NBC, still the home of "Lyin' Brian" Williams, did a partisan and pitiful job of hosting last week's GOP debate. The questions of the condescending CNBC "moderators" were ill-prepared, mean-spirited, biased and childish. CNBC embarrassed and revealed itself in the debate, probably its last as host.
Marco Rubio is right: The media should register as a PAC. NBC reporters could find a major Democrat in a hotel room with a dead hooker, high on meth and with $2 million in plutonium on him, and the lead story the next day would be about global warming and income inequality in America.
Ron HartReince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee - and whose name sounds like a carwash for hybrid cars - has already told NBC the network is suspended for the next debate. So the NBC broadcasts of GOP debates almost made it to two episodes, making it the most successful new series NBC has had in years - ironically, since "The Apprentice."
And, much like "The Apprentice," the debate featured Donald Trump yelling at a bunch of folks you hardly recognize. The appeal of Trump is that when he sees an organization doing something stupid, he points it out, asks why and renegotiates. Imagine the field day he would have applying this business approach to the far-too-numerous and duplicative government agencies.
Priebus' action was not enough to quell the uprising among the GOP presidential hopefuls, who are now more emboldened under Trump's leadership to make business demands. This is a good thing; 95 percent of the media are left of center, and most hate the GOP. So why subject your candidates to a media grilling when Democratic candidates do not receive the same treatment? You won't see Democrats allowing Fox News to host one of their debates.
In the wake of the CNBC debate debacle, the campaign strategists for most of the top Republican candidates met last weekend to discuss taking greater control of the debates.
At the conclusion of their meeting, the GOP contenders were in agreement. They jointly called for the U.S. to conduct airstrikes on the homes of the CNBC debate moderators.
Compare the contentious "gotcha questions" directed at the Republican candidates with the softball silliness of the Democratic debate, held Oct. 13 at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas. Lots of money has been lost in Vegas casinos, and that doesn't include weddings and donations to the Clinton Crime Family Foundation.
All Democrats seemed to enjoy the love fest that was the well-orchestrated debate. Hillary's only concern was that Bill had to be left alone for three hours in Las Vegas without her being able to watch him.
The Democratic debate featured Hillary, Bernie Sanders and three other men who looked like the type of high school guidance counselors who would encourage you to incur lots of student loan debt to earn a degree in gender studies from Skidmore College "because it's your dream."
I suggest a drinking game you could play during a Democratic debate. When a candidate mentions something he or she would give you for free, reach over to the person next to you, take his tequila shot from him and down it.
In fact, all the Democrats seem to think we now live in an America where everything should be free. If not, you are just a brick and a shattered store window away from getting anything you want. And if a policeman arrests you, put up a fight and sue for some extra money.
The Democrats even left an empty lectern onstage in case Joe Biden showed up. The lectern came in second in the debate and is now polling 6 points ahead of Lincoln Chafee.
To Hillary's consternation, Joe Biden visited with Bernie Sanders afterward. Bernie was excited. At his age, he is just happy to have younger folks come visit him.
The RNC might consider letting the libertarian media group Reason host one of the Republican debates. Reason has smart, young and issue-oriented followers who favor legalized pot and prostitution. So the GOP can be assured of a great after-debate party and a "spin room" that really might be spinning.
Ron Hart is a syndicated op-ed humorist, author, and TV and radio commentator. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com.