Observations on a debate I did not watch

  I really didn't want to see the debate, to be honest. The election's too far away and if you're in the midst of a family crisis, it seems like there're more important things in the world to worry about than a Republican debate.
  Not having watched it, it's pretty interesting to read and see the analysis around the web and on tv.
  The soundbites are pretty obnoxious, to be sure.
  What was up with John King? How annoying can you get? 
  His strutting back and forth in front of the candidates reminded me of something that happened years ago. 
  A lot of Perrysburgers went to an outdoor W rally here in town that occurred before he won his second term. We were placed to his left, not very far from him. Accompanying the president, of course, was the press, one of whom was an older, very sophisticated looking woman who was also a photographer. 
  Watching her behavior told an interesting story. She quite openly viewed the rally attendees with open contempt; it showed all over her face as she scanned the crowd. You could also see in her face a transparent skepticism which, if spoken, would translate to, "Why are these people here? Are they all so stupid as to believe and vote for this man?"
  Her attitude was pretty obvious.
  That's the attitude John King seemed to show last night in the brief clips shown this morning, as he pounced and pranced back and forth.
  And what was up with the stupid this and that questions?
  And, worse, what was up with the candidates tolerating those questions? Where was the saucy response to Coke or Pepsi?
  Why candidates tolerate that sort of showmanship, which does nothing for the audience and only makes the candidates stoop to the level of the John Kings of the world is a mystery.
  And why Herman Cain, who's been so strong coming out of the box, continues to shoot himself in the foot is also a mystery. Doesn't he realize what he does to those of us who may support him when he isolates Muslims as suspect to serve in his administration? 
  Herman Cain should have a loyalty test for ALL his employees, should he get elected, not just Muslims. This is a fumbling response to an important question, just as his response to the gay question does not correspond with where most of the country is. It's not that he can't think those things; he just can't say them. Lots of people think things they don't say.
  It sounds like Michelle Bachmann did very well, as did the perfect hair Romney.
  And Pawlenty doesn't have the chops.
  But, meh, it's too early to be talking about all this.