DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
Bob Schieffer: Having Candidates Scrap Debate Rules Would be "The Dream"
October 13, 2008  | By David Bianculli  | 32 comments
 

While interviewing CBS's Bob Schieffer for my Broadcasting & Cable column, about his preparations and expectations for Wednesday's final 2008 presidential debate, I threw him what might have been a curve, but which he caught gracefully and gratefully.

westwing3.jpg

I asked him about the live 2005 West Wing episode in which Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits -- playing, respectively, a maverick Republican senator and a charismatic minority Democrat -- impulsively scrapped the established rules and agreed to conduct a no-holds-barred actual debate on live TV. Schieffer had indeed seen it, so asked him: What if, on Wednesday, John McCain and Barack Obama did the same thing?

"You know what?" Schieffer said to me, after he stopped laughing heartily. "If they did that, I would say, 'Gentlemen, have at it.' I would lean back in my chair, and I would probably enjoy it more than anyone else. That would be the dream, wouldn't it?"

schieffer-moderator-2004.jpg

Schieffer is the last best hope for one good debate to come out of this election cycle, so I wish him luck, whether or not he gets to moderate. For my full Broadcasting & Cable column with Schieffer, click here.

And, for a Broadcasting & Cable sidebar with a few extra quotes from that interview, including Schieffer's opinion of Jon Stewart, click here.

my-own-worst-enemy-o-13.jpg

Finally, since I'm steering traffic that way anyway, I may as well finish (and reduce my own word count for the day) by providing one final link, to my Broacasting & Cable blog review of tonight's My Own Worst Enemy on NBC, starring Christian Slater as a man with two identities. To read that, click here. (I like the headline: "My Minds Are Made Up About NBC's 'My Own Worst Enemy.'")

Hey -- working on this website, while also writing for Broacasting & Cable, teaching college, appearing on Fresh Air and working on my Smothers Brothers book, I know how he feels about multiple identities...

 

1 Comment

 

Marlark said:

David Bianculli -- the hardest working man in TV. Unlike Sybil, we're loving each incarnation. Keep those Flinstone feet slapping away!

Do you see a President Obama/Santos offering Secretary of State to Senator McCain/Vinick? (No, but I do see whoever wins going for a bipartisan cabinet. And thanks for the encouragement. -- David B.)

Comment posted on October 13, 2008 1:43 PM
 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
IHJTX
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: 
32 Comments
 
 
Promote Products. Build Links. Scale Your Business. ---vqj2cwdg
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Data-Driven. Fan-Focused.
AJF Sports merges cutting-edge analytics with compelling storytelling. Elevate your understanding of the game—one stat at a time. ---ifsg41ln
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Beyond the Headlines
Dive deep with AJF Sports: player stats, transfer rumors, tactical insights, and live updates from every major league worldwide. ---sgafds0m
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Build a diverse portfolio of links through guest posts resource pages vetted directories and brand mentions. ---ctgqm0zc
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Our service directly improves visibility for your key search terms through strategic backlink building. ---dqob5ty0
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Attract qualified visitors through targeted referral traffic from relevant sources we connect you with. ---sbgmwdou
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Gain credibility with links from trusted industry-relevant sites to increase your domain authority. ---jfs9q7v1
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Inside the Locker Room ---fvk47pge
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
A custom strategy tailored to your niche goals and website forms the basis of our approach. ---fc4rsbp9
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Powering Global Trade: Verified Suppliers, Strategic Backlinks, Seamless Promotion. ---snugvw9b
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Discover hidden cinematic treasures through our recommendation engine tailored to your preferences.
Join a community of film enthusiasts sharing insights and discussing their favorite movies. ---xe7je85q
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Discover hidden cinematic treasures through our recommendation engine tailored to your preferences.
Join a community of film enthusiasts sharing insights and discussing their favorite movies. ---fcd7hjot
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Promote Products. Build Links. Scale Your Business. ---jpgobew0
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
AJF Sports: More Than Just Scores
We are a dynamic sports platform dedicated to uniting fans, athletes, and industry insiders. Explore real-time match coverage, expert commentary, and behind-the-scenes stories. Join our global community to discuss, debate, and celebrate the world of sports. ---osr7cb2s
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Global B2B website information release
Product promotion, external link release
Enterprise Encyclopedia, Manufacturer Manufacturing, Global Product Release. ---wg6lruxc
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
AJF Sports: Ignite Your Sports Passion
Experience sports like never before. Get instant updates, exclusive interviews, and data-driven insights on football, basketball, tennis, and more. We don’t just report the news—we bring you closer to the action. Your field. Your voice. Your sports destination. ---eoo7xm4s
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Elevate Your B2B Strategy: Global Product Launches Premium Backlinks in One Platform. ---ukorc9ue
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
List Your Business. Reach Millions. Grow Globally. ---cre07y1j
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Connect with 100K Verified Suppliers. List Your Products Where the World Shops. ---bvv526yi
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Build a diverse portfolio of links through guest posts resource pages vetted directories and brand mentions. ---fjmvz8r1
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 2  | Go to page: