Thread: Town Hall Debates

A few weeks ago, on another forum, I posted a suggestion for a "town hall" format for debates. Either by coincidence or by someone in the McCain camp reading that post, McCain has suggested exactly that.

I am not so sure that Obama's people would agree to it. It probably gives McCain an advantage and puts Obama in an uncomfortable place.

The moderated debate formats have, by in large, been a circus sideshow. They end up as partisan, "gotchas," or leaving the candidates with not enough time to fully answer the questions. What we end up with is the candidates ignoring the questions and steering them to precanned two minute speeches.

Your thoughts?

Originally Posted by uncommonman

A few weeks ago, on another forum, I posted a suggestion for a "town hall" format for debates. Either by coincidence or by someone in the McCain camp reading that post, McCain has suggested exactly that.

I am not so sure that Obama's people would agree to it. It probably gives McCain an advantage and puts Obama in an uncomfortable place.

The moderated debate formats have, by in large, been a circus sideshow. They end up as partisan, "gotchas," or leaving the candidates with not enough time to fully answer the questions. What we end up with is the candidates ignoring the questions and steering them to precanned two minute speeches.

Your thoughts?

Town Hall meetings are a excellent idea. Further I agree with McCain that it would be good. Further neither candidate can predict what hard hitting question they will recieve that they will have to answer. So yes it is fair either one could end up with egg on the face. Yet it's something of a stretch that your forum post gave McCains camp the idea. Sorry that is my opinion.

Originally Posted by uncommonman

A few weeks ago, on another forum, I posted a suggestion for a "town hall" format for debates. Either by coincidence or by someone in the McCain camp reading that post, McCain has suggested exactly that.

I am not so sure that Obama's people would agree to it. It probably gives McCain an advantage and puts Obama in an uncomfortable place.

The moderated debate formats have, by in large, been a circus sideshow. They end up as partisan, "gotchas," or leaving the candidates with not enough time to fully answer the questions. What we end up with is the candidates ignoring the questions and steering them to precanned two minute speeches.

Your thoughts?

i think its a great idea, espcially for obama. obama talks like a real person, he can talk off the cuff, he doesn't SOUND like a politician. have you ever seen mccain on the daily show? stewart slaughters him because stewart is a real interviewer and doesn't put up with mccains right wing talking points. mccain can't even give a speech without reading from the teleprompter, you think he'll do well talking from the top of his head?? i just don't see it.

Originally Posted by uncommonman

A few weeks ago, on another forum, I posted a suggestion for a "town hall" format for debates. Either by coincidence or by someone in the McCain camp reading that post, McCain has suggested exactly that.

Go with the coincidence one.

Originally Posted by uncommonman

A few weeks ago, on another forum, I posted a suggestion for a "town hall" format for debates. Either by coincidence or by someone in the McCain camp reading that post, McCain has suggested exactly that.

I am not so sure that Obama's people would agree to it. It probably gives McCain an advantage and puts Obama in an uncomfortable place.

The moderated debate formats have, by in large, been a circus sideshow. They end up as partisan, "gotchas," or leaving the candidates with not enough time to fully answer the questions. What we end up with is the candidates ignoring the questions and steering them to precanned two minute speeches.

Your thoughts?

McCain is very good in that type "debate", Obama isn't any good at answering off the cuff. The dem debates showed that. I think that obama has said he'd like a "more structured" venue, sure he would, he would be given the questions beforehand & then practice his answers....after his staff told him the answers.
The danger for mccain, IMO, is he could lose his temper.

Originally Posted by Migi e!

McCain is very good in that type "debate", Obama isn't any good at answering off the cuff. The dem debates showed that. I think that obama has said he'd like a "more structured" venue, sure he would, he would be given the questions beforehand & then practice his answers....after his staff told him the answers.
The danger for mccain, IMO, is he could lose his temper.

you haven't heard obama speak very much if you think he can't speak off the cuff. the democratic debates aren't "off the cuff".

and i love your illogical paranoia. in one sentence you say he can't speak off the cuff as evidenced by the dems debate, and in the next sentence you say that in a formal debate obama would get the questions beforehand and fed answers from his staff. so either he isn't good in formal debates or he is, which is it?

your posts contradict themselves.

Originally Posted by nickcuse

you haven't heard obama speak very much if you think he can't speak off the cuff. the democratic debates aren't "off the cuff".

and i love your illogical paranoia. in one sentence you say he can't speak off the cuff as evidenced by the dems debate, and in the next sentence you say that in a formal debate obama would get the questions beforehand and fed answers from his staff. so either he isn't good in formal debates or he is, which is it?

your posts contradict themselves.

Yeah, ok. :whistling:

Originally Posted by Migi e!

Yeah, ok. :whistling:

ok, well if your post didn't contradict itslef, then care to explain it? in one sentence you said obama wasn't good in the democratic debate, and then in the next sentence you for some reason seemed to think obama would get all the questions ahead of time in a formal debate, and have all his answers ready.

Originally Posted by Think for myself

Go with the coincidence one.

I am certainly under no dellusions. I would tend to favor "coincidence."

However, all too many times, when I have posted on the other forum, I see my obscure ideas being brought front and center by political pundits, if not the candidates themselves.

Certainly, they read these forums...or at least their "people" do. After having this happen dozens of times, I can't help but think they pick up a thing or two from the forums.

Anyway, I would love to see this type of debate. The ones we have had haven't exactly been utter successes. It would be great if they could somehow screen out the "plants" and have ordinary people ask the questions. If we could also have some type of impartial observer shut off their mics when they were not answering the question that was asked, I would be overjoyed.

Politicians want to control the show. They want to answer with prepared text. It's time they started answering only the questions that are asked. We don't need their propaganda.

Originally Posted by nickcuse

ok, well if your post didn't contradict itslef, then care to explain it? in one sentence you said obama wasn't good in the democratic debate, and then in the next sentence you for some reason seemed to think obama would get all the questions ahead of time in a formal debate, and have all his answers ready.

How is that a contradiction?
He can stand tall & deliver a written speech as well as, & better than any politicians I've ever heard. But, when it comes to answering questions from reporters & etc, he stumbles,( er, uh, um, ahh, etc) has made lots of gaffs, & is all in all a piss poor "off the cuff speaker"