NYT: Some Democratic Hopefuls Question Value Of Debates

[CShine]

Their nearly weekly debates have been the biggest events of the season for the Democratic presidential candidates. They build their travel schedules around the televised encounters. Their aides devote hours to coming up with catchy retorts. And the forums draw more press coverage than anything else the candidates do.

Even so, many of the top candidates and their aides are at their wits' ends over the televised jousts. Some openly contend that the events are simply a waste of time.

"I think the crowded field allows the most shrill, conflict-oriented, confrontational voices to be heard," Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts said Thursday in Iowa, "and not necessarily the person who might make the best candidate or the best president. They're very superficial," he added.

The heart of the problem, officials at many of the campaigns say, is that a debate of nine people hobbles candidates from standing out above the amusing wisecracks of stragglers in the polls like, say, the Rev. Al Sharpton. They have so little time that the only way they can win notice is to level a direct, nasty attack — and even that does not always work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/25/politics/campaigns/25DEBA.html?ex=1068350400&en=50faaba49ac90378&ei=5004&partner=UNTD

[jeter]

1. For once I agree with Kerry

This is true. It's hard for the media to criticize politicians for giving 30 second soundbites rather than opinions, when candidates are given only 30 seconds to speak on any given issue.

[Dover]

2. I agree. That straggler Kerry should step aside and let the

others be heard.

[StephNW4Clark]

3. That's pretty funny...

...I thought Kerry was the one engaging in the "shrill, conflict-oriented confrontational" schtick. But hey, maybe he got the memo that it only goes so far...

[lcordero]

4. it would be a good idea to cut these debates down to

once a month. Too many of these candidates have been excusing themselves from doing their current jobs.

[w13rd0]

5. Kerry's free to not show up...

...as are any of the candidates. Yes, the overcrowded field makes it difficult to go beyond sound bites. But heck, no one is listening yet anyway except for the politicojunkies and partisan activists. Furthermore, aren't Lieberman and Kerry the ones that ALWAYS go over their time, because they always take 3 minutes to say nothing where 1 minute to say something would have sufficed?

[tsipple]

6. Debates Do Serve a Useful Purpose

The debates are teaching the Washington-based candidates that running for President is not about two hour lectures on dolphin anatomy. You've got to learn how to communicate -- how to get your message across in an incredibly hostile (and time crunched) environment.

If you can't or won't learn that, you won't make a good candidate.

[demdave]

7. I agree, the field has to be narrowed to those with ^10% support

Anyone who cannot get 10 percent of the votes by now is not a viable candidate. I know this steps on a few toes in here, but we have to stop the dog and pony show and present real electable choices.

[LuminousX]

9. by whose standard?

Which poll should be used as the official poll, or which polls should be included in the Candidate Indexing process?

As time goes, the field will narrow. The format needed is one where a candidate gets 1 minute to ask each of the other candidates a question (1 minute per candidate) get a 3 minute answer, and a 30 second rebuttal. That would round off to 5 minutes per candidate, allow each candidate to raise one issue of difference with each of the other candidates. As candidates drop out, give more time to the asking, answering, and rebuttal. Moderators should just be time keepers. Strict time keepers.

[IndianaGreen]

8. So, what does Karl Rove's friend Donna Brazile has to say?

Ms. Brazile said. "It's time for some of the candidates to stay home."

This woman counts Karl Rove as a personal friend. She is also responsible for over-managing and restraining Al Gore in the 2000 campaign. Why should we listen to her?

Brazile's answer is to bar some of the candidates from the debates. How democratic of her!

:puke:

[TahitiNut]

10. Not LBN

This is a "think piece" from NYT's "Politics & Campaigns" section. Moving to appropriate forum.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
TahitiNut - DU moderator