The backdrop of the taxpayer funded Reagan Library and the wings of an old Boeing Air Force One should provide a good example of the media bias for the next year or so. It always amazes me how fawning and repetitious a guy like Chris Matthews is and still makes claim to some higher journalistic ground. How can anyone spend such an inordinate amount of time yapping about the same top three candidates in either party ? Perhaps its the fact that Mitt Romney has already started purchasing spots during his program. Matthews is unrepentant as he glows during his annoying hagiography. It's always about the horse race. Fairness, justice and practicality have no sense of proportion in his world.
Ron Paul will only get a few minutes to make his case under the Matthews regime for acceptance and performance despite being the only candidate to have ever accrued votes in the Presidential election and process. It's doubtful his low key personality will allow for the brash statements witnessed from former Senator Gravel and he'll likely be cast as an isolationist (as some of his guests have already done) with little chance of success beyond New Hampshire. A solid contrary performance may have some viral value on the net amongst the faithful but don't expect anything but that horrible guttural terse laugh from one of the worst hosts on television.
Suppose Paul makes a difference and pops a little in the ratings ? It seems unlikely that a libertarian message camouflaged as a conservative stance will have any resonance amongst the dowdy GOP faithful who manage to make their primaries. In many ways the race is simply that for money and attention. Unless the average steps up and counters all the influences and PACs with a small contribution multiplied many times over amongst their own, this race is almost over. The small percentage willing to step outside the squawk and political box mentality, will suffer with the sparse options of small third parties and their loyal coterie who at least make the effort to fight bullies like Matthews and his platinum microphone and camera. What say you Unity08 ?
Everything I can see suggests Matthews lost with his Arnold and Bill Clinton questions. Dr. Paul made excellent points about the war, 'solid' currency and a relevant point about hapeus corpus. This despite an obvious bias for Mitt. McCain and Rudy were indistinguishable from Tancredo, Hunter & Gilmore.
I agree. Ron Paul was given far fewer opportunities to answer the question than every candidate other than Duncan Hunter, yet he overwhelmingly won the debate in every poll I have seen so far.