Double Jeopardy

The Washington Times ^ | 11-21-07 | Cal Thomas

[JZelle]

When used as a noun, the word debate means, "A discussion involving opposing points of view." Using such a definition, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates are engaging in something other than debate.

The Democrats agree that President Bush is a lousy president, the war is lost, higher taxes are good and whoever is talking would make the better president. The Republicans, who rarely mention the president, agree Hillary Clinton would be a bad president and each could fight terrorists better than any Democrat, except for Ron Paul, who doesn't want to fight anyone.

These things resemble the game show "Jeopardy": "I'll have poll-tested answers for $200, Alex." If all the candidates were better looking, younger and female, we could call them beauty contests. Miss Congeniality might say: "My one goal in life is world peace."

These nondebates resemble a cattle auction, except the cattle want to buy us, or at least our votes. They seem say, "How much can I sell you on the idea that I will be the best of the stock you see parading before you? How much do you believe the bull I'm telling Wolf, Tim, Chris Matthews, Brian, Campbell, John, Wendell, Carl, Chris Wallace and Brit?"

Why can't more voters ask questions? Why must we hear these candidates who want the power to tax our income and send our daughters and sons off to war (or not) filtered through journalists, who have their own agendas?

Maybe it's a poker game: "I raise my opponents' promise with two promises of my own." Then my opponent thinks I'm bluffing, calls my bet and raises me with two more promises.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

“The debate format should be changed. Put two at a time in a room, with a moderator who introduces them and leaves. Let them talk to each other and to us for an hour. They can take calls if they like. The televised conversation would have more credibility than the sound bytes cross-dressing as real debate.”

I second the motion! Or use oxford rules of debate.

[AuntB]

Good article. Thanks.

[Constantine XIII]

‘You’ll rue the day, Alex!”

[ModelBreaker]

I second the motion! Or use oxford rules of debate.

Every one of these guys would get chewed up and spit out in British Parliament.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

I second the motion! Or use oxford rules of debate.

Every one of these guys would get chewed up and spit out in British Parliament.

I was pleased to see how clearly Tony Blair advocated for the war on terror before the Parliament. The British have retained the clarity of speech that we seem to have lost here in the US political realm.

But I couldn’t stand a parliamentary form of government. Give me that old time Constitution.

[elizabetty]

The Media keeps calling him the Front Runner yet Mitt Romney has won MORE primaries and Caucuses after the Maine victory this weekend.

McCain and Romney are basically tied for Delegates (McCain 97 - Romney 92).

Why is the Mainstream Media trying to tell conservatives for whom to vote? Better yet, WHY IS THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY ARE CONSERVATIVES DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE LIBERALS WANT THEM TO DO?

[elizabetty]

PLEASE FORGIVE MY PREVIOUS POST.

I have several windows opened and posted this in the wrong one.