. Not so much a job maker as an excuse maker. (that was my comment, not WXYZ TV's, but would have been funny if they had said that.)

Anyway, I was satisfied with WXYZ's coverage, outside of them calling a winner.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. LJ's Blogorific

---

by: LJ @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 22:20:07 PM CDT

No one will call a winner. (4.00 / 1)

Nothing boosts the ratings more than indecisiveness and "balanced coverage."

Anyone who watched this debate clearly knows who won.

-- Signature! --

---

by: quaker21 @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 22:25:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Correction (4.00 / 1)

In the final line, that should read "outside of them NOT calling a winner."

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. LJ's Blogorific

---

by: LJ @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 22:26:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good AP story (4.00 / 1)

AP's Kathy Barks Hoffman breaks down the debate and gets into some depth on the Alterra story. Read it here.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never." - Winston S. Churchill

---

by: matt @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:23:56 PM CDT

Young Republican Fight Nighter Calls it for Granholm (0.00 / 0)

Over at the Michigan Conservative Dossier, none other than CheneyGun himself, Joe Sylvester, calls it for Granholm:

The debate was probably a draw but if I had to pick a winner I would say that Granholm won. DeVos stuttered often and was easily distracted.

---

by: DemWave @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:34:49 PM CDT

So Too, Republican Michigander (4.00 / 1)

Not a happy night in AmwayLand.  RM says:

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.

Don't think the Amway Guy is playing well, even in GOP stronghold Livingston County.

P.S.-- RM, in DeVos speak, it's the more haughty, almost Frenchified Republican "Michiganian"-- not Michigander.  :)

---

by: DemWave @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:41:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here's how I know Granholm won. (4.00 / 7)

My mom, formerly a DeVos supporter, is now undecided.

Kick his ass harder next time, Jen.  If you can get a righty like her on your side, you've won:).

Putting conservatives in charge of our government makes about as much sense as GM hiring a CEO who hates cars.

---

by: djtyg @ Mon Oct 02, 2006 at 23:46:56 PM CDT

My quick view on the Debate.... (4.00 / 2)

[QUOTE]"Now the Governor did throw a curveball to DeVos during the debate when she mentioned his investment in a nursing home chain that was accused of physically and sexually abusing its patients. DeVos responded that he recently learned of the activity and was unaware when the investment was made...and that he no longer invests in that company."[/QUOTE]

This is what I noticed.  He pulled a "Just found out"...or.." I didn't know" crap.  Didn't he just say he was a LEADER and we need LEADERSHIP?  If I spent $179 million dollars in an investment I would want to know EVERYTHING that is going on.

So to me he just simply LIED to us right off.  DeVos definetly was looking awkward and uneasy.  His forced smile was so fake.  Grandholm had the camera edge.  She was allot more at ease.  In all fairness she was struggling too.  I need to watch this debate again.  I was distracted while viewing it.  What annoyed me the most was seeing DeVos weasel out of answering a direct question.  He would not simply answer the damn question...

Benjamin Franklin: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I WANT MY HABEAS CORPUS BACK!!

---

by: Old Dood @ Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 04:34:32 AM CDT

One thing . . . (4.00 / 2)

One thing I thought Granholm NAILED DeVos on, is something no media outlet has covered.  Early in the debate, after DeVos again mentioned he was a job creator in Michigan, Granholm said when he started as CEO of Amyway, they had 5,500 jobs.  When he left as CEO of Amyway, there were 3,400 jobs (not exact numbers).

The reporters asked him three times directly if those numbers were true, and he avoided it every time. 

Why isn't this a central point in Granholm's ad campaign (or maybe she's waiting until closer to the election).  Did anyone else pick up on it?

---

by: thefishwrap @ Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 07:29:41 AM CDT

One thing...and then another: (4.00 / 1)

Yup, I most certainlly noticed that. It was one ofthe most glaring ommissions or non-answer (among many) from Mr. DeVos.  I do hope that future debates will include other issues besides jobs:  social issues (there was a little about stem cell research); enivronment (not mentioned once); how the legislature has blocked most of the Governor's initiatives (she got into that a little bit); what his 'plan' is to fill the hole created by the SBT repeal (he says he has one) etc.

---

by: oldwarden @ Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 07:48:43 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Big kudos... (4.00 / 2)

...to gandergardener for breaking the Alterra story. I'm SOOOO glad the governor picked up on this one. There was no way that story was going to break through into the local media cycle on its own, so props to the governor for (a) reading MichLib and (b) having the courage to call DeVos out on that one.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few

---

by: BZP @ Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 07:54:50 AM CDT