Should they Debate
 

Yes or No.....

Only after they earn their pay as Senators and fulfill those duties should they continue to "interview" for a new job.

Absolutely!
 

Like Barack Obama has said, someone who is attempting to be elected President of the U.S. ought to be able to do at least two things at once.

Neither Obama or McCain are on any of the committees or are in any position of responsibility to negotiate a bill acceptable to the majority of both houses of Congress. If there is a vote contemplated or scheduled that would interfere with their travel to Mississipi for the debate, then they should remain in Washington. But as of Thursday night, there were no Senate activities or meetings where they would be expected to be in attendance. Most of the negotiations are to be in the House, with the Senate awaiting discussions in joint committee.

There will ony be three debates--opportunities for voters to observe the candidates questioned by a professional journalist and to see how they present and defend their positions and plans. They could then immediately return to Washington. That's at least as important as hanging around the Senate cloakroom, or worse injecting themselves into negotiations where they are neither wanted or needed.

While it may not make the people at Ole Miss happy, nothing stops the situs for any debate to be mov ed to where the candidates physically are, namely DC. If this "crisis' is as real as the politicians are trying to make it out to be, it would be logical that they should stay close to their work site until this crisis is resolved. However, setting the stage within DC is highly reasonable and easy to do.

I, for one, would be uncomfortable listening to two guys "debating" something that the body that are a member of is working on. What kind of insight would we get...what they got from a phone call ?

Forget the debates....save the money....have the town hall meetings with CITIZENS who can address the citizens concerns ! Of course televised, but I am tired of the debate process where a "journalist" and I use that term loosely is trying to get a story but tripping up a candidate. Let US ask the questions, perhaps with backup from reporters !

Bucco I agree with you. The debates are a joke, as far as I'm concerned. Town Hall meetings would be much more informative. As long as we're stuck with the debate format I would like just once to have an Independent or Republican moderator.

Yes

I would like to think that Senators have a more important role to play in Washington than hanging around cloakrooms. I believe their participation and discussions with others can have a huge impact on the outcome.

Looks like the debate formats vary
 

http://www.youdecide2008.com/2008/08...bate-schedule/

I cannot see these moderators being patsies to party politics.

Just thought this was germaine to this thread !!!!

From the article...

"If Barack Obama had agreed to McCain's summer proposal to do joint town halls, the candidate and Steve Schmidt said, this would only be one more of many sessions featuring the two major party nominees.

"I understand that there is a lot of attention on this but I also wish Senator Obama had agreed to ten or more town hall meetings that I had asked him to attend with me," McCain told ABC's Charlie Gibson when asked in an interview broadcast on World News Tonight whether there would be a debate Friday in Mississippi as planned. "Wouldn't be quite that much urgency if he agreed to do that, instead he refused to do it."


http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonath...re_builds.html

Looks like Senator John McCain will debate tonight with Senator Obama.
 

This is on foreign affairs and national security though.

NO......we won't learn anymore than we.....
 

already know. And I am not at all interested in the barb tossing contest that will prevail if in fact the debate takes place. There will be sniping and counter sniping about either not debating or almost not debating.

They will be all wound up, made up, rehearsed, scripted and boring with nothing new to learn.

I've never seen Southpark but it sounds like it might be similar but not as boring...

BTK

Who cares??? I can't tear myself away from CNBC.

Interesting.
 

Hello! I'm back! I know you missed me Bucco! :a20:

I find it very interesting that most of the Republicans do not want these debates. Especially John McCain! hmmmmm, wonder why?

oh, oh, I think I know . . . McCain doesn't stand a chance! :icon_wink:

As I said before....
 

this will be a wind 'em up, pull the string for both....nothing new to lrearn...NOTHING!
Is there something on the forum that designates party affiliation....just kidding.
I figyred it out for = Dems and against = Repubs.......
And that assumes there are NO Dems that would say NO.....:):

BTK

It's a shame when things were quieter nationally that Sen. Obama and staff REFUSED to participate in town hall forums - all of them - to discuss issues. yet today it's a different deal. What hypocracy!

All of this gamesmanship is sickening. When the candidates and staff start acting like adults, perhaps they will be worthy of adult votes.

At this point, neither is worthy of running a hot dog stand if the best we can get is who can outstage the other - and both are just as guilty.

Oh well, once they get their make-up on, the cue cards in place, the rehearsals completed and paid off the cameraman to shoot the best profile angles, then we will have another celluloid President - all style and no substance.

If you REALLY want to get the best value from the debates, listen to them on the radio or cover the TV screen. Anything else is the make-up artists, wardrobe specialists, and acting coaches at work. BUT if what you want is the best stage show, by all means, vote on the basis of who may have minored in theater arts.

Hyprocrisy! Ha!
 

The only hyprocrisy comes is from McCain saying he won't debate until there is a settlement! Guess what. No settlement on the bailout and here he comes! Don't make me laugh. ;)

Moderator
 

Is it really being suggested that Jim Lehrer a liberal-leaning moderator?

OK, for the sake of discussion...who would the Republicans out there find acceptable as a moderator for the debates?...you know, one who stands straight up and doesn't lean left or right.

I dont recall ANYONE saying that Sen McCain did not want a debate...where did you hear this?

Well, I missed you in many ways :)

Kahuna...what board are you reading? :)

WHO EVER suggested that Jim Lehrer is a liberal-leaning moderator ?

I never read that anywhere here and will stand corrected if you can show it to me !!

Do we just MAKE UP stuff to post now ?

I like the debate format better than the town hall meeting format. The reason why: Commentators/interviewers like to follow up with candidates to make sure the candidate answers questions rather than give their "bottled quotes" for an answer to the question. Town hall questioners usually do not have an opportunity to follow up with candidates. PBS Jim Lehrer is a good choice for the commentator.

Jim Lehrer is a good choice

oceanluva I was being sarcastic....
 

we all are very aware of the partisan polarity regardless what is right or wrong...it is always party first.

I thought my throw away comment about there are NO Dems that would say NO....at least out loud let alone this forum.

BTK

Great post....I think (I hope anyway) that everytime I mentioned the forums as my particular choice I mentioned with some kind of follow up from journalists.

I would also agree that Jim Lehrer is a great choice.'

I dont expect much out of these debates....if someone screws up it could be the end of the game and that is a shame...I hope they stucture the questions not to TRY to catch the candidates but to in fact bring out their stands !

Brian Williams (NBC) said.....
 

tonight the debate would make up the minds of over 39% of the voters!!!!
Where is interactive media when ya need it. I want to know where and how the number was derived. We all know it is a dart throw decision. What he is really doing is pre programming the sheeple. Does anybody really believe one event like tonight's school play will be the determining factor?
Does anybody believe the events of the next almost 40 days will stand still hence the debate is the lasting determining factor? Only the sheeple and the NBC following.

Tonight will only serve as cannon fodder for those who regal in picking the fly specs from the pepper......aka....no substance.

BTK

Buff, I visit Drudge numerous times daily and I enjoy the site. It is not a liberal site, so why would you expect Obama to do well in a poll taken on this site? In the real world Obama is doing quite well.

Obama Wins Debate!
 

Some poll numbers.

http://www.mlive.com/elections/index...he_debate.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/poll...lection.debate

CNN has Obama 68% to McCain 27%

I had no doubt that Senator Obama would sweep this and the rest of the debates. :clap2::clap2::clap2:


BTW, as far as Drudge goes, they also declared Romney a clear winner in May. Not too dependable!

Chelsa, make sure you get the last word in because it is evident you won't get the last laugh

No, That's not all.
 

Glad you like it Osh! But, really all the credence you'll need is when Obama is sworn in in January. Just watch! :a040: