News & Press

Recap of the CNN Youtube Debate Watching Party and Straw Poll Results

Last night, I witnessed a rare and wonderful occurrence.  Just a few scant miles from the Oakland border, there were people cheering because a Republican had said something positive about the Iraq war and the troops fighting it.

Over 70 people showed up at the Hopyard in Pleasanton and The Englander in San Leandro for drinks, food, company, giant TV’s and to watch our larger-than-life Republican candidates debate with their best answers to some ‘interesting’ questions.

After the debate, every pundit, talking head and blogger posted their ratings and opinions.  Instead of listening to all that noise, we thought it might be interesting to find out what you thought, so we did a straw poll. We asked the attendees at the event to rate the questions on a scale of 1-5 and pick the ones they thought were the worst, and the best. Big surprise - the Democrat’s planted questions didn’t do well.

The best on the worst based on content and delivery

The Worst (3 votes per person)

#1 WWJD on Capital Punishment

#2 Lead Paint in Chinese Made Toys

#3 Holy Bible

The Best (3 votes per person

#1 Illegal Immigration and Sanctuary Cities

#2 Long Term Military Investment in Iraq

#3 Illegal Immigration and Businesses

Average Ratings by Question

Best to Worst

4.75 – Illegal Immigration/Sanctuary Cities

4.7 – Illegal Immigration/Businesses

4.3 – Gun Control

4 – Infrastructure Needs

3.75 – Long Term Military Investment in Iraq 

3.7 – Reaching Out to Minorities

3.6 – Gays in the Military

3.5 – North American Union

3.5 – Which Federal Programs Should be Cut

3.4 – Black on Black Crime

3.3 – WWJD on Capital Punishment

3.2 – National Debt

3 – Should Roe v. Wade Be Overturned

3 – Waterboarding

3 – Yankees vs. Redsox

2.7 – Powers of the VP

2.7 – Log Cabin Republicans

2.4 – Space Exploration

2 – Confederate Flag

2 – Holy Bible

2 – Giuliani’s use of 9/11

1.6 – Hypothetical Abortion Penalties

1.5 – Ron Paul as an Independent

1.2 – Farm Subsidies

1 – Leaded Toys from China