Posted 21:26 by Grote 0 comments

Why Bother?

According to this NY Post Article our candidates don't even need to be in the same room Thursday when they debate each other. Here's a run down of the rules. Remember BOTH sides agreed to these.

*Answers are two minutes and rebuttals are 90 seconds.

*The candidates cannot address each other. No "There you go again" a la Reagan.

*The candidates cannot offer each other proposed pledges. NY Senate candidate Rick Lazio abandoned his podium with a pledge banning soft money. Which brings us to our next rule...

*The candidates must remain behind their podium.

*When a candidate is speaking there will be not TV cutawats to any candidate who is not responding to a question. So if Kerry or Bush sighs, shakes his head, or looks at his watch we won't see it.

*Members of the debate audience will be instructed not to applaud.

*The moderator is instructed to cut any audience member that reads a different question than that was on their card.

*The room will be at 72 degrees farenheit.

My question is: Why bother? This isn't a debate, it's a joint news conference. Debates are supposed to be spontaneous. They're supposed to help the undecided voters pick a candidate finally because one seems to think better on his feet (something required for the job) than the other. Well, I'll be watching and blogging on Thursday. Join me won't you?