Ed’s answer to The Question is downright Solomonic: “have CNN cede the editorial/selection process to the New Media, in the form of the blogosphere.”

Unfortunately it answers a Question that CNN didn’t ask.  Allahpundit is almost right that “CNN wouldn’t believe that Republican bloggers would allow tough questions”.  I think that would be the knock on it from the Enemy Media at large and their Democrat allies. 

That is not, I think, the primary reason why CNN will never relinquish its editorial control.  Rather, they don’t just want to see “tough” questions be asked - if that’s all this YouTube gimmick was about, no candidate would be balking about participating, and we wouldn’t be having this “debate debate”.  They want to see every Republican on that stage humiliated, the very notion of another Republican administration EVER made a mockery of, and, most pointedly, one or more of the big three provoked into a moment that will dog him for the remainder of the campaign.

What I would like to see is Ed’s idea taken up by Rudy and Romney and Thompson as a counterproposal to CNN in order to gauge the latter’s reaction.  It would be a nifty riposte that, if nothing else, might reveal the cable network’s skulduggerous intentions, and could even result in a compromise format to which the candidates would have no reasonable grounds for rejecting.

At the very least, it would defuse a potential PR Little Big Horn and provide more room for manuever - regardless of CNN’s answer - while further engaging the new mainstream media at the same time.

The MP has already made blogospheric waves.  Let’s see if the candidates take notice.