[Dean's World] Dave Schuler: Real Debates

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Posted by Dave Schuler:
Real Debates
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1187962547.shtml


   I see that the next "debate" among the Democrats aspiring to their
   party's candidacy for the presidency has been cancelled (or at least
   postponed):

     Fox News and a black political group say they will not hold a Sept.
     23 Democratic presidential debate in Detroit, which the leading
     candidates already were planning to skip.

     A new date had not yet been set, Fox News spokesman Michael Murphy
     said Thursday.

     The campaigns of U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama
     and former Sen. John Edwards had said they would not participate in
     the debate. Opponents have criticized Fox as biased against
     Democrats.

     The debate, co-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus
     Political Education and Leadership Institute, was to have been held
     at the Fox Theatre.

   Considering what a waste of time the joint press conferences that we
   laughingly call "debates" have been so far, it's probably just as
   well. Do politicians, several of whom have been in the national public
   eye for decades, really need additional opportunities to give their
   stump speeches?

   What purpose do these events serve? [1]The audience they're reaching
   is dwindling.

   Fuddy-duddy that I am I'd like to see some real formal debates between
   just four of the candidates (two affirmative, two negative). Just for
   fun here are some topics I'd like to see debated.

   I'd like to see Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden take the affirmative and
   Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich the negative in the following
   proposition

     Resolved: the U. S. should retain a troop presence in Iraq

   I'd like to see Barack Obama take the affirmative and Chris Dodd the
   negative debating

     Resolved: one term in the U. S. Senate is enough experience at the
     national level for a president.

   I'd like to see any number of the Republican candidates debate whether
   a candidate's character as reflected in his personal life is relevant
   to his candidacy for the presidency.

   I'd like to see a debate on whether converting to a single-payer
   system alone i.e. without further healthcare reforms will correct the
   fiscal problems posed by aging Baby Boomers participating in the
   Medicare system.

   Got any ideas for other debate topics?

   Cross-posted from [2]The Glittering Eye

References

   1. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6462782.html
   2. http://theglitteringeye.com/?p=3119