The GE Presidential Debate

And that was it, until the post-debate spin room.  GE did not ask about the budget or wages or the right to organize.  There were, quite stunningly, no questions about which of the new presidential powers these candidates would use if elected.  Would you, as president, spy on your political opponents without court warrants?  Would you detain people without charge?  Would you use any secret prisons?  Would you torture?  Would you disobey laws?  Which ones?  Would you announce your intentions in "signing statements"?  Would you engage in any aggressive wars?  Would you launch any wars not declared by Congress?  Would you ever intentionally mislead Congress?  Would you lie to the public about matters as grave as hurricanes, wars, and spying?  None of these topics came up.

Plenty of accusations against Democrats did arise.  Why, Williams wanted to know, are Democrats labeled as less able to protect us?  Well, they aren't in polls, but they are by weapons makers.  Williams asked what these candidates would do in response to an event like 9/11, but he didn't ask that simple question.  He asked how they would use the military overseas to respond to an attack like 9-11.  The candidates who got that question did not challenge its unstated assumptions.  Clinton, in particular, sounded exactly like Bush.  And Biden, who was not asked this question but jumped in to answer it later, sounded worse.

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