I know I am in the minority here, but every single debate has made me more aware about something with one of the critters, or I watch for an outright lie and want to know what the talking heads are going to do or say later...plus watch a candidate try to spin out of one sentence he/she said and such...
Of course I am a political junkie but this is the most important election to me in my lifetime....so much to lose if we can't keep our foot in the door in Congress and hopefully win the Presidency again.
I hope that more voters will watch them so they can hear the words and positions coming directly from the candidates. Those that do not only hear the explanations and spin provided by the campaigns and the msm.
Hope at the next Democrat debate that they would ask Democrats same questions asked at last Republican debate.
Also I want to hear about the 700 mile fence bill passed in Oct. 2006.My question is if you cant build a fence how can you run universal heathcare.Ask the Dems that.If they say they didnt vote for it.Ask them if they only support laws voted on by them.
The only good part is that you can see the hypocrisy from week to week. I.E. the top three Dems all said that they could not see us leaving Iraq before 2013, then as the polls would come out they started changing their plans just to get more delegates. Edwards was the most obvious. The Republicans are just as bad with several of them swearing to lower taxes while having a record just the opposite. The sad fact is that as inflation and wages increase (in some sectors) it makes sense that taxes should increase in some areas. Of course the Dems fail to note that since the Bush tax cuts took effect, the richest percentage of Americans have had to pay more than the middle class. Of course the MSM cannot allow the truth to get in the way of a good story.
Excellent points but the most fun I had was watching the Russert/Dodd/Clintoon (Brian Williams was just a side show) debate at the very last she got it big time by trying to have it both ways with her outright lying about how she really feels about illegal immigration...it was the last five minutes of the debate and I knew she was toast...
If I hadn't watched that live I would of missed a lot, that is just the way I am, I watch the talking heads and spin on all the channels I can and it worked out marvelously, it was the beginning of her downfall...not ended yet...but will.
The debates are very educational when they get around to substance, so I like more.
However, it's polls we could do without. I object to media outlets using polls to shape the news, whic in turns actually ends up swaying people. The media is NOT supposed to sway people, they are to just give the facts.
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
couldn't agree more about the polls, I said such somewhere a few days ago.
I remember when about once a month was enough anyway...just the three networks and CNN then so it was bad enough how they swayed them, then CNN started having them more and more and more...and now it is twice or more daily everywhere...
I detest the polling BS...you can word anything or go anywhere geographically you want to ect with these polls.
I have been polled here in the past but Montana is small in population and I have land line.
I have never liked polls for the simple reason that people still get the majority of their news from Liberal media outlets. You know the characters, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. Plus polling can be stacked in so many ways, it's almost impossible to get an honest one.
The other thing I dislike are the way they use polls to self fulfill their own prophecy, and vice versa. The only poll I want to take is in the privacy of the voting booth!
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
Not about the number of polls but about the media. The media has always and will always sway peoples views. But the media is supposed to do that incedentally through factual reporting.
What they are now doing is selective reporting of the facts in order to promote their point of view and using polls with loaded questions to get the results they want so they can report that.
True! Selective facts with omission of all the facts is one of the dirty little tricks the media uses. I wonder if the media will ever feel a sense of shame?
I know, dumb question.
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
And will only be earlier and earlier. Just like government, once a program, always a program. Never goes away. The early candidacies are here to stay. I hope I'm wrong. America should not be a constant election. But we're there. Here it is 2008 and Congressional elections are here again. Didn't we JUST finish one?? Putting in place a do-nothing Congress that is now in an election year and will surely do nothing because elections are more important than you and me.
I absolutely agree. Polls can most definitely sway voters, and do. Voters should be swayed only by their own opinions on the candidates and on the candidates positions on topics of most importance to the voter. But now its "oh he's presidential," "oh I like her because she's such a great orator," or "he very likeable." Who gives a rats arse on that crap? If that's what they are, fine, but someone voting simply on those things is a moron that shouldn't be allowed to elect MY country's president.
I dont get to see them all, so I voted "no". The debates are the only way to see the contrast between the canidates. Although the Dems seem to say the same thing, and then contradict it later. I would love to see "mixed debates, this would realy open some eyeballs I think.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain
All we've gotten so far are sound-bite contests, with moderators who have very visible political agendas. This is NOT a debate format.
Think back to the debate club in high school. There were formats, rules, and REAL INTERCHANGES - ie, points and REBUTTALS. You'd lose points if you editorialized. Information presented as FACTS had to be cited and substantiated. Personal attacks lost you points. And the moderators had to abide by rules that promoted even-handedness and impartiality.
Not enough debates. Well, maybe to many for the dems, as all the questions that are asked is about wardrobe and the tuff questions are all answered with ".......change".
Ordinarily, when it comes to televised debates, I would think that "less is more". Not this year, however. This year, there is so much indecision and lack of concensus concerning the candidates of both parties, especially the Republicans. I think it is important for the electorate to see and hear the candidates as much as possible. There are some very clear differences between the Republican candidates this election year, and much division among Republican voters. This year, I say "more is more".
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I know I am in the minority
January 12, 2008 - 15:46 ET by bigtimerI know I am in the minority here, but every single debate has made me more aware about something with one of the critters, or I watch for an outright lie and want to know what the talking heads are going to do or say later...plus watch a candidate try to spin out of one sentence he/she said and such...
Of course I am a political junkie but this is the most important election to me in my lifetime....so much to lose if we can't keep our foot in the door in Congress and hopefully win the Presidency again.
Agreement
January 12, 2008 - 16:31 ET by Jerry MackI hope that more voters will watch them so they can hear the words and positions coming directly from the candidates. Those that do not only hear the explanations and spin provided by the campaigns and the msm.
Hope at the next Democrat debate that they would ask Democrats same questions asked at last Republican debate.
JM... So do I... I want
January 12, 2008 - 16:37 ET by bigtimerJM...
So do I...
I want to hear details about illegal immigration too, not spin that they get away with.
You got that right
January 13, 2008 - 16:41 ET by well99Also I want to hear about the 700 mile fence bill passed in Oct. 2006.My question is if you cant build a fence how can you run universal heathcare.Ask the Dems that.If they say they didnt vote for it.Ask them if they only support laws voted on by them.
The only good part
January 12, 2008 - 16:25 ET by jay_1975The only good part is that you can see the hypocrisy from week to week. I.E. the top three Dems all said that they could not see us leaving Iraq before 2013, then as the polls would come out they started changing their plans just to get more delegates. Edwards was the most obvious. The Republicans are just as bad with several of them swearing to lower taxes while having a record just the opposite. The sad fact is that as inflation and wages increase (in some sectors) it makes sense that taxes should increase in some areas. Of course the Dems fail to note that since the Bush tax cuts took effect, the richest percentage of Americans have had to pay more than the middle class. Of course the MSM cannot allow the truth to get in the way of a good story.
jay... Excellent points
January 12, 2008 - 16:46 ET by bigtimerjay...
Excellent points but the most fun I had was watching the Russert/Dodd/Clintoon (Brian Williams was just a side show) debate at the very last she got it big time by trying to have it both ways with her outright lying about how she really feels about illegal immigration...it was the last five minutes of the debate and I knew she was toast...
If I hadn't watched that live I would of missed a lot, that is just the way I am, I watch the talking heads and spin on all the channels I can and it worked out marvelously, it was the beginning of her downfall...not ended yet...but will.
More debates, less polls...
January 12, 2008 - 17:08 ET by Clear thinkerThe debates are very educational when they get around to substance, so I like more.
However, it's polls we could do without. I object to media outlets using polls to shape the news, whic in turns actually ends up swaying people. The media is NOT supposed to sway people, they are to just give the facts.
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
Ct... couldn't agree more
January 12, 2008 - 17:16 ET by bigtimerCt...
couldn't agree more about the polls, I said such somewhere a few days ago.
I remember when about once a month was enough anyway...just the three networks and CNN then so it was bad enough how they swayed them, then CNN started having them more and more and more...and now it is twice or more daily everywhere...
I detest the polling BS...you can word anything or go anywhere geographically you want to ect with these polls.
I have been polled here in the past but Montana is small in population and I have land line.
Enough already...
bt...
January 12, 2008 - 17:49 ET by Clear thinkerI have never liked polls for the simple reason that people still get the majority of their news from Liberal media outlets. You know the characters, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. Plus polling can be stacked in so many ways, it's almost impossible to get an honest one.
The other thing I dislike are the way they use polls to self fulfill their own prophecy, and vice versa. The only poll I want to take is in the privacy of the voting booth!
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
I disagree
January 12, 2008 - 17:47 ET by paulnashtnNot about the number of polls but about the media. The media has always and will always sway peoples views. But the media is supposed to do that incedentally through factual reporting.
What they are now doing is selective reporting of the facts in order to promote their point of view and using polls with loaded questions to get the results they want so they can report that.
paul...
January 12, 2008 - 17:51 ET by Clear thinkerTrue! Selective facts with omission of all the facts is one of the dirty little tricks the media uses. I wonder if the media will ever feel a sense of shame?
I know, dumb question.
Rush Limbaugh stated that of the top 5 Republicans running for the presidency, only one was a true conservative. http://www.fred08.com/
Too many candidates, and
January 12, 2008 - 18:19 ET by wiwfToo many candidates, and all of them (except Fred) announcing WAY too early.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
And will only be earlier and
January 12, 2008 - 21:03 ET by GregEAnd will only be earlier and earlier. Just like government, once a program, always a program. Never goes away. The early candidacies are here to stay. I hope I'm wrong. America should not be a constant election. But we're there. Here it is 2008 and Congressional elections are here again. Didn't we JUST finish one?? Putting in place a do-nothing Congress that is now in an election year and will surely do nothing because elections are more important than you and me.
I absolutely agree. Polls
January 12, 2008 - 21:00 ET by GregEI absolutely agree. Polls can most definitely sway voters, and do. Voters should be swayed only by their own opinions on the candidates and on the candidates positions on topics of most importance to the voter. But now its "oh he's presidential," "oh I like her because she's such a great orator," or "he very likeable." Who gives a rats arse on that crap? If that's what they are, fine, but someone voting simply on those things is a moron that shouldn't be allowed to elect MY country's president.
Not enough,
January 12, 2008 - 19:18 ET by general companyI dont get to see them all, so I voted "no". The debates are the only way to see the contrast between the canidates. Although the Dems seem to say the same thing, and then contradict it later. I would love to see "mixed debates, this would realy open some eyeballs I think.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain
No, they have not had a debate yet!
January 12, 2008 - 19:32 ET by PawpawNNo, they have not had a debate yet! Once candidates are chosen, maybe we can have a DEBATE!
More debates
January 12, 2008 - 19:53 ET by Lame CherryThere should be 50 debates in one for each state and the candidates could then stop wasting money on media.
Debates do the best in showing who is the dominant person and the one who can actually think, think, think.
For the Republicans the best debaters are Fred Thompson in the top 2 spots with Mitt and Rudy next.
For the Dems, it was Biden and that was it.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Too many debates? NO
January 13, 2008 - 17:41 ET by JohnMNo. Because we haven't seen ANY real debates yet.
All we've gotten so far are sound-bite contests, with moderators who have very visible political agendas. This is NOT a debate format.
Think back to the debate club in high school. There were formats, rules, and REAL INTERCHANGES - ie, points and REBUTTALS. You'd lose points if you editorialized. Information presented as FACTS had to be cited and substantiated. Personal attacks lost you points. And the moderators had to abide by rules that promoted even-handedness and impartiality.
So let's have some REAL DEBATES!
Not enough debates. Well,
January 13, 2008 - 20:23 ET by bassndudeNot enough debates. Well, maybe to many for the dems, as all the questions that are asked is about wardrobe and the tuff questions are all answered with ".......change".
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Not this year...
January 14, 2008 - 16:00 ET by PrairieSkyOrdinarily, when it comes to televised debates, I would think that "less is more". Not this year, however. This year, there is so much indecision and lack of concensus concerning the candidates of both parties, especially the Republicans. I think it is important for the electorate to see and hear the candidates as much as possible. There are some very clear differences between the Republican candidates this election year, and much division among Republican voters. This year, I say "more is more".