The Presidential Debates

[Marx]

The announcement has been made! The dates have been set! The topics have been assigned! The moderators are ready to moderate!

Here is the schedule for the 2008 Presidential Debates!

The First Debate

Date: September 26th, the University of Mississippi
Moderator: Jim Lehrer, PBS 'NewsHour' host
Format: Discussion on Foreign Policy and National Security Issues

Each candidate will get two minutes to respond to a question, followed by an open discussion for another five minutes.

The Second Debate

Date: October 7th, Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee
Moderator: Tom Brokaw, of NBC
Format: Town Hall with questions coming from audience members and queries sent over the internet

The Presidential Debate Commission said earlier this month that Gallup will choose undecided voters from in or around the Nashville, Tennessee area to participate in the town hall, and Brokaw will review each question before it is posed to avoid duplication.

The Final Debate

Date: October 15th, Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
Moderator: Bob Scheiffer, CBS 'Face The Nation' host
Format: Discussion on Domestic and Economic Policy Issues

The Hofstra faceoff will be the only debate where each candidate will have the chance to make a 90-second closing statement.

The Vice Presidential Debate

Date: October 2nd, Washington University in St. Louis
Moderator: Gwen Ifill, 'NewsHour'
Format: Discussion on Domestic and Foreign Policy

*The structure of this debate is similar to the first presidential debate. This will be divided into eight 10 minute segments. The first five minutes will include a two minute response from each candidate about a specific issue, and the last five minutes will be an open discussion where the candidates can converse.*


Discuss all things DEBATES!


Campaigns reach final agreement on presidential debates
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...each-final-agreement-on-presidential-debates/

 

[jaguarr]

Great. Now maybe people will quit whining that there aren't any debates.

jag

 

[StorminNorman]

Well it is a bit short of Obama's pledge of "anywhere, anytime".

 

[jaguarr]

Well it is a bit short of Obama's pledge of "anywhere, anytime".

But it's also better than McCain's preference of "my place, my rules".

jag

 

[Marx]

Well it is a bit short of Obama's pledge of "anywhere, anytime".

But it's also better than McCain's preference of "my place, my rules".

jag

Ohhhh snap!

 

[SuBe]

Well, since there is going to be that much more news on this for a while, What would you ask the canidates?

 

[redfirebird2008]

Well, since there is going to be that much more news on this for a while, What would you ask the canidates?

To McCain: Did you really mean it when you said you don't disagree with the idea of it being necessary that we bring back the military draft?

That's really the big question I have right now.

 

[SuBe]

To McCain: Did you really mean it when you said you don't disagree with the idea of it being necessary that we bring back the military draft?

That's really the big question I have right now.

When did he say that?

My Questions would be:

1. To both: Knowing that the Public Perception of the Economy isn't very strong, and the Value of the Dollar has decreased over the years, American Jobs are leaving these shores, and Taxes are at an all time high, would you be in favor of a system of Taxation that has been studied by Top Economists, as improving the Economy, making Taxes Simple, and Highly Progressive (Not taxing those in Poverty)?
a. If yes, are you in Favor of the FairTax as written in House bill HR25?
b. If No, Are you an Idiot? (i kid)

2. To Obama: As you may Know, when you increase taxes on Corporations, the Corporations have but 2 choices, Increase the Costs of the Product or Service they sell, which would burden the Consumer, or Decrease the Costs of Doing Business, Namely Labor, and in doing so increase the Unemployment Rate. Do you favor decreasing or Eliminating Corporate Taxes in the United States, as we have the 2nd Highest Corporate Tax Rate in the world?

3. To McCain: Are you a Zombie?

 

[Tag279]

Well, since there is going to be that much more news on this for a while, What would you ask the canidates?

I would ask McCain and Obama if they would be willing to introduce legislation that would remove the disparity in sentencing of individuals convicted of possession of powder cocaine vs crack cocaine.

 

[redfirebird2008]

When did he say that?

My Questions would be:

1. To both: Knowing that the Public Perception of the Economy isn't very strong, and the Value of the Dollar has decreased over the years, American Jobs are leaving these shores, and Taxes are at an all time high, would you be in favor of a system of Taxation that has been studied by Top Economists, as improving the Economy, making Taxes Simple, and Highly Progressive (Not taxing those in Poverty)?
a. If yes, are you in Favor of the FairTax as written in House bill HR25?
b. If No, Are you an Idiot? (i kid)

2. To Obama: As you may Know, when you increase taxes on Corporations, the Corporations have but 2 choices, Increase the Costs of the Product or Service they sell, which would burden the Consumer, or Decrease the Costs of Doing Business, Namely Labor, and in doing so increase the Unemployment Rate. Do you favor decreasing or Eliminating Corporate Taxes in the United States, as we have the 2nd Highest Corporate Tax Rate in the world?

3. To McCain: Are you a Zombie?

At a townhall meeting earlier this week, a woman told him that she thinks we need the draft in order to chase Bin Laden to the gates of hell. McCain responded, "Ma'am, let me say that I don't disagree with anything you said."

This is the unedited version that is fully in context, supposedly excusing his comment (and hers). The remarks in question are towards the very end of this video:

[YT]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IyjHGc0v3c4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IyjHGc0v3c4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YT]

I don't give a damn what the context is. No one should be forced to serve, not when we have political leaders that start wars more out of political ambition than actual national security necessity.

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 2ND
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/21/mccain-obama-agree-on-fall-debates/

 

[Excel]

But it's also better than McCain's preference of "my place, my rules".

jag

 

[kytrigger]

Dammit...I would love to be at the Vice Presidential Debate in STL!

Oh well, either way, I'm looking forward to these debates and the spoofs SNL will do on them.

 

[rdh007]

Lehrer, Brokaw, and Schieffer. That just about covers it.

 

[Marx]

Obama vs. McCain...

Biden vs. Palin...

This should be very interesting to watch.

 

[lazur]

But it's also better than McCain's preference of "my place, my rules".

jag

McCain's rules were that he'd want to debate Obama in a townhall format. Considering that Obama was also doing townhalls, it wasn't much of a stretch...

As to the debates, McCain is going to wipe the floor with Obama given his experience, his inside knowledge of how it all works, and that he's tested and wiser.

That's not to say that I don't like Obama, but if you'll notice, Obama avoids ALL interviews in which there are hard questions asked. I've never seen him in ONE, and he's a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. Why doesn't he make an appearance on O'Reilly like every other candidate? O'Reilly helped Hillary out BIGTIME because it allowed people to see her not yelling from a political pulpit, but sitting down like a real person and taking tough questions. And she had a lot of answers I found to be impressive. After that interview, the many years I'd spent detesting Hillary faded away and I found a new respect for her. Of the two candidates, I prefer Hillary, to be completely honest. Why? Because she was completely honest with me and the American people when she decided NOT to hide herself away from us.

Barack Obama has some explaining to do. As a potential supporter (because I am as of yet sincerely undecided), I deserve to see him answering hard questions. I want to know that if I cast my vote for him, he will do the right thing.

So far, we haven't heard squat from Obama on this front. He made promises to Bill O'Reilly, telling him that after the primaries, he'd do an interview. It never happened. He promised McCain 'anytime, anywhere' and it never happened. And during his nomination speech, even though he did a great job on the presentation, he still didn't get specific on anything except that he'd spend 150 billion on energy and get us off oil dependence in 10 years, but he didn't explain how. He said he'd cut taxes on 95% of the country when that's not even possible since about 100 million people (more than 30% of the population) don't pay taxes NOW.

I'm tired of his 'speeches.' I want someone to drill him with questions. If he's going to be our next president, we deserve to understand his positions and we deserve to hear ALL of the details.

 

[imdaly]

McCain's rules were that he'd want to debate Obama in a townhall format. Considering that Obama was also doing townhalls, it wasn't much of a stretch...

As to the debates, McCain is going to wipe the floor with Obama given his experience, his inside knowledge of how it all works, and that he's tested and wiser.

That's not to say that I don't like Obama, but if you'll notice, Obama avoids ALL interviews in which there are hard questions asked. I've never seen him in ONE, and he's a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. Why doesn't he make an appearance on O'Reilly like every other candidate? O'Reilly helped Hillary out BIGTIME because it allowed people to see her not yelling from a political pulpit, but sitting down like a real person and taking tough questions. And she had a lot of answers I found to be impressive. After that interview, the many years I'd spent detesting Hillary faded away and I found a new respect for her. Of the two candidates, I prefer Hillary, to be completely honest. Why? Because she was completely honest with me and the American people when she decided NOT to hide herself away from us.

Barack Obama has some explaining to do. As a potential supporter (because I am as of yet sincerely undecided), I deserve to see him answering hard questions. I want to know that if I cast my vote for him, he will do the right thing.

So far, we haven't heard squat from Obama on this front. He made promises to Bill O'Reilly, telling him that after the primaries, he'd do an interview. It never happened. He promised McCain 'anytime, anywhere' and it never happened. And during his nomination speech, even though he did a great job on the presentation, he still didn't get specific on anything except that he'd spend 150 billion on energy and get us off oil dependence in 10 years, but he didn't explain how. He said he'd cut taxes on 95% of the country when that's not even possible since about 100 million people (more than 30% of the population) don't pay taxes NOW.

I'm tired of his 'speeches.' I want someone to drill him with questions. If he's going to be our next president, we deserve to understand his positions and we deserve to hear ALL of the details.

I absolutely agree.

We've got all his bumper sticker slogans. And even Hilary added another one this week "No way. Now How. No McCain."

But he tells us he's going to do this, and he's going to do that, without ever actually telling us the way he's going to do it. Without actually telling us how he's going to do it...

"No way. No how." indeed!

 

[kainedamo]

I absolutely agree.

We've got all his bumper sticker slogans. And even Hilary added another one this week "No way. Now How. No McCain."

But he tells us he's going to do this, and he's going to do that, without ever actually telling us the way he's going to do it. Without actually telling us how he's going to do it...

"No way. No how." indeed!

Apparently you missed his speech on thursday.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Obama isn't the only one that keeps his tactics vague. i have yet to hear McCain explain how he's going to fix the economy, get rid of Al-Qaeda, or tackle the climate crisis.

Apparently you missed his speech on thursday.

booya!

 

[jaguarr]

Obama isn't the only one that keeps his tactics vague. i have yet to hear McCain explain how he's going to fix the economy, get rid of Al-Qaeda, or tackle the climate crisis.

I've heard more referencing of "I was a POW!" out of McCain when asked tough questions than anything else. Often when it has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand. He has fewer answers than Obama as far as I'm concerned. The guy who wrote his economic policy was an Enron enabler and called Amercian's "whiners" who are in a "mental recession". Gramm may not be a part of McCain's ancillary team anymore (at least to the public's knowledge), but his economic policy that he wrote for McCain is still intact and in McCain's plans. And, frankly his responses to foreign affairs is quite war-hawkish which gives a pretty good indication to me of what his first take on those kinds of issues is going to be and that bothers me. A lot.

jag

 

[danoyse]

I'm going to be in London during the 2nd Presidential debate and the VP debate. Curious to see how news over there will be covering it.

 

[imdaly]

I've heard more referencing of "I was a POW!" out of McCain when asked tough questions than anything else. Often when it has absolutely nothing to do with the question at hand. He has fewer answers than Obama as far as I'm concerned. The guy who wrote his economic policy was an Enron enabler and called Amercian's "whiners" who are in a "mental recession". Gramm may not be a part of McCain's ancillary team anymore (at least to the public's knowledge), but his economic policy that he wrote for McCain is still intact and in McCain's plans. And, frankly his responses to foreign affairs is quite war-hawkish which gives a pretty good indication to me of what his first take on those kinds of issues is going to be and that bothers me. A lot.

jag

OBAMA: "And when one of his chief advisers — the man who wrote his economic plan — was talking about the anxiety Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a 'mental recession,' and that we've become, and I quote, 'a nation of whiners.'"


THE FACTS: Obama was referring to former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, who made the remarks to The Washington Times in July. Gramm later said he was talking about the nation's leaders not the American people. Obama did not mention that McCain promptly repudiated the remarks and that Gramm resigned as McCain's campaign co-chairman within days. "I strongly disagree" with Phil Gramm's remarks, McCain said at the time. "Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me."

Source

 

[jaguarr]

imdaly, McCain can denounce Gramm's comments all he wants, but the fact remains that Gramm wrote McCain's economic policy.

jag

 

[Marx]

Apparently you missed his speech on thursday.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Since Palin is in the mix now (and she's a woman) I think the VP debates are going to be terribly lopsided and neutered. Joey is not going to be able to really "take the gloves off" and handle her the way he would a Mitt Romney or Pawlenty, etc.

If he is too abrasive with her it will turn off viewers--especially female ones. Which is a shame because his level of experience trounces hers 50 to 1.