One word for tonight's debate as far as I'm concerned- Boring.
Nothing new, nothing to really state solutions, once again I think it's best we all take each candidate, study their past record, dig deep and make our mind up without all the finger pointing, name calling, general B.S., forget promises and facts and figures since those are used for "stage value", and make up our own mind when we vote.
Mark Allan Crnolatas
American
Lakewood Resident
How much do the debates cost and are they worth the money ?
Moderator: Jim O'Bryan
-
Mark Crnolatas
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:32 pm
- Location: Lakewood, Ohio
-
Lynn Farris
- Posts: 559
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:24 pm
- Location: Lakewood, Ohio
- Contact:
There are only 3 Presidential Debates where we get to hear our candidates who are facing one of the most difficult positions in the future tell us their proposals for the future. We also get to see how they think on their feet and their demeanor.
If we can spend 10 billion a month in Iraq, when they have a surplus, I think we should be able to afford the debates to choose the next leader of the free world.
The whole world is watching. the whole world has a stake in this election.
I really enjoyed it and I have watched from the beginning.
Tonight, I really saw the plans laid out in more detail. Of course I can read them, but it isn't the same. I got clear feelings from Obama of his priorities. 1) Energy, 2) Health Care and 3) Education
JMHO
If we can spend 10 billion a month in Iraq, when they have a surplus, I think we should be able to afford the debates to choose the next leader of the free world.
The whole world is watching. the whole world has a stake in this election.
I really enjoyed it and I have watched from the beginning.
Tonight, I really saw the plans laid out in more detail. Of course I can read them, but it isn't the same. I got clear feelings from Obama of his priorities. 1) Energy, 2) Health Care and 3) Education
JMHO
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." ~ George Carlin
-
Danielle Masters
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:39 am
- Location: Lakewood, OH
I enjoy the debates, but not for entertainment value. Sure sometimes politics can be boring, but the debates allow us to see the candidates without a filter. The debates show us who the candidates are.
Tonight I had the pleasure of watching the debate with my oldest son. He was able to hear the candidates speak for themselves and he was able to ask questions when he didn't understand statements.
I have always enjoyed debates. I know some people find debates dull but they do serve an important purpose and that is allowing the electorate to see the candidates and see how they think on their feet.
Tonight I had the pleasure of watching the debate with my oldest son. He was able to hear the candidates speak for themselves and he was able to ask questions when he didn't understand statements.
I have always enjoyed debates. I know some people find debates dull but they do serve an important purpose and that is allowing the electorate to see the candidates and see how they think on their feet.
-
Phil Florian
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:24 pm
I would enjoy debates more if they didn't sound rote and scripted. They are, on the surface, "unfiltered" but no one watching Palin's performance last week would say it was anything but a performance. While hers was a more obvious example, I think all 4 players in the debate are playing off of scripted materials and predictable answers to predictable questions. None of the moderators have left the grounds that the candidates are comfortable on. We KNOW they are going to have bullet-points for energy, taxes, economy and the war. Those are easy.
I think the gay marriage question last week showed some punch because both candidates were flustered by it. Biden tied his tongue up in a not to sound both FOR and AGAINST it while Palin took the easier route and said "ibid," essentially. I think this is an area that a President shouldn't have to worry about but at the same time I appreciated anything to take the candidates off the rails they are riding on. These aren't debates...they are more jazz-like speeches. They are improving on themes they know too well.
I would loooove some gonzo journalism going on with this. Ask them their favorite episode of Star Trek. What would be the coolest country to tour and why? Quote Shakespeare and see if they can tell the moderator what play it was taken from? Who should play them on SNL? I am only partially serious about this, of course, but I think people would see the "real" candidate when they would be taken out of the discussion.
Even more interesting would be to sit both candidates at a table in a room with cameras ala Big Brother or other reality show nonsense (clearly, the People's Television format of choice) and tell them to talk for 3 hours on all topics. Let them just chat and deal with each other and see how they can keep their cool. Send in the occassional challenge like increasing the heat in the room, make them eat worms, whatever. ANYTHING to get them off script. Otherwise, I am seeing yard signs standing on stage and saying what we already know. Or lying about it (both of them!).
I think the gay marriage question last week showed some punch because both candidates were flustered by it. Biden tied his tongue up in a not to sound both FOR and AGAINST it while Palin took the easier route and said "ibid," essentially. I think this is an area that a President shouldn't have to worry about but at the same time I appreciated anything to take the candidates off the rails they are riding on. These aren't debates...they are more jazz-like speeches. They are improving on themes they know too well.
I would loooove some gonzo journalism going on with this. Ask them their favorite episode of Star Trek. What would be the coolest country to tour and why? Quote Shakespeare and see if they can tell the moderator what play it was taken from? Who should play them on SNL? I am only partially serious about this, of course, but I think people would see the "real" candidate when they would be taken out of the discussion.
Even more interesting would be to sit both candidates at a table in a room with cameras ala Big Brother or other reality show nonsense (clearly, the People's Television format of choice) and tell them to talk for 3 hours on all topics. Let them just chat and deal with each other and see how they can keep their cool. Send in the occassional challenge like increasing the heat in the room, make them eat worms, whatever. ANYTHING to get them off script. Otherwise, I am seeing yard signs standing on stage and saying what we already know. Or lying about it (both of them!).
"Possible explanations for why other people might not share our views:
They haven't been told the truth.
They are too lazy or stupid to reach correct...conclusions, or
They are biased by their self-interest, dogma, or ideology."
- Matt Motyl
They haven't been told the truth.
They are too lazy or stupid to reach correct...conclusions, or
They are biased by their self-interest, dogma, or ideology."
- Matt Motyl
-
Mark Crnolatas
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:32 pm
- Location: Lakewood, Ohio
..
Phil,
Your suggestions make quite a bit of sense. To answer some questions that wouldn't be expected would show quite a bit about the person, on how they think on their feet, maybe the "real" person behind the politics. Just a thought.
Mark Allan Crnolatas
Your suggestions make quite a bit of sense. To answer some questions that wouldn't be expected would show quite a bit about the person, on how they think on their feet, maybe the "real" person behind the politics. Just a thought.
Mark Allan Crnolatas