Excellent Bill Moyers NOW Tonight (debates dog & pony show)

[NashVegas]

He interviewed the author of the book, No Debate, and discussed what a joke the debates have become, and why.

In retrospect, I admire the backbone shown by the League of Women Voters when they hosted and refused to cowtow to the parties.

[Seeking Serenity]

1. I'm watching it right now

As sorry as I am to say it, it is a smack down of the Democratic Party as well as the Republicans, collusion style.

It makes me ashamed.

[RevCheesehead]

2. I saw it - good show

It does make me wonder about everyone's extreme expectations for the debates. (alliterate, ain't I?) :)

If everything's so scripted, can Kerry throw * for a loop?

[Seeking Serenity]

3. Doesn't sound like it.

If Kerry's not allowed to directly challenge *'s lies, what's the point?

I've long been in favor of allowing third party candidates in. My view is that if a candidate is on enough state ballots to conceivably win in the Electoral College, that candidate should be allowed to debate.

The Commission, with the full participation of the party that's for the people and an open process and the Republicans, won't let that happen.

C'mon, Democrats. We're supposed to be better than that.

And why would Kerry and the Party make any backroom deals with the Junta, anyway?

[richgriffin]

4. debates

The problem is that first we have to make sure that third parties have full ballot access. The solution to the anxieties of the two major parties is to have IRV (instant runnoff voting) - that way, I could vote for the green candidate as my first choice, with the dem candidate as my second choice, killing the "spoiler" issue once and for all!!

Bravo to the League of Women Voters! Hisses to the Commission on Presidential Debates...

[21winner]

5. We did well without debates untill 1960.

They have always been a way to get free TV time. They have always been a joke.