Debates normally don't amount to much in presidential primaries, but this year they've been important. Without debates, Mike Huckabee would still be a no-name and John McCain wouldn't be rallying from his low point last summer. Even so, the moderator of today's Des Moines Register debate in Iowa among Republican presidential candidates managed to turn 90 minutes of questioning into a boring and insignificant event. This was not easy to do. But Carolyn Washburn, the Register's editor, was up to the job. She kept nine candidates from spelling out the differences among them - differences that might be of interest to Repubicans who'll vote in the party caucuses on January 3. And she kept them, for the most part, from even being interesting.
I don't mean to be harsh, but this was a miserable excuse for a debate. The only good part was that it lasted a half hour less than usual for a televised debate. Debates are needed for three reasons: to let the candidates say what they believe in, to air the ways in which they disagree, and to raise the hot topics of the moment. The candidates were able to talk up their positions, but only on some issues. Washburn ruled out any serious discussion of Iraq or immigration. And she intervened to prevent any discussion of the ethanol subsidy after McCain denounced it, though it's an issue of concern in Iowa. Differences and hot issues - Romney's Mormon speech, Huckabee's God talk - were off the table.
I thought the YouTube/CNN debate among Republicans a few weeks ago was demeaning to the candidates and to the presidency itself. But at least it kept one's attention. I can't imagine any normal Iowan watching the whole thing today unless he or she was directly connected with one of the campaigns - in other words, the already decided. My guess is the undecided took a hike after watching for a few minutes. And the sad part is that the effect of this debate may be to cause them to do the same on January 3.
