Will the next debate be about substantive issues

[andym]

Will the next Presidential candidate's debate be about substantive issues and visions for the future, or about attacks based on statements issued by the candidates?

I really don't want to hear more "arguments" about which candidate is not a "true" Democrat, either by having seen to utter words indicating that they've touched a third rail of Democratic politics (eg, Medicare, Affirmative action, or supporting Bush's war), or even worse by actual charges that they are really "Republicans in disguise."

Sad that all attacks seem to reduce to this formula: my opponent X is not a "real democrat" (at least relative to me), because he did X, or said Y, oh the horror!
(Even though X and Y always seem to be misconstrued in some way.)

But I'm afraid I'm going to be dissapointed. Agree or Disgree?

[FrenchieCat]

1. I don't even consider these debates.....

It's like a freak show for the mediawhores to get their soundbytes and run.....for some circular new reporting.....

I remember the question that was asking Clark to explain KOSOVO and Cohen/Shelton comment in 60 seconds....

Damn freak show is all.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Insensitivity here is astonishing...

against women, against blacks.

The Dean flag issue may not be a "real issue" to you, may be of little substance, but it is to the people it affects, namely southerners, white and black.

Flags are powerful symbols--so powerful that wherever the Confederate flag appears on public property, huge battles follow. People in my home state are still raw from the battle that our state engaged in a couple of years ago. And, to my knowledge, a Confederate battle flag still flies over the SC statehouse.

You know, if symbols were not such powerful reinforcements of ideology, we wouldn't be having these discussions. But they are, and they evoke deep responses, especially from those of US WHOSE LIVES AND HISTORIES ARE MOST TOUCHED BY THE ISSUE and the symbol.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I agree.....

But these Deanie supporters are way past go. You will never get them to see the forest thru the trees.

It's just the way it is.

They are down....and instead of being mature and saying...yep, Dean screwed that one up. Instead they are making his remarks "right".
That is the true sign of really, really, really, really, really, really....(funny that nothing comes after that).

!:think:It's a trance!

[andym]

10. Perhaps some Duers are learning that

Perhaps some Du'ers are learning that
what goes around, comes around, and that
no candidate is perfect or even free from
at least one serious weakness that will
prove a liability against Bush.

I only hope that we choose the strongest candidate
who reflects our ideals.

[w4rma]

12. Idiotic partisan bullcrap

What Kerry and Gephardt have their panties in a wad over is a statement from Dean's stump speech that he has made consistently for nearly a year now.

They and you didn't have a problem with it a year ago.

[sandnsea]

3. Medicare, racism, AA, the war

All seem like pretty substantive issues to me. And what the candidates positions have been in the past and the way they frame their positions today are also substantive issues. We're getting down and dirty on exactly what the Democratic Party stands for and we will be proud to be Democrats when we toss out the pandering garbage and let the truth of our values shine.

[andym]

5. How much difference do you really believe exists between the major

How much difference do you really believe exists between the major
candidates (excluding Lieberman) in the current moment on the core issues of "Medicare, racism, AA, and the War?"

I believe they could all be said to be for AA, Medicare
Against racism, and against the war.

Do you disagree?

[sandnsea]

6. I do disagree

They have made very different statements over the course of their lives about these issues. It isn't enough to say I'm for Medicare. How Medicare is implemented has everything to do with it truly delivering health care. Same with AA, it doesn't mean anything to say you're for it if you really believe it should be based on class instead of race. And it is one thing to be against the Iraq war because you always oppose war and another to be against it because it wasn't necessary at the time.

These candidates are actually quite different and each would take this country in different directions. They would all do good things, it's just a matter of who would do the BEST things.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I don't think that the policy issue differences is the real

is the real key in this election. I believe it's what you are going to bring to the table that will beat Bush.

The Mediawhores have already decided that Dean will take it.
And the Deaniacs are enjoying the limelight.......for now!

The real issue is who are you going to put up next to Bush?
As I have said, the Chimp will be speaking at the Republican Convention on 9/11/04.....in New York...and what he will do right then is take Dean totally down. It will be a no foreign policy experience, want to raise taxes on hardworking Americans, wants to legalize Gay Marriage, governed state that has the same number of Puerto Ricans right here in New York Speech.

Democrats are toast. So sad, cause we really are smarter than that.

But when you've go the MediaWhores choosing our candidate, what's one to do?

[andym]

9. We do need someone who can neutralize Bush's propoganda

We do need someone who can neutralize Bush's propaganda.

It would be almost ironic if it turns out that
one of the non-politicians amoung the candidates
is the one to do it.

[andym]

8. Another observation: political karma

Another interesting observation is that the attacks
invariably lead to the "chicken coming home to roost":
that is, the successful attacker of last week or month becomes the attackee of the moment almost in proportion to the amount, severity
and success of the previous attacks.

So perhaps these attacks are just the workings of the laws of political karma.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Yes, but the Mediawhores will not make it an issue....

cause they need the candidate to be Dean....in order to win.

So it will be a Print whisper..

Unless Al brings it up in the debates. Then the whores will have to address the issue.

Does mediawhores are really strong!...they don't budge more than 1 millimeter!

[w4rma]

13. If Clark can't beat Dean, Clark will get his butt whooped by Bush. (n/t)

[andym]

14. Rock, scissors, paper may hold

The rock, scissors paper argument may hold.
That is the strongest candidate against Bush may not
be the strongest candidate for the nomination.

Let's say Bush is the rock,
candidate X is scissors, and candidate Y is paper.

Then candidate X (scissors) cuts (defeats) candidate Y,
but Bush (rock) breaks (defeats) candidate X (scissors).

However, candidate Y (paper) would have covered (defeated)
Bush (rock).

[newyawker99]

15. kick

:kick: