CBA Congressional Debate
The Central Business Association hosted a debate for the Congressional race earlier this week. The debate featured the Democratic candidates for Congress and the Republicans as well.
It was nice to see all the candidates together on a stage one time. That was fine for the Burges Forum. But it was a little distracting at the CBA Forum. Originally it was going to be just the Democratic candidates, but the Republicans must've lobbied to be included.
Frankly, they should have their own debate. But I think they understand that no one would attend so they figure the best way to get exposure is to be included with the Democrats.
There were some pretty good moments in this debate. Strangest thing was the second video-taped message. I forget the guys name but he was also a panelist. As a panelist, I thought he did really well. He should be on more panels.
But he should never video tape messages again. I didn't understand what the hell he was trying to say. Most people watching were wondering what the point was as well. He kept talking about San Antonio, and how we shouldn't me ashamed of who we are, blah, blah, blah, pinata, blah, blah, blah, posadas, blah, blah, blah, another phrase in Spanish, blah, blah, blah.
Sorry, the part of the white guy who uses Spanish phrases is already taken by Eliot Shapleigh.
But once the debate got started the candidates came out guns blazin'. Overall, I thought the best performance of the debate went to...sit down for this one because it might surprise you...Jerome Tilghman.
He seems to have hit his stride. Before he was just empty talk. He was the guy that spoke but never said anything. It was just a string of metaphors thrown together. But now Tilghman added substance to the flowery delivery.
And he went on the attack. He had what I thought was a very effective two-pronged attack. It sounds like he spends more time criticizing O'Rourke but now that I've watch the debate a couple of times, its pretty even. It just seems like more because O'Rourke really hasn't ever been the subject of a sharp attack from one of his opponents in a debate.
Tilghman has come a long way. He now LOOKS like one of the top candidates. He isn't actually one of the top candidates and won't win because he has no money, no base of support, no clearly identified platform, etc, etc, etc, but it has been a night and day improvement. Who knows, if he gets some Super PAC money, he might make a little noise.
Reyes had his best performance in a debate so far. David Crowder asked a question that I thought was a total softball for the other candidates and it appeared to be a question just to spur them to attack Reyes, but after they were all done taking their shots at Congressman Reyes, I thought the Congressman responded pretty well.
O'Rourke did what he always does. Delivered a clear, sharp, and effective message. He is a gifted and dynamic communicator. He is a steady and consistently good debate performer. I have never seem him have a bad performance.
It makes it easier to notice how well the other candidates have improved when you compare it against O'Rourke's steady performances.
Ben Mendoza...well, he's Ben Mendoza. He physically rolled up his sleeves to make a point. Not surprising coming from Mendoza. I wonder if he understands how irrelevant he is sometimes.
Barbara Carrasco had an up and down performance. She was pretty good at times, but at other times she seems unsure of her answers.
Corey Rohen...well, he's in a tough position. He's the inferior Republican candidate. Second place in the ugly chick competition. Don't get me wrong, he would be a super star compared to a Tim Besco. But he's the lesser of the Republican candidates, who are irrelevant to begin with.
He's a better quality candidate than Mendoza, who frankly I think should be running as a Republican.
There was a great exchange in which they were asked to all pretend there were eating at Jaxson's and talking. (Frankly, I thought the premise of that exercise was pointless and silly. It was a little voyeuristic. Like we were collective eavesdropping.) At one point Reyes told Tilghman he could charm the pants off of anybody.
Hilarious.
Tilghman repeated the line and tried to make it a positive.
Ben Mendoza then said something only Ben Mendoza could (or would for that matter) say, and O'Rourke mercifully ended it.
It was nice to see all the candidates together on a stage one time. That was fine for the Burges Forum. But it was a little distracting at the CBA Forum. Originally it was going to be just the Democratic candidates, but the Republicans must've lobbied to be included.
Frankly, they should have their own debate. But I think they understand that no one would attend so they figure the best way to get exposure is to be included with the Democrats.
There were some pretty good moments in this debate. Strangest thing was the second video-taped message. I forget the guys name but he was also a panelist. As a panelist, I thought he did really well. He should be on more panels.
But he should never video tape messages again. I didn't understand what the hell he was trying to say. Most people watching were wondering what the point was as well. He kept talking about San Antonio, and how we shouldn't me ashamed of who we are, blah, blah, blah, pinata, blah, blah, blah, posadas, blah, blah, blah, another phrase in Spanish, blah, blah, blah.
Sorry, the part of the white guy who uses Spanish phrases is already taken by Eliot Shapleigh.
But once the debate got started the candidates came out guns blazin'. Overall, I thought the best performance of the debate went to...sit down for this one because it might surprise you...Jerome Tilghman.
He seems to have hit his stride. Before he was just empty talk. He was the guy that spoke but never said anything. It was just a string of metaphors thrown together. But now Tilghman added substance to the flowery delivery.
And he went on the attack. He had what I thought was a very effective two-pronged attack. It sounds like he spends more time criticizing O'Rourke but now that I've watch the debate a couple of times, its pretty even. It just seems like more because O'Rourke really hasn't ever been the subject of a sharp attack from one of his opponents in a debate.
Tilghman has come a long way. He now LOOKS like one of the top candidates. He isn't actually one of the top candidates and won't win because he has no money, no base of support, no clearly identified platform, etc, etc, etc, but it has been a night and day improvement. Who knows, if he gets some Super PAC money, he might make a little noise.
Reyes had his best performance in a debate so far. David Crowder asked a question that I thought was a total softball for the other candidates and it appeared to be a question just to spur them to attack Reyes, but after they were all done taking their shots at Congressman Reyes, I thought the Congressman responded pretty well.
O'Rourke did what he always does. Delivered a clear, sharp, and effective message. He is a gifted and dynamic communicator. He is a steady and consistently good debate performer. I have never seem him have a bad performance.
It makes it easier to notice how well the other candidates have improved when you compare it against O'Rourke's steady performances.
Ben Mendoza...well, he's Ben Mendoza. He physically rolled up his sleeves to make a point. Not surprising coming from Mendoza. I wonder if he understands how irrelevant he is sometimes.
Barbara Carrasco had an up and down performance. She was pretty good at times, but at other times she seems unsure of her answers.
Corey Rohen...well, he's in a tough position. He's the inferior Republican candidate. Second place in the ugly chick competition. Don't get me wrong, he would be a super star compared to a Tim Besco. But he's the lesser of the Republican candidates, who are irrelevant to begin with.
He's a better quality candidate than Mendoza, who frankly I think should be running as a Republican.
There was a great exchange in which they were asked to all pretend there were eating at Jaxson's and talking. (Frankly, I thought the premise of that exercise was pointless and silly. It was a little voyeuristic. Like we were collective eavesdropping.) At one point Reyes told Tilghman he could charm the pants off of anybody.
Hilarious.
Tilghman repeated the line and tried to make it a positive.
Ben Mendoza then said something only Ben Mendoza could (or would for that matter) say, and O'Rourke mercifully ended it.
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