[HereInTheHeartland]

The sad part; this stuff has zero to do with how someone can govern.

We are electing slick debaters. Almost like auditions to be actors.

[af_vet_rr]

The sad part; this stuff has zero to do with how someone can govern.

We are electing slick debaters. Almost like auditions to be actors.

Welcome to the last 150 years of politics. Have they become more important over the last 60 years of television, sure, but you want somebody who can communicate, and who can go in front of a hostile crowd and articulate what they believe in and why they believe in it.

People complain about these debates, but I love them, because it's providing a good opportunity for some candidates to sharpen their communication skills and whoever gets this nomination needs to be ready to mix it up with Nobama and the MSM.

My only problem is that after tonight, I can see more and more moderators shying away from engaging Gingrich or Paul.

[equaviator]

“The sad part; this stuff has zero to do with how someone can govern.”

Absolutely. If I wanted performance art I’d buy tickets to see the Ice Capades. What do people expect of their nominee, a whole lot of image and a little bit of substance? Are we really that shallow? I’m not just talking about Perry either.

An onstage gaffe or awkward moment may cause some of the audience to wince, cringe or feel uncomfortable but since when has the public developed this preference to have a used car salesman give them the business?

[napscoordinator]

We are electing slick debaters. Almost like auditions to be actors.

Whose is the we you speak of. I had no say in how the process goes and you didn’t either. The Republican nominees EASILY could have gotten together and decided to not do any debates. They made the decision together to have 100 debates or whatever the number is. This is ALL in their hands not the voters. The voters are just watching what THEY themselves decided. If not for the debates, Perry probably would be the nominee, but HE MADE THE DECISION ALONG WITH THE OTHERS TO DO THESE DEBATES!!!! I don’t feel sorry for any of them and don’t take responsibility in their decisions either.