Looking at the clock (1st half)

Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:44 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Here are our counts for how long each candidate spoke during the first part of the debate
Romney -- 7:03, during 9 times
McCain -- 5:09, during 4 times
Giuliani -- 5:08, during 9 times
Thompson -- 4:38, during 4 times
Huckabee -- 4:14, during 5 times
Paul -- 3:27, during 4 times
Tancredo -- 2:20, during 4 times
Hunter -- 2:16, during 3 times

One note -- Huckabee did not get a chance to speak until 26 minutes into the debate, and Paul did not get his chance until more than a half hour into the debate.

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Comments

These statistics are worth a look.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/017277.html

Scott Harmon, Manassas, VA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:39 PM)

How can anyone take the GOP seriously with a Mormon being in the "front" pack. Get rid of Romney and then I will take things far more seriously.

David Camwell, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:42 PM)

This was not a "debate" (a head-to-head, spontaneous, structured argument over the merits of an issue, there was no candidate-to-candidate questions, no rebuttal to your opponent's points, no cross questions or cross answers, no rebuttals, no follow-up questions — that's not a debate, that's a news conference.)

RON PAUL in 2008 ... if the MSM doesnt like him,
spread the word through blogs, social media sites, webmasters etc...

Natural Cleanse, Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:43 PM)

did anyone notice how horrid the lighting was? Fred Thompson looked like a wrinkled old toad. It was so extreme Anderson Cooper looked like he had three chins. Lighting can make people look much older or worse than they are, or make them look much better and younger.

This wasn't an oversight on someone's part. My question is why did they want the candidates to look bad/old?

Mike, Concord, NC (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:45 PM)

There are 48 posts on this site currently and almost every single one is a person furious with the biased and corrupt political system and the media and in complete support of Ron Paul. THIS is the voice of the American people, we are not sheep and we can see through all these attempts to marginalize the only candidate that is for the people! Does anyone actually believe that we have "freedom" and "democracy" in this country anymore(the reason why the middle east all hate us, right, our freedom to elect the candidate that we are force-fed?). How much does this differ from Putin or Hussein being "elected" every year, just because it isn't the same person or party doesn't actually mean that we have a choice. The "Ron Paul Revolution" may eventually need to be a REAL REVOLUTION.

Kenny Grimm, Phoenix, Arizona (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:50 PM)

Shame on CNN - they want to decide the presidency for us! Equal time for all candidates (at least this early in the process) is the only way to draw contrasts.

Zack, California (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:50 PM)

It seems to me that Ron Paul is gathering steam ever so slowly in the MSM. Rocks on Dr NO, the Tea Party is coming!

Koh Choon Lin (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:51 PM)

As far as I can tell PBS has had the only fair debate. Equal time with all canidates on all questions.

KL in TN (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:52 PM)

Ron Paul supporters are like 5 year olds, they keep talking even after you tell them to wait until the adults are done speaking. Ron Paul is and always will sit at the kiddy table while the big boys go about winning this election.

Scott (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:57 PM)

The debates were a total let down to me. The obvious media bias that CNN displyed during the debates really shows that the networks are trying their hardest to marginalize any canidate that they don't support.

It's a slap in the face the american public as our biased media continues to "play god" with the american politics... I for one say "SCREW THAT!"

Seriously, "SCREW THAT!" Why can't the media just perform it's just as a neutral party... and try to cover all the canidates in a fair and even light... the bias has to go if the media wants to earn back credibility.

I know I will vote in my primary elections in Indiana and I'll vote for Ron Paul, I believe in that man, well minus his stances on Roe vs. Wade...

Another Unhappy Viewer, just like most of Americans (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:04 PM)

one of the major problems as I see it is that everybody who is responding to the fallacy that was the "debate" last night is fairly educated and motivated (for whatever reasons) to speak their mind about the unfairness of the democratic process as it is currently being endeavoured by the MSM. so now how do we get this message to the vast majority of people who do not have access to the internet, or if they do, they are not motivated to circumvent MSM to get information about candidates, and as such only have the MSM as sources of information upon which to base their votes?

in other words, everybody who is gunning for a less partial presentation of the republican (and demoncratic for that matter) leadership races by the MSM already knows about the larger issues at stake that make this presentation a joke. unfortunately, most people are not as enlightened and do not understand this and take what the MSM presents uncritically and at face value. so, how do you get (I dare say) less educated, less interested and/or less motivated people to buy into the idea that the MSM is essentially "fixing" the leadership races and, perhaps more importantly, to recognize and potentially break free from the rhetoric that is spewed from the mouths of most candidates most of the time?

Brian Pritchard, St. John's, NL (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:04 PM)

we need more moms and dads!

Brendan Levesque (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:26 PM)

the presidential debates were hijacked in 1986 from impartial moderators by a group of multinational corporations. they called this the commision on presidential debates, adn the commission is to BLAME for this unfair treatment/airtime.

People, we need to address the commission and expose them for the corporate whores that they are. if we don't they will continue manipulating the outcomes of every nomination. we have the power to stop them...forget CNN (pathetic joke of itself), we need to address the commission and return it into the hands of the impartial.

Robert (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:30 PM)

Hypothetically what happens when the GOP selects a candidate and its not Ron Paul? Unless you look exclusively at message boards Dr. Paul has what five maybe eight percent in polls. I just don't understand the hype and think maybe your vote would be better served with a conservative Dem.

Andy, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:34 PM)

To all those who are making comments for Ron Paul please remember: talk is cheap. Internet hype does not result in election. Donate and vote. That is what matters.

Tim K, Memphis, TN (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:02 PM)

"I'm really getting tired of Ron Paul talk and how awesome he is. Honestly, he's got about the same chance of being the nominee as I do. His campaign is vapor and he along with Tancredo and Hunter need to move on so we can really look at those candidates with credible ideas and really get to some interesting debates.

The dems need to do the same thing. Come on Biden and Kuchinich, it's time to pack it up and move on. "

Except you can't raise 4.3 million in a day :/

David Gotrik (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:04 PM)

America MUST wake up!
Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are the only two people
speaking the truth, and the media ignores, redicles, and marginalizes them. This alone should tell you something!

Dont be sheep! Read! Educate yourself!
Give this country a future!

Ben F. Wilson (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:21 PM)

Jay, that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

It is ridiculous how people try and portray Ron Paul as some sort of "Internet" phenomenon. Like we all get together at the "secret Internet meeting place" and have this pow wow on how to push some sort of false agenda.

His support is real. The Internet is the true voice of the people. Kucinich is real. Ron Paul is real.

Why, oh why does anyone think that someone like Guiliani deserves to even be a mayor much less the President of the United States (not to mention GW). Is that the best we have to offer?

Ron Paul 2008. Believe it playboy.

Duke, Arkansas (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:21 PM)

Ron Paul is the best candidate! Unlike the other candidates he doesn't take money from lobbyists. He's the only one to support immediate withdrawal from Iraq. I don't know about every one else but I'm sick and tired of the media saying how great things are going in Iraq. We need to get out and Ron Paul is the only one that's going to do that.

Matt, Indiana (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:43 PM)

No one spoke about America's enemies ...

China
Russia
North Korea
Iran
Venezuela
Marxist African States
Drug Cartels

No one mentioned China and Russia all but threatening nuclear attack over Taiwan and Serbia. What about the poisoned food? A Date Rape Drug in a kids' toy? Was that an accident? Not bloody likely.

This nation needs a wake up call and fast!

Anthony Tampa, Florida (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:05 PM)

It really is frustrating when a supposidly democratic system singles out a few candidates and silences others....google ron paul

Blake, Clarksville, TN (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:10 PM)

run buddy run

paul michel shishis (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:11 PM)

Its wonderful when a handful of people who don't like Ron Paul start ranting about how much support he is getting on forums yet have nothing to say about the reasons why they dont agree with the issues he puts forth...just childish words with no substance...look at the records people...He's got a following and this is what its like...Live with it!...I always tell my class "DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH"....goes for everything in you life...

Johnny, Richmond, VA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:12 PM)

HAHAHAHA This is wonderful :) I read about 30 comments & ALL of them talk of how the MSM (MainStream Media) is a scam pushing the corporate anti-American agenda rather than supporting a real human - the only real human in the debate - Ron Paul.

Tell U what, I don't even bother watching these so-called 'debates'. I just enjoy reading about them after, because it shows that Americans (us slaves - U know, the ones who perform the WORK - that 99.99% of American citizens :) ALL support RON PAUL!

Blow it out your a55 MSNBC. Eventually we will take over. How ironic that a corporation (Microsoft) created the software that enabled the popularization of the internet! Without it, this nation would have become a hard-core control-grid slavestate years ago (911 B.S.). Instead, when I go 2 the airport, people are laughing out loud & the 'NSA' & 'homeland security' right in front of their faces! LOL!!

Whooo!

John Doe (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:14 PM)

Did anyone keep track of how many questions were asked and the answer had nothing to do with the question?And who they were? My opinion is they think they are fooling us but me thinks the fools fool the fools.)

Ron Coppernoll,Dane,Wi (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:20 PM)

Jay, look at Ron's record compared to Rudy's.

montana (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:25 PM)

For those imbecilic cowards who spend their life running in circles and want everyone to just forget Ron Paul and vote for the most inspired liar. What can I say, unfortunately you can't manufacture integrity, Ron paul is gold in an age of printing presses and plenty of trees. It's exciting and rare

Clint, Tahlequah Okla (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:28 PM)

Jay, unlike you those candidates actually have the balls to try to make a difference to the state of affairs in the country by doing the right thing. Obviously, you are too dumb to support it. Maybe you should move to North Korea where you don't have to think for yourself, it might do you and us a favor.

John (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:43 PM)

Today I cancelled my cable service after watching that trash -- two questions highly skewed against Ron Paul (the first to cast him as a "conspiracy nut", the second to imply he "can't win").

Not only that, the idiotic question at the end about baseball was the last straw. The only thing I'll miss is CSPAN, PBS and Discovery channel. Everything else is mind-numbing, dumbed-down crap.

Every candidate should be given equal time. Period. The people should judge them on their answers. Period. Their 'clout', their money, their name recognition should have no bearing on the amount of time they get.

I'm tired of the media deciding who we should and should not vote for!

Justin, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:44 PM)

Ron Paul has integrity, unfortunatly for the other candidates something you can't manufacture. But of course the American way according to some would be to forget all that and pick the most inspired liar who looks the best in an expensive suit. Not this American

Clint, Tahlequah, Okla (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:48 PM)

Looks like the MSM marching orders involve promoting Huckabee endlessly. Ron Paul had 2-3 questions and limited time. He still crushed them all (how come every article forgets to include his comeback to McCain which mentioned that Ron Paul gets more Military Contributions than any other candidate?). Mitt is dead after desecrating the Confederate flag. Many Southerns died under that flag. Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that "there's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protesters, banning books like "America Deceived' from Amazon, warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and save this great nation.
Last link (before Google Books bends to gov't Will and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

Jack D, NY, NY (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:49 PM)

The evidence has now been presented; it should be clear to everyone that CNN does not report the issues but instead creates it. CNN is a private news channel and they will create and report the campaign as they see fit. I do not plan to watch CNN again.

I know Dr. Paul is doing well in the polls and I like what he has to say. Maybe the VERY few posters on this site who do not want hear all these comments from the Ron Paul camp should instead see the support for what it really is...COMPLETE support by the American people that will never be reported by the mainstream news and media!

In addition, what is this crap that the Iraq war is making us safer here at home? I am a Marine and the only thing that WILL make us safer is to bring our troops home from every location over-seas were we are in conflict and have them assist in closing our Southern boarder! That will help make us safer AND assist with the Immigration issue!

A final call out to the people...are you going to let the news channels decide what is best for you and your family or do you agree that The People should decide their future?

www.ronpaul2008.com

Steven Hulland, Tempe, AZ (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:55 PM)

wow Jay from salt lake city, did you forget some people want actualy choice in who they vote for not puppet a or puppet b? anybody catch guiliani cover his ears when Dr. Paul was talking? Another chance for his sheep to boo on command. ba ah ah. ba ah ah!

Jason , Austin , TX (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:00 PM)

The only legitimate debate would be between Kucinich, Paul and Gravel. All the other candidates are frauds, clowns, idiots or criminals.

Tim, New Orleans (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:08 PM)

I don't believe those are valid times. The whole debate was longer than 30 minutes . . .

http://www.chapter322.biz/forex-investing - Learn Forex & Make Big $$$

Denise S. (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:13 PM)

After the debate Ron came to an event in st pete for his supporters there..About 7-800 at he Palladium..He spoke for a good 1/2 hour or so. It was interesting and rewarding for me to hear him...One thing Paul said was after the Debate Guillini came up to him and said, You sure do have allot of supporters here..Ron replied..You havn't seen anything yet..

Tupare, Tampa, Fl (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:26 PM)

What a sham on the people. Again we have what a very disgraceful cnn group called a debate. It's to bad that Ron Paul is such a gentelman, if that punk mccain would have infered that I was no better than a nazi I would have popped him in his ugly face, what a dirt bag he is. Let's look at johnnies past as a prisoner of war. He was a traitor to the men that were being tortured while he ate well and had the best of care because daddy was a admirial. He should be stoned by the former hotel hanoi men. A morman who can't decide for himself and a cross dresser that thinks your 2ond amendment should have certain requirements. These two are really part of a circus act right? Anyone count how many times ruby julie onknees made mention of 9/11, makes me want to puke. Oh my gawd, did someone let freddie boy out of a cave. He had absolutely nothing to say about anything asked. When asked what 3 deptments he would do away with he tapped danced with the fixing of medicare, medicade, and social security, uh, hello freddie, did you hear that question or are you as dumb as you look and sound. The rest of the losers sounded alot like chatty cathy dolls, all saying the same old crap. Out of this sewer of losers one stands tall and untouchable with mud, adl or any other lies. Ron Paul is the only canidate that doesn't have to remember what he said last year as what he said still stands today. We will stop the errosian of our rights with Ron Paul, he will win, remember j.f.k, well he wasn't suppose to win ethier. Spread the word, don't count on losers like cnn or any news outlet, they are scared to death of Ron Paul, listen to these slugs and this country is done. VOTE RON PAUL!!! Oh, wasn't it tucker carlson who had the bordello owner give to Ron Pauls campaign with tuckers own money? Yes it was, maybe tucker just wanted to give but had to have his big pimp buddy give for him,so's no one would know. Say tucker my boy, strange companions you have their, what a clown with out the face paint. VOTE RON PAUL!!!!!!!! Save what was once a great country from the neo-cons.

J.C (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:35 PM)

Mormon Vietnam Combat Veterans voted to endorse Ron Paul.
Romney chose power and money over religious principal, is antigun, pro gay marriage and is nothing more than a political windsock.

What will Mitt Romney do to wean America off foriegn oil while we sit on 3 TRILLION barrels of oil in Green River Formation and Canada has 1.8 TRILLION barrels of oil in Alberta, Canada.

Arab oil is counted in billions of barrels.
American oil is 5 TRILLION BARRELS.

Richard Prestwich, Grantsville, Utah (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:49 PM)

Jay in Salt Lake:

Ron Paul will win they got the big gun$ but we got the numbers ,yeah we're taking over.

Peace out !!!

John Rauch (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:56 PM)

Actually what is most funny is that not only did people watch the program but think elections which are obviously rigged have some meaning. It is hard to decide who is dumber and who is dumbest-the vox populi of America or the two-bit hustlers pandering for votes.

Why would anyone with any integrity participate in this Soviet farce? Why would a public as stupid as the American be expevcted to care?

Charles Stegiel (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:58 PM)

Jay in Salt Lake:

Ron Paul will win they got the big gun$ but we got the numbers ,yeah we're taking over.

Peace out !!!

John ,Jacksonville FL (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:58 PM)

It seems funny to me that the only "top-teir" candidate in the GOP with only 1 wife is the Mormon. Looking past that, Ron Paul (yes he is getting my vote) along with Hucklebee were the only 2 offering up a conservative message. And of those two only Ron Paul has a votng record to support those conservative views. Shame on CNN for trying to paint Dr. Paul as a conspiracy loon with that silly queston, but I am so proud that Ron Paul provided a solid answer re: CFR and the Trans Texas Coridor project. I could feel the MSM and AIPAC folks twitching.
FREEDOM IS POPULAR!

Dave (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:34 PM)

Ron Paul - bada** who understands/appreciates liberty
Romney - moronic GWB clone (slightly taller, IQ 2 points higher)
Guliani - sneaky, two-faced police-state builder
McCain - war-mongering geezer
Huckabee - good as a preacher
Thompson - good John MacLean sidekick
Hunter - loves to reminisce a little too much
Tancredo - just a moron

Ahmad, Fairfax, Virginia (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:36 PM)

Keyes -- 0:00 minutes
using 0 words
during 0 opportunities to speak

because he was prohibited from participating in the debate which emanated from St. Petersburg, FL
Though he is the ONLY one not present who is ALREADY on the FLORIDA ballot!!!
Ron Paul should consider himself "lucky" for even having been acknowledged by the MSM.

Carl, Orlando, FL (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:39 PM)

I am not a Ron Paul fan, but it is certainly amazing how much genuine support he has generated across America. This is especially true compared to Mitt Romney, whose main supporting block is based in Utah (not hard to guess as to why). RP's support base is small, but they are well organized, spread around and effective. I am very interested in how all of this is going to unveil. With that said, I like Fred Thompson.

Dale, Arlington, VA (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:45 PM)

I dont believe these "Debates" can possibly be fair with more questions and airtime going to certain canadiates. It's SIMPLE, a fair debate should have each question asked to every canadiate!!

I'm so sick of seeing Ron Paul getting shafted.

Anon (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:13 PM)

RON PAUL & DENNIS KUCINICH are the only candidates in the race who have the AMERICAN PEOPLE 's best interest at heart ! I wish we could have a common ticket with these PATRIOTS on it . POWER to the PEOPLE !!!!! ..... jack in west Tennessee .... by the way, every debate (msm) so far has been biased to the so called" upper tier boys" ,but maybe the common folk can show the "experts " a thing or two !!! as John Lennon once said "just GIMME SOME TRUTH !!!"

jack camp,halls,tn (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:32 PM)

Why is CNN force feeding us Romney and Giuliani? I have never voted Republican in my life, but I will vote for Ron Paul, and if he doesn't win the Republican Nomination, I and millions of other people will just write him in. Wouldn't that shock your "fair and balanced" approach. No, wait, isn't that Fox News adage? Oh, well, no real difference between the two of you!

Betty Jeanne Henry, Tampa, Florida (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:40 PM)

After McCains mad dog attack on Congressman Paul, I donated another $100 on behalf of my son, who just returned from Afghanistan. Naturally, the donation went to Ron Paul.

Dutch - Cody, Wyoming (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:00 PM)

I can't believe the bias of CNN. It's a good thing I would NEVER pay for Cable. Do our society a favor and cancel your service! You'll get much more objective news on NPR and the internet. That's where I saw the debates. Our country spends about $1 per capita on public radio, while in Europe, the average is around $85.

I think every single candidate deserves to have equal time speaking. The few questions directed at Ron Paul were ludicrous and intended to make fun of him. If we were having a fair election, Paul would be at the top. He wins every straw poll, and the world overwhelmingly supports him (other countries).

Even if you don't think Dr. Paul has a chance, vote for him if you believe the message. Everyone who pulls out of the left-right tug of war sends a message to the country and world that we can think independently and show judgment. In the next election, maybe we'll have a real democracy.

Heather, Portland, Oregon (Sent Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:20 PM)

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