No More Timid Presidential Debates

The Bulletin (Philadelphia's family newspaper) ^ | Sept. 11, 2007 | Chris Friend

[SittinYonder]

--- SNIP ---

Rep. Tom Tancredo, Washington's staunchest opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants - the biggest hot-button issue of the campaign - is by far one of the most articulate and principled candidates and made a tremendous showing in his extremely limited time. He expressed his frustration to Fox News about the paucity of questions he received.

"I had four questions in 90 minutes, and the first one didn't come for 35 minutes. It is enormously frustrating. ... I try to do my best because you have only one minute to 'make your bones,' ... [yet] you feel like a ninth-grader raising your hand going, 'Let me talk, let me talk!'"

Tancredo's suggested remedy? Spread out the questions more equitably, for starters. "Not just going to Rudy and Mitt."

"What you need to do is think about the American public. ... What they need to see is whether there are other people in this race who have anything to add."

A discussion that should have taken place but didn't occurred when Rudy Giuliani claimed that he was avidly against both illegal immigration and safe haven "sanctuary cities" while he was mayor of New York.

Tancredo, knowing this was a blatant falsehood being heaped on America by one of the "front-runners," desperately wanted to point out Giuliani's hypocrisy but was unable to do so because he wasn't afforded the chance to speak, let alone question Rudy directly. The result? Giuliani comes across as strong on the issue (which he is not), and the most knowledgeable candidate gets shut out and marginalized.

That's not just unfair. It's disingenuous.

And if you're expecting a moderator to expose a candidate's political two-step, keep dreaming. Most simply aren't that capable.

--- SNIP ---

[SittinYonder]

What sets Tancredo apart from the other GOP candidates:
“I think that the fact that I have the most consistent record on immigration, along with the most consistent record on conservative issues in general. That is, Sen. Brownback has certainly been consistent on the life issue. But if you put everything together—fiscal along with social issues, then I would come out with the most consistently conservative background.”
- Tom Tancredo

Click for more on Tancredo on the issues.

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[kittymyrib]

One good reason to support Fred Thompson is that he has not been intimidated by the hostile msm into performing for these worthless dog and pony shows, erroneously called “debates.” They are not debates, but staged performances for the media in order to provide an easy story and to make them seem relevant.Of course, if some poor soul has a slip of the tongue in the 90 seconds he gets to answer his three questions, that is grist for their mill.

[SittinYonder]

One good reason to support Fred Thompson is that he has not been intimidated by the hostile msm into performing for these worthless dog and pony shows, erroneously called “debates.”

Give me a break.

[teledude]

Give me a break.

Which side do you want it?

[ReignOfError]

The presidential debates are a farce in the general election, when it’s narrowed to two or three candidates; get eight or nine up there, and it’s nothing but a recitation of sound bites.

If I had my preference, I’d have no answers shorter than five minutes — that would be the time limit, not that the candidates would be forced to use it all. And yes, with this many candidates, that means something like a six-hour debate.

An all-day affair. I’m talking advanced democracy, not third-grade civics. If you like sound bites and one-liners, don’t worry; we have a year’s worth of paid ads ahead of us for that. We’re gonna have so many campaign adn next year that we’ll actually start to miss Billy Mays and Head-On.

[SittinYonder]

Which side do you want it?

Sorry, I didn't know moderate fredheads knew the difference between right and left.

[eyespysomething]

Sorry, I didn't know moderate fredheads knew the difference between right and left.

OUCH!

That's gonna leave a mark!

LOLOLOL

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Tancredo is described as “articulate.” I like Tancredo’s position on immigration (unfortunately he seems to be a one issue candidate), but he was probably one of the poorest speakers during the debate.

I do appreciate Tancredo staying in the race, even though he has no chance, since he can keep that very important issue out in front.