Here's some of how CNBC hosts John Harwood and Maria Bartiromo opened up the GOP debate in Rochester, MI tonight:
HARWOOD: The candidates will have 60 seconds to respond to questions, 30 seconds for follow-ups and rebuttals. Those will be at the discretion of the moderators.
We also want you, the candidates, to help us out a little bit, by answering the questions as directly and specifically as you can. I know you want to. You have proven that. But just in case you get off topic, maybe by accident, we may have to interrupt you.
BARTIROMO: Throughout the evening tonight we will be joined by an all-star lineup of the smartest people on CNBC.
First up tonight, Jim Cramer, the host of "Mad Money."
Jim, welcome.
CRAMER: Thank you, Maria.
Their lineup also included mister king of the "tea partiers" himself, Rick Santelli. For a little reminder of how either of those two should be treated here is John Amato's post on Jon Stewart making mincemeat of Cramer from March of 2009 on The Daily Show.
And as Think Progress reminded us in their live blog of the debate tonight:
Moderator Jim Cramer asks a question premised on his position “at the front lines” of the stock market. For the record, following his stock advice is slightly worse than picking stocks by flipping coins.
