I realize Gwen Ifill is currently under attack for allegedly being biased in favor of Obama. However if you watched the 2004 debate she didn't exactly come across as pro-Kerry. In fact her performance was roundly blasted on this site.
In 2004 Ifill's performance was criticized on multiple fronts. She was accused of:
* Asking leading questions
* Losing control of the debate
* Distracting from the candidates themselves
* Incorporating opposition talking points into the phrasing of her questions
I really hope she doesn't give a similar performance on Thursday night. Below are some details from 2004 to refresh your memory.
10/5/2008 Post-debate DailyKos diary by dcg - "Gwen Ifill did a disservice to America"
People tuned in to hear about health care costs -- you asked not one time. They tuned in to hear about education -- you asked not one time. They tuned in to hear about taxes -- (I think) you asked nothing. They tuned in to hear about the deficit we are leaving for our kids -- you asked nothing. They tuned in to hear about Stem Cell research and science -- you didn't ask that. They tuned in to hear about the plight of the middle class -- you asked nothing. They tuned in to hear about gas prices -- nothing.
Instead we got vaccuous questions, a moderate desperate to draw the candidates into a pissing match instead of letting viewers hear the issues debated.
Examples of leading questions (see Kaneblues' recent diary for a full list of her 2004 questions)
(E) You and Senator Kerry have said that the war in Iraq is the wrong war at the wrong time. Does that mean that if you had been president and vice president that Saddam Hussein would still be in power?
(C) When the president says that Senator Kerry is emboldening enemies and you say that we could get hit again if voters make the wrong choice in November, are you saying that it would be a dangerous thing to have John Kerry as president?
(E) Part of what you have said and Senator Kerry has said that you are going to do in order to get us out of the problems in Iraq is to internationalize the effort. Yet French and German officials have both said they have no intention even if John Kerry is elected of sending any troops into Iraq for any peacekeeping effort. Does that make your effort or your plan to internationalize this effort seem kind of naive?