the point of debates

[avatar4321]

Does anyone else think the debates are completely pointless when there are so many people no one gets to know anyone? Watching the debate the other night it was just kind of like, whats the point. Why are we having a debate when in reality it shows little other than whether the candidate is quick on their feet, articulate, and whether they are sane? I think we can get more information on the candidates on their websites telling us what they stand for and from one on one interviews than debates.

Has the debates really changed anyones view point of any of the candidates? Is there really a point to continue having them till we are down to two or three candidates? Is there even a point then?

[chum43]

for informed voters who actually care, like most people here on the boards, there really is no point... you are right you can get a much better idea of who the candidates are simply by doing a little research online and looking at voting records and such.

the point of the debates is for slick candidates who have no chance otherwise to fool the masses of uninformed voters to back them. It's a big staged propaganda machine to boost certain candidates and attack others. It's all a big show for the masses of idiots that go out on election day and choose who thought was cool in the 2 or 3 minutes of debates they saw throughout the campaigning process.

For everyone here and all the other people who actually follow things and know whats going on in the news and such they really mean nothing... for us it mostly just re-affirms our own previously formed opinions.

[Gaffer]

I agree with chum, I think most of the debate is for the benifit of the station putting it on to highlight certain canidates. You can't get any real info on a person by watching him talk for 2 or 3 minutes. For a position like the presidency they need to be grilled for hours individually.

Ten canidates making points on stage is not a debate. Two canidates with no time limits facing off is a debate.

[avatar4321]

Maybe what we need is a serious of one on one debates between the candidates. sort of like a tournament.

[Dilloduck]

Maybe what we need is a serious of one on one debates between the candidates. sort of like a tournament.

They can still collude to discuss only issues that they want the public to know. How about some town hall free-for-alls with no screening of questions?

[avatar4321]

They can still collude to discuss only issues that they want the public to know. How about some town hall free-for-alls with no screening of questions?

problem with that is there will always be some lunatics asking crazy questions that waste time.