The debate rules suck. What can we do about it?

It appears that the "debates" this year will follow the same lame format as 2000. The candidates will only answer the questions given by the moderator. The candidates will not be allowed to ask each other questions.

DAMN IT! We have 130,000 people pinned down in Iraq, over 1000 dead and over 7000 injured, and to debate this issue, we get a joint press conference?

Bush won't accept a real debate of the issues. He needs to hide behind a 90 second canned sound bite.

This can not stand. Is there a way we can get together to demand the candidates debate each other? Would moveon or some other organization take this task on to bring public pressure on the debate commission to change the rules so a real debate can occur?

I hope they do not know the questions before hand

for www.Opendebates.org

This is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to reforming the presidential debate process. Currently, the presidential debates are secretly controlled by the major parties, through the private bipartisan corporation called the Commission on Presidential Debates, resulting in the stultification of format, the exclusion of popular candidates, and the avoidance of pressing national issues. Take a look at their website-- there's a petition to be signed but all the background we need to understand what is going on with these ridiculous debate formats...

and control of debates as major objectives. So, even if you disagree on inclusion of minor candidates like Nader and whoever the hell is running for the libertarians and whoever else, the rest of their issues are important to back.

when he came back from the war?

2nd question, Mr. Kerry, why did you flip flop on your support for the Iraq war?

I hope not.

So JK could say something like, "Will mr. bush will tell us tonight, in detail, what he has done in the last four years to make health care a reality for all Americans."

And when the murderous slime ball bush refers to JK as "my opponent," I hope JK addresses bush directly, and says, "MY NAME IS JOHN KERRY."

btw, one of the rules is that the candidates cannot approach each other after the handshake. Wonder who needed to have that as a rule?

anything they hand him and pound bush with a hammer at the same time.

To make Bush look like a fool, and Kerry will be well prepared to defend his own record.

will be asked. Considering it's the same lap dog media at the debates as at his "press" conferences.

Where did you get that bit of news? The people I know and write to in Iraq are saying they are holding back and not in any way "pinned down".

They are doing their best to not harm any innocent Iraqi citizens and are performing their job beyond expectation.

Then they are pinned down.

Sometimes you don't get your way.

the problem is that the FEC is owned by the two major parties ...

voters on both the left and the right are getting screwed by crappy debates ... things were much, much better when the League of Women Voters ran the debates ...

this week's Bill Moyer's show is supposed to shed some light on this issue ...