The leaders' debate needed journalists asking questions.

[ClusterFreak]

We got nothing but softball citizens questions with absolutely no follow up, which then just devolved into partisan hackery between the leaders.

And what was Steve Paikin there for? To say it's Mr. Layton's turn, or Mr. Harper's turn...and then '20 seconds left to respond'?

This format is an absolute joke. There are no professional print and broadcast journalists involved and it's a travesty. Instead their bosses at the 'broadcast consortium' have so little faith in the professionals in their employ that they shut them out of the debates. The citizens on tape aren't able to hold the leaders to account...because they are on tape and because they are not professionally trained journalists.

If they wanted to sprinkle in a few of these citizens' questions fine...but to rely on them completely was ridiculous.

[CHIMO]

1. Overall

I thought that it was fairly good.

Harper's voice was tense throughout the debate and the others didn't end up fighting against themselves.

I now hope to see some trending in the polls. Especially since there is still three weeks left in the campaign.

[Metric System]

3. The media has already declared Harper the winner. I've seen Harper praised for remaining calm, but

to me he seemed robotic and Xanax-ed. If Ignatieff and Layton had behaved that way the pundits would have said the former lacked fire and the latter seemed ill. Ugh. I'm afraid a Harper majority is coming, despite the lies, contempt and arrogance.

[laundry_queen]

5. I'm not sure Canadians are so easily duped

They had a panel of young people on CBC and most picked Layton as the winner. I have several conservative family members and they have either expressed being thoroughly impressed with Layton, or being utterly disappointed in Harper. And I'm in Alberta. Now, it could simply be my left-wing railings at family gatherings that makes them see the other side differently, but I highly doubt it, lol. I'm not sure if that will translate into more left-leaning votes, but if these people are thinking these thoughts, it has to be more widespread. I wouldn't count on a Harper majority just yet.

[daleo]

2. The debate was almost over by the time I got home from work

The scheduling was stupid for anyone west of Winnipeg.

[laundry_queen]

6. Agreed.

I pvr'ed it (I'm in Edmonton too).

[glarius]

4. Ignatieff missed his chance to hurt Harper.....

The day before the debate I heard Ignatieff say...I believe it was to a journalist...something that was very injurious to Harper. He said "at least I didn't speak before an American right wing group and call Canada a failed socialist state."....That may not be the exact words, but close. This is something I have been aware of for some time. Harper, who ends every statement to us by saying "God bless Canada" and pretending to be such an ardent Canadian DID speak to right wing groups in America, before he became Prime Minister, belittling Canada. Ignatieff should have brought this up during the debate! It would have shown Harper for the phony he is. Also Ignatieff should have spoken up about the fact that Harper's people had lifted a quote the Auditor General had made about how well the Liberals had handled things after the 9/11 attack. They stole this quote, pretending the Aud. Gen. had said it about how well the Harper Govt. was doing...Instead of just yelling things at Harper, they could have shown proof of his duplicity.

[CanSocDem]

7. Just the same....

...I thought they all beat up Harper pretty good. People might think "Hey...why am I the only doofus thinking he's doing good?"

They pounded on Harpers anti-democratic behaviour over and over. I hope Canadians understand the importance of that...

.

[mahigan]

8. I missed most of it

I was late getting in too and missed most of it. Not that it would have mattered that much since 5 minutes of Harper or Ignatieff is more than I can tolerate. Based on the 20 minutes I did see, I would sum it up as Harper performed (as usual) with the charisma of a corpse and the personality of a parsnip, Layton looked uncharacteristically jumpy, Ignatieff looked out of his depth in a parking lot puddle and Duceppe looked like he dropped in for a visit from Alpha Centauri.

Somebody asking real questions might have helped. At least I might not have felt they probably all went out for a beer together after the debate.

Short version - While I thought Layton slightly got the better of what I saw, I'm glad it was only 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

[Metric System]

9. Depressing: One day 28 point jump for Harper on competence and vision

http://www.nanosresearch.com/election2011/20110413-LeadershipE.pdf

It looks like Canadians actually bought into Harper's Xanax-ed, robotic performance during the debate. I mean, I've rarely ever heard him speak in such a soft voice before and I figured Canadians would see through it. Guess not. It's hard to believe all that staring into the camera was effective.