Raise your hand if you don't care about the debates

[sanantone]

I actually do care about the debates, especially when it comes to foreign policy because that's what I'm studying in graduate school. I like to hear the candidates logically argue their positions. I don't vote base on party platforms or campaign ads that are meant to appeal to emotions. Those are an insult to my intelligence.

[Publius]

*doesn't raise hand*

What other time do you get to see the two guys running discuss things with one and another and to the public? Oh, and with the media being as crooked as it is, I'm sure they'll only give you the sound bites they want you to hear. Now, as for just having other things to do, that's legit. It surely isn't the most important thing in the world.

[ryoder]

They do not have the courage to speak frankly to the American people and they certainly won't do it on a debate night.
They treat us like children as if we cannot comprehend the implications of the crushing debt, Islamic extremism, the unsustainable entitlement spending, and the demographic transition we are going through etc.

[Publius]

They do not have the courage to speak frankly to the American people and they certainly won't do it on a debate night.
They treat us like children as if we cannot comprehend the implications of the crushing debt, Islamic extremism, the unsustainable entitlement spending, and the demographic transition we are going through etc.

Granted.

All I was saying was, yep, there's plenty of reasons not to care about the debates, but there's also a few reasons some people do care (If no one cared about them, I doubt they'd exist). People can care about what they want, I can't change it. Just saying I don't mind them.

[PonyGirl93]

I like to hear the candidates logically argue their positions.

Hmm. I'd like to hear that, too.

My reasons for not listening to the debates:
-They talk in vague circles
-They all claim to want the same things (lower taxes, more jobs, equal rights for everyone)
-Yet, they give no specifics whatsoever as to how any of ^ those would be accomplished ("I will cut taxes." "I will implement policies that help small businesses." Wow, I'm sold.)
-There is zero accountability for anything that they say while campaigning. Why would I believe someone who even I know is feeding me exactly what I want to hear?
This is why I hate politics; in what other sector of life can everyone be 180% aware and expectant that a leader/businessperson/etc will be corrupt, lying, and greedy? Where else can a "salesman" make great and outlandish promises with absolutely no follow-through?

[gnpine]

My reasons for not listening to the debates:
-They talk in vague circles
-They all claim to want the same things (lower taxes, more jobs, equal rights for everyone)
-Yet, they give no specifics whatsoever as to how any of ^ those would be accomplished ("I will cut taxes." "I will implement policies that help small businesses." Wow, I'm sold.)
-There is zero accountability for anything that they say while campaigning. Why would I believe someone who even I know is feeding me exactly what I want to hear?
This is why I hate politics; in what other sector of life can everyone be 180% aware and expectant that a leader/businessperson/etc will be corrupt, lying, and greedy? Where else can a "salesman" make great and outlandish promises with absolutely no follow-through?

That sums up my feelings exactly. And this is kind of off topic, but I want to hear a candidate say he will enact TERM LIMITS for all these greedy lifetime congress people. If they had six years to do some good and then they knew they were going to get the boot, that would solve a lot of problems. Changing the topic again, but we should not even be voting for our presidents! Constitutionally, the founders intended for us to vote for our state house of representatives, who would elect senators, who voted on the president. Unfortunately, most people can't even tell you who represents them at the state level.

[sanantone]

Hmm. I'd like to hear that, too.

My reasons for not listening to the debates:
-They talk in vague circles
-They all claim to want the same things (lower taxes, more jobs, equal rights for everyone)
-Yet, they give no specifics whatsoever as to how any of ^ those would be accomplished ("I will cut taxes." "I will implement policies that help small businesses." Wow, I'm sold.)
-There is zero accountability for anything that they say while campaigning. Why would I believe someone who even I know is feeding me exactly what I want to hear?
This is why I hate politics; in what other sector of life can everyone be 180% aware and expectant that a leader/businessperson/etc will be corrupt, lying, and greedy? Where else can a "salesman" make great and outlandish promises with absolutely no follow-through?

That is true, but the debates give the candidates a forum to challenge each other directly. When a candidate is challenged about not giving specifics and he still doesn't, that stays with me when I go out to vote.

That sums up my feelings exactly. And this is kind of off topic, but I want to hear a candidate say he will enact TERM LIMITS for all these greedy lifetime congress people. If they had six years to do some good and then they knew they were going to get the boot, that would solve a lot of problems. Changing the topic again, but we should not even be voting for our presidents! Constitutionally, the founders intended for us to vote for our state house of representatives, who would elect senators, who voted on the president. Unfortunately, most people can't even tell you who represents them at the state level.

We still don't vote for our president; the electoral college does. The states have a right to let their citizens choose who their representatives are going to vote for. The Constitution also allows for amendments. Just imagine if it didn't. I think the electoral college is outdated. It was mostly an elitist concept. Since we already vote for the president indirectly, we might as well vote directly and do away with the "proportional" representation. The people within a state are not monolithic. The people in West Texas do not have the same concerns as the people in East Texas. Both sides should be able to have a say by having their votes matched with others in the country who have the same concerns. The way it is now with the winner take all system in most states is that one side could lose a state by one percentage point and they will have absolutely no say when it comes to picking the president. This allows a candidate to lose the popular vote, but win the electoral college. The country has to suffer for 4 years through a presidency that most people didn't want in the first place.

[Publius]

As much as I like the debates, what bugs me is that they 1) rarely answer the questions thoroughly (look at the last question of the last debate, neither one of them came even close to addressing it), 2) seem to be change colors to suit the moment (not surprising, after all they're politicians, but even being a common trademark, it's still disappointing), and 3) like what PonyGirl93 said, no one keeps them accountable.

[chalmers]

The winner of all the debates will be Goldman Sachs anyways! There's no difference between the candidates. "OBAMNEY 2012"

Actually if you would watch the debates you'd see that they are very opposite in they're thinking and ways they'd run the country.
Whose else would you pick to run the country? Well certainly not Obama! And it comes down to him and Romney! Thus...Romney!

[gnpine]

As much as I like the debates, what bugs me is that they 1) rarely answer the questions thoroughly (look at the last question of the last debate, neither one of them came even close to addressing it), 2) seem to be change colors to suit the moment (not surprising, after all they're politicians, but even being a common trademark, it's still disappointing), and 3) like what PonyGirl93 said, no one keeps them accountable.

So if they don't answer the questions, they change their stance to that which is most politically advantageous, and no one fact checks them . . . what exactly is it that makes you like the debates so much? The good-looking moderators? XD