So, McCain wants town hall meetings with Obama.

[ColbertWatcher]

I say, for every "town hall" McCain gets, he has to participate in a debate.

What I'd like to know is, what rules do you think should be followed for debates between Obama and McCain?

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Let the League of Women Voters handle the debates

like they used to.

[Bluebear]

2. Forget this "town hall" schtick. McSame wants it because he can't debate.

All he can do is shuffle around the stage while he tries to gather his thoughts and look approachable. Screw him.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Which would be a perfect contrast to how he is in a debate.

Have them do a couple of town hall meetings like McCain wants, complete with all the production and preparation and pomp.

Then show him in a debated.

Where he has to have facts and has to show how he can think on his feet.

A contrast would show voters the stagecraft behind the GOP candidate.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Thank you and welcome to DU!

But, do you have any suggestions for rules for these debates?

[csziggy]

7. ANY debates or town hall meetings should take place in the evenings

McAncient wears out early and does not function well at night so the contrast between him and Obama would be tremendous.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. LOL!

I remember that episode of Seinfeld!

LOL!

[Ashy Larry]

4. I want debates with no moderator.

I want to see Barack cross-examine him.

[Bluebear]

8. McSame would insist all questions come from his plants in the audience.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. That may be true for his town hall meetings, but...

...this thread is for suggestions for debates.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Maybe one condition should be...

...that the conditions for the event be read aloud prior to the start?

Like if McCain insists on recliners and a select audience and moderator, all the crap he asks for to hide his frailties.

[Truth2Tell]

11. Fine

as long as they're real. No advance knowledge of the questions - by the campaigns, the press, the organizers, or anyone. No controlling the makeup of the audience - it needs to be real random citizens. And no re-framing of anything by some blow-dried punditocracy moderator. Real people asking real questions. All off the cuff. Obama would FREAKIN' DESTROY him.

[ColbertWatcher]

13. I was hoping someone would catch that!

So, Truth2Tell, what rules would you want in place before the candidates take the stage?

[Truth2Tell]

15. I still think you need a moderator

but just to manage time.

- I think you need time limits on responses to questions.

- I think maybe you allow audience members to only ask questions but not make statements, unless they briefly set-up an actual question.

- I think you allow questions for both candidates or just one, but if a question is for just one then you let the other comment in response.

- I think you maybe even allow audience members to ask a follow up question.

- And I think you edit nothing. If an audience member wants to ask about UFOs or Bigfoot or Bilderberg, have at it. If you get five questions on NAFTA then so be it. You can cover other issues the next time. Keep it real.

Edit to add: I was still talking about a "town meeting " here. But essentially the same rules could apply to a debate - the questions would simply all originate with the candidates. You'd allow them to ask each other questions and then exchange timed responses. After maybe six times back and forth on a topic started by one of them, you switch and allow the other to start a topic and have an exchange.

The key to all this is having a real exchange with follow up questions and responses - a conversation rather than alternating sound bites. Of course McLame would never do any of this. He knows full well he'd get absolutely clobbered.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. What about having topic-specific debates?

Like, one for the economy and one for campaign finance reform and lobbyists influences on government?

[Truth2Tell]

17. Sure

but I still think the secret would be to set up an actual exchange between the candidates with a back and forth. And I think the specific questions of debate need to originate with the candidates. The moderator should only be the time keeper and have no say over content at all.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Keep them (McCain) on topic, too. n/t

[bunkerbuster1]

34. You don't even need a moderator to manage time.

There can be electronic time monitors working on-screen to let us know how much time a candidate has taken in response. It's not that hard to manage.

I kind of like the idea of there not only being NO moderators, but having the candidates themselves appear on-camera and announce the rules themselves. Who needs an announcer? These guys are professional public speakers.

I think that'd change the debate in a good way. Instead of always having this crap being filtered by news analysts/corporate whores, the candidates themselves would be the only things seen on-camera (except, in the case of a town hall meeting, people who'd "won the lottery" and were able to pose questions themselves on-mic).

[Mz Pip]

12. A town hall debate with Obama

will have to include the 20,000 strong cheering crowd looking in through the windows.

John McCain needs to be careful what he wishes for. Just try to keep the venue small and intimate with Obama in town. Just try. :bounce:

[jbnow]

19. This is where the town hall idea came from

May 10, 2008

Politico reported that Republican strategist Mark McKinnon has suggested the two candidates agree to campaign in some states together, to attend joint town hall meetings and debate each other without a moderator. McKinnon called the town hall meeting McCain’s “best format” and said joint campaigning would test Obama’s “claims that he wants a clean fight on the issues.”(snip)

Obama said Saturday that he was open to the idea, should he become the nominee.
“I think that’s a great idea,” he told reporters after touring PV Powered, a solar energy company. “Obviously we would have to think through the logistics on that. But to the extent that I, should I be the nominee, if I have the opportunity to debate substantive issues before the voters with John McCain, that’s something that I am going to welcome.”

This is what that same Republican strategist Mark McKinnon said a few months ago
February 13, 2008 McCain Adviser Won't Fight Obama

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: On Wednesday, a top adviser to John McCain said more definitively than he has in the past that he will step down from the Arizona senator's presidential campaign if the presumed GOP nominee faces Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election.

"I would simply be uncomfortable being in a campaign that would be inevitably attacking Barack Obama," said McCain adviser Mark McKinnon in an interview with NPR's "All Things Considered." "I think it would be uncomfortable for me, and I think it would be bad for the McCain campaign."
(snip)

"I met Barack Obama, I read his book, I like him a great deal," said McKinnon. "I disagree with him on very fundamental issues. But I think, as I said, I think it would a great race for the country."

He said he'd still support McCain from the sidelines but this guy liked Obama a lot

10 days after putting out the idea for town hall meetings this is what that same strategist Mark McKinnon did
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/20/mccain-adviser-steps-down-to-avoid-working-against-obama/">May 20, 2008 McCain adviser steps down to avoid working against Obama

I guess he still really likes Obama.

When I first heard this idea of town halls last month I wondered how bad McCain's campaign research was. I know this is McCain's best venue but it is exactly what voters need to see of Obama. His inspirational speeches do inspire but don't defeat the empty suit or "no details". weak on policy questions. That is where Obama wins the undecided voters, it fills in the picture, it completes the circle.

In early campaigning Obama was criticized by some reporters for being too much of a wonk, not inspiring enough on campaign stops. He got back to inspiring stuff at rallies, it works.
Town halls are almost always shown on CNN.com. Obama taught law for a dozen years, he knows how to take real questions from people, he is great at these. Smart, witty, warm, thoughtful and knows his stuff. He is quicker, smarter, sharper than McCain
Obama is better at town halls than he is at debates although he will beat McCain at debates easily

When I saw it was Mark McKinnon I guessed he might know how good Obama is at this. Not sure who he wants to win but it's not clear he didn't do this just for McCain's benefit.

McCain can't dictate the terms but Obama will really shine here

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Thank you, nice find!

But, I am sure, if McCain doesn't dictate the terms, the GOP will.

As far as I'm concerned, for every "town hall meeting", there should be a real debate.

All of them should be televised, and before the thing starts, the terms need to be spelled-out so everyone watching will know that McCain asked for the debate be a sit-down debate and which people were blocked from entering/participating, who picked the questions, which questions were rejected and why, etc.

And whatever other crap the GOP tries to pull.

Pull back the curtain and expose the machinery behind these dog and pony shows.

America will see McCain's first "town hall" and believe it's fine.

Then they will see a real debate, the rules of which are stipulated, just to show the contrast.

Give them their little production, but follow it up with something real.

[Lil Missy]

20. OMG. Don't even worry about it. Did you see McBush's last speech?

:eyes:

My dog's pretty and shaved asshole would get a better response.

No need to worry about it. McSame is toast.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. I don't let down my guard with the GOP lie machine.

Regardless of who we want to win, who the GOP-controlled media will say is winning, America deserves a real, substantive debate between the two major candidates.

Hell, let Barr in too!

LOL!

[Lil Missy]

24. That's true. They did it with that fucking idiot currently occupying the White House.

I seriously think times have changed. McSame couldn't win a debate with a god damned janitor or dog catcher right now. He IS that bad.

And I certainly don't mean to cast any aspersions on any dog catchers or janitors. They work their butts off, and do HONEST work.

Obama is honorable, a gentleman, and it would SHOW in any exchange or "debate" with McBush.

Sorry if this next comment is a bit to crass, but when I take a poop now, I call it a "McBush".

Perhaps TMI.:blush:

[ColbertWatcher]

25. Yup, the expectations will be lowered tremendously for this guy. n/t

[Lil Missy]

26. Uhm, ... just to clarify, which guy do you feel the expectations will be lowered for?

[ColbertWatcher]

27. McCain, of course, who did you think?

All the stagecraft is to compensate for McCain's obvious failings and lower expectations for the target audience--undecideds.

It's a typical GOP tactic.

Remember, Dumbya's first debate with Kerry?

He fucked up so royally, if he showed up to the next debate with pants on, everyone would proclaim how successful he was.

[Lil Missy]

28. Just wanted to make sure.

And yes, I very painfully recall that bush only had to show up with his pants on or without his finger up his nose or his ass.

[opihimoimoi]

21. Yup....one for one.....

McLost is ....lost

[opihimoimoi]

29. Another perspective: by appearing on same strage w Obama..McSame looks even

Let him wallow in the dust

[ColbertWatcher]

31. And then the GOP-controlled media will say Obama is scared...

..then the GOP sheep/base will bleat that Obama is scared.

I say give them their precious "town hall meetings", but with conditions.

Obama should not appear afraid to go face-to-face with Mr. National Security.

[opihimoimoi]

42. Yeah, guess they could do that....

Unless Obama goes for the debate setting one for one as you suggested

[deacon]

30. He wants this so obama won't get in a "groove". He wants them to start

June 12th. Mccain will be in go for broke mode throughout the campaign. He needs these town halls. Obama should do a few at a much later date.
Obama doesn't need these town halls right now, mccain does.

Mccain is really worried that with Obama's popularity he will he a post primary stride fast. Thats what this is all about. He wants to get in his way.

[ColbertWatcher]

32. I agree.

The GOP are calling for these to make Admiral McCombover appear likeable and partisan.

Obama cannot afford to avoid these, but that doesn't mean he should agree to every ground rule put forth by the GOP lie machine.

[ColbertWatcher]

36. Oops. #32 should say nonpartisan. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

33. Morning kick. n/t

[bunkerbuster1]

35. I'm not real worried about how Obama will handle this.

I'm sure he'll negotiate something with McCain that works to our advantage.

So far he's handled most everything tossed his way with flair and expertise.

And by the way, let's do give a little--a teensy-weensy--bit of credit to the other side here. Yes, it was self-serving, but it was a decent idea, and I'll be delighted if the result is a real, honest-to-god debate between candidates, with some of the events being "town-hall-ish" (meaning that there will be some truly unexpected questions being tossed out there.)

[ColbertWatcher]

37. I give the GOP little credit for everything they do...

...personally I beleive this call for "town hall meetings" is to make Admiral McCombover appear nonpartisan and willing to talk to the American people.

He's the one who called for them.

As a matter of fact, he's been calling for a lot of things lately.

it's almost as if the GOP-controlled media is deciding who has all the new ideas...

[bunkerbuster1]

39. Fair enough.

I will just say this much--it's usually the loser who is pleading with the guy out in front to debate, and McCain's proposal is a tacit way of acknowledging that he's behind. I suspect the GOPee's internal polling shows him in really serious trouble.

[ColbertWatcher]

41. LOL, I agree.

At this point, McCain is desperate. But we still have a long, hot summer filled with lies from their 527s to contend with, plus their convention is after ours, so they will get a bump later than we will.

Not sure how much spin they can get out of that, but I know they will.

[MiniMe]

38. Just remember, the right wingnuts managed to spin the debates between

Kerry and * and say that * won the debates.*'s performance was so poor that it took a day or 2 for them to hit on something they could sell. I never understood how they managed that one.

[ColbertWatcher]

40. It's easy...

...(I am paraphrasing an episode of West Wing) if there are 10 people voting for something and five of them choose yes and the other five choose no, all you have to do is convince one of them to vote the other way.

All the GOP has to do is convince a small number of people of their way of thinking.

And voila! 6-4.