Why wasn't Rachel Maddow given the Commander in Chief Forum? Because

[nolabear]

the only thing worse for Trump than being proven to be an incompetent fool on military matters would be being proven to be an incompetent fool on military matters by an intelligent WOMAN newsperson who just happened to write a well received book on the American military.

Dammit, we just can't win.

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/09/08/matt-lauer-forum-hosting-gig-donald-trump-afraid-rachel-maddow.html

[democrattotheend]

1. Is Lauer a veteran?

I think it would have made sense to have a journalist who served in the military moderate the forum. If Lauer served then maybe that's why.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Nope.

[VMA131Marine]

3. Which notable journalists are veterans?

I can't think of any off the top of my head although Brian Williams thinks he is

[democrattotheend]

4. I can't think of any either

But I am sure there must be a few. They have several generals who serve as contributors. Why not have one of them do this forum next time?

[oldtime dfl_er]

9. good one!

I needed that laugh!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Mark Shields.

[VMA131Marine]

12. He would be a good one.

[jmowreader]

41. There are a few not-so-notable ones

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/thomas-gibbons-neff

Thomas Gibbons Neff did one hitch in the Marines from 2007-2011, served two tours in Afghanistan, and now writes (mostly on military issues) for the Washington Post.

http://www.kellykennedy.net/about.html

Kelly Kennedy is a freelancer who served in the Army during Desert Storm.

http://cjchivers.com

CJ Chivers was in the Marines from 1988 to 1994. He now writes for the New York Times.

What could have been interesting is to forget about getting a "name" journalist and, instead, bring in the military reporter from the Seattle Times, who covers all four Department of Defense branches and the Coast Guard.

[VMA131Marine]

42. Actually, Rob Riggle, formerly of the Daily Show was a Lt.Col. in the Marines

He'd be the perfect fake reporter to grill the fake candidate, Trump.

[LisaM]

5. Why aren't there more women moderators, period?

It should be 50/50 at least.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

15. Actually, it is 50/50 in a sense

The three official Presidential debates and the official VP debate are split between two men and two women as moderators.

This thing last night is brand new and not really considered "official". Rachel's first guest afterwards whose name escapes me explained it, but I get the feeling this was a hastily put together affair. A half hour for each candidate was laughable as of course Hillary had plenty to say (getting her cut off) and Rump looked like a short pantsed school kid bullshitting thru an oral exam until time ran out.

[LisaM]

20. No, there's three men and two women

and the backup (can't remember now who it is) is a man. And one of the women is for the VP debate. In fact, during the primaries, there was actually a debate moderated by two women, which was a refreshing change.


Monday, September 26, 2016
Moderator: Lester Holt, Anchor, NBC Nightly News

Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Vice presidential debate
Moderator: Elaine Quijano, Anchor, CBSN and Correspondent, CBS News

Sunday, October 9, 2016
Second presidential debate
Moderator: Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent and Co-Anchor of "This Week," ABC
Moderator: Anderson Cooper, Anchor, CNN

Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Third presidential debate
Moderator: Chris Wallace, Anchor, Fox News Sunday

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Rachel knows darn well

which side of her bread is spread. When you are muti-million dollar actor/talent,you have to cover you hinnie .

[Bill USA]

7. If they had said she would be moderator, Trump would have stomped off, refusing to take part. "Waaa"

[Staph]

8. Miss Rachel couldn't be given the moderator position!

She's a girl. And there's another girl that she would be interviewing. And that would be too many girls. It's not fair! The man should not have to be surrounded by girls!












/sarcasm, of course!

[tavernier]

31. Of course not!

They might start having blood coming out of their wherevers...

[Calista241]

10. Probably because Trump wouldn't have done the event.

Just like Hillary wouldn't do an event moderated by Matt Drudge or Rush Limbaugh. I'm not trying to equate Rachel with Matt or Rush, but that's what the campaigns / hardcore supporters would've said.

Matt Lauer was just a moderator that both campaigns agreed on.

[mythology]

13. Because Maddow doesn't claim to be an impartial journalist

She isn't just a news person. Yes that should disqualify Fox News, but I'm fine with her not leading this sort of forum.

[NastyRiffraff]

30. Matt Lauer is neither impartial nor a journalist

But he'd be good as a barker on Trump's TV shows.

[mainstreetonce]

14. I honestly think

Savannah Guthrie would have bern tougher on Trump.

[alfredo]

16. Al Roker would have been better.

[Ken Burch]

17. Willard Scott, for that matter. n/t.

[alfredo]

19. Willard Scott was Ronald McDonald and Bozo the clown

Willard Scott n first McDonalds commercial, a newer, less creepy version on the right

[Ken Burch]

25. I know. My point is, even a former corporate clown would've been tougher than Lauer. n/t.

[alfredo]

28. If Lauer had been tough on Donnie, NBC will lose access.

[Ken Burch]

32. What good is "access" if you can't use it to ask real questions?

Last edited Thu Sep 8, 2016, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

It can't be good for ratings to have public figures on and suck up to them. Who wants to see that?

And by that logic, he should have been just as deferential to HRC.

[alfredo]

37. True. They've been bullied by Donny

[mainstreetonce]

18. I was serious.

I have seen her interview him and she doesn't let him get away with his garbage.

Let him face the pregnant lawyer. Would have been much better.

[MohRokTah]

23. Hoda would have been better. eom

[Ken Burch]

26. Hoda and Kathie Lee...drunk...

[Frank Cannon]

40. Hell, Hodor would've been better!

"...And we need to leave Iraq and take the oil with us."

"Hodor!"

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

22. maybe next time they can get Perez Hilton or whatever the fuck his name is. nt

[Ken Burch]

27. Or the TMZ staff. n/t.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

36. Good one. They seem to have about as much depth as this jagoff. nt

[alfredo]

29. Rue Paul would be a hoot.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

35. I think he's got too much gravitas for that. nt

[alfredo]

38. It would be entertaining.

[Hekate]

24. Gwen Ifill. Judy Woodruff. Rachel Maddow. Joy Reid. There's more.

[Mike Nelson]

33. It should be Joy Reid...

...Chris Wallace should be out.

[nolabear]

34. If only something would come of that. Joy would be great.

[meow2u3]

39. The Orange Menace's head would really explode

Joy Reid would be perfect. A black woman who won't take tRump's shit.