Today, we can watch the “Great Debate”.Yes, John McCain and Barack Obama will be in fighting form.But, hopefully, so will Louisiana’s US Senate candidates, Mary Landrieu and John Kennedy.They will be on “hot seat” with WDSU’s anchor Norman Robinson..
I’ve been questioned on TV and in a forum by Robinson and he is fierce.He is a consummate professional, with the right diplomacy and the ability to deep drill into your skull.Louisiana can use his skills tonight as we might finally get to know what make these candidates tick.
My preference would be that he simply allow the candidates respond to one another over the issues with little moderating as possible but with the verbal paddle ready when the debaters go non-responsive.Then, and only then will we be able to see who is telling the truth on the various assertions and who is “feeding us junk”.
Quite often, on Fox News and CNN, we have real debates between and among talking heads.It makes for great TV, but, even more importantly, those being questioned are the ones doing the talking and the moderators rarely interfere or interject.This is what we need to get to the truth.
Obviously, this has not been the type of debate we have seen so far during the Presidential election during this past month which have been staid and almost staged.Instead, the questioner asks precise questions and the candidates give us rehearsed answers.The viewers get rehashed mush.
As the US Senate race turns to the final few weeks, we know very little about the candidates.We know their online talking points but the candidates have not yet been in an environment where there has been real exchange of ideas, principles or facts.They have not been grilled in a live forum.There has been little or no real exchange or vetting of information so the voters can get to the truth
Am I asking for a free-for-all?Well, if that’s what it will take for the candidates to challenge one another’s offenses and defenses, then, let the political cockfighting begin.The politicians can be polite and cordial but the truth on the issues must prevail.They certainly have enough to discuss.Norman Robinson can be the referee—probing here and there and challenging the candidates when appropriate.
Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike have taught us some a great lesson.The position of US Senate is one of great importance to the state.We are greatly dependent upon the US government for our rebuild, our future protection.National and international issues greatly impact our state and communities.Robinson has the great ability to let the candidates do the talking as he listens and questions from a distance.Over-managed debates are not only boring but meaningless.We need candor in the answers.We don’t need canned meat in our debate soup.
Ahhhhhh,,, and on the abstract, if Mr. Wonderbread decides he wants to take some of his loaves of bread, and distribute them to areas of need, then that is Mr. Wonderbreads business, and that is what America is all about.... Being allowed to do whatever you want with that which belongs to oneself....... Only strong people can afford to give, and greedy people won't afford the same...... So, how is it that the government is going to step up and have the audacity to say who won't be allowed to provide, and instead demaand how much it is going to take from people to satisfy its ego.... Generosity is one of the hallmarks of being an American... Written by
on 10/18/2008
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A wealthy man owns a bread company. Let's say Wonder Bread. Liberal/Socialists have their way and Mr. Wonder Bread has his wealth stolen from him and redistributed to the poor. Now, everyone has equal wealth. So Mr. Wonder decides - what's the point? Why am I dealing with the day to day hassles of running my huge company with it's 10's of thousands of employees across this country? So, he closes shop. 10's of thousands are laid off. Evangaline Maid Bakeries is psyched. One of their largest competitors is gone! Bread supply is reduced which means he can charge more money for his bread. Uncle Sam - now a Socialist says - wait just a minute there Mr Evangeline Maid. It's not fair for you to raise prices like that. You need to share that wealth with everyone else. Mr. Nissen decides - what's the point? He closes shop laying off his 10's of thousands. Now unemployment has reached new heights. And not only is it hard for people to buy bread because they have no job, there isn't enough bread being made to go around!
People are really struggling now - so Uncle Sam takes more money from the wealthy - you know...to help the poor. They take the money from Mr. Charmin the toilet paper maker - from farmer Hood the milk and cheese producer. Now Mr. Charmin and Mr. Hood say "what's the point?" and they close shop. Now we have a shortage of toilet paper, milk, eggs and cheese. The high demand and low supply causes prices to soar - ahh, but Uncle Sam steps in and puts a cap on what people can charge for any goods. So all the other wealthy people out there say "What's the point?" Unemployment is close to 70%. The wealthy have fled the country for better opportunities elsewhere in the world. The poor are left to fend for themselves and with the wealthy gone Uncle Sam has no more money to help the poor. Now, you Liberal Socialists are reading this thinking "this guy is crazy. that would never happen. What a tool!" Well guess what my little Socialist do-goods. It not only can happen - it DID happen. This is EXACTLY what happened to the USSR. The USSR was at one time one of the wealthiest - most technologically advanced, strongest nations on Earth. They were a prosperous nation for a short time. Socialism took its toll and look at the place now - a bunch of independent states fighting each other constantly because none of them have the resources they need to survive. So it is with America. Each state offers a little something. On our own, each state has little to offer - but collectively - as a united nation we have tremendous resources. So it is with the former USSR. And by the way - do you know who wasn't effected by all of that crap that happend over there? The only people who didn't lose everything were the politicians. That's right. If you were a Socialist Party politician you didn't have to worry about a thing. his is where America is heading if we continue allowing Socialists - who call themselves Democrats to run things. Written by
on 10/18/2008
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You are so close, and then so far, and then so close again there KPF....... Stern contemplations on this issue should be in order....... It is very easy to fix/accommodate/cause into fruition in a very economical-fair-and effective fashion.... There are way more solutions out there than detriments if we put our collective minds to it.......... And it is important, this insurance issue, folks going bankrupt because of doctors improper diagnosis, inflated costs, corporate involvement, insurance for malpractice and on and on and on..... It needs to be dissected, evaluated, and recommendations made....... When you see someone about to lose a leg because of a spider bite and no access to a cheap anti biotic or some form of an antidote or anti venom it is a shame...... Emergency room abuse is rampant, fraud is rampant, and the inflated load as a result of illegal aliens etc., etc., etc. is a shame....... I can tell you one thing, after listening to Obama’s flippant remarks where abortion and its affects are concerned or construed I can tell you right now that piece of dog chit isn’t fit to wear men’s trousers let alone lead the greatest nation on the face of the earth… Written by
on 10/16/2008
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I hear ya Sid. I think that - similar to people who have to reach a near health crises before they make the right health choices - our government will have to hit a brick wall before they realize that SPENDING is the biggest problem with our government. While the Democrats think government knows better than the markets how to spend our money - and are willing to spend your last dime to make things "more fair" - unfortunately the Republicans are much the same but with different spending priorities (along with both parties income redistribution from taxpayers to their big campaign contributors of course). Sometimes "responsibility" has to be forced on us by circumstances. I hear a lot of talk by these politicians but very little wisdom (then there's their deliberately misleading lies). So maybe the best we can hope for is for these clowns to really screw things up, and then the public will demand more responsible and accountable governance. Then again, there's a lot of gullible and easily manipulated people out there.... Written by kpf
on 10/16/2008
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Very little difference at all and it's time to start sending a message. These politicians want us to have the same health insurance that they have in Congress. Why don't we make them get their own insurance. Might fix some of the problems we face with this one issue. Mary is just like the rest of Congress, republican and democrat alike, representing special interests and their interests rather than the hard working folks back home. I'm so tired of them,I can't even climb up on my soap box any more. Written by Sid
on 10/16/2008
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Sid, while I agree your evaluation of Mary Landrieu is correct, just how does this make her any different than the vast majority of our public servants from either party? Written by kpf
on 10/16/2008
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Facts are facts and people forget. Miss Mary needs to go, whether or not kennedy is the best choice, he is a better choice than keeping Miss Mary. Tough times bring out the best and worst in people. After katrina and Rita, Mary's true character showed through. She is a partisan career politician who lives in Virginia and only acts like our senator 12 to 14 months before the next election. Written by Sid
on 10/16/2008
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"Then Miss Mary threatens to punch the president." (giggling)....Sid, Sid, Sid... I started reading this entry before I got to it's author....And, I still can't wipe the smile off my face. Mr.Kennedy should reward you for such moronic devotion...Times are not good for Kennedy..... forget the polls--His own Party folded up camp and left town! Written by KjunLady
on 10/15/2008
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Miss Mary and Mr. Vitter both introduced a pork filled recovery bill right after the storms(Rita/Katrina) that was quickly kicked out of Congress for it's pork and audacity of aking for money to build new sugar research centers, etc. while people suffered. Both senators introduced the same bill and that means they were not talking, no communication just partisan politics as usual. This set the tone for our recovery. Then Miss Mary threatens to punch the president. She cries on national TV about the poor old crane by itself on the levee(it was an excavator and only one would fit). She blamed everybody else for our problems and had no solutions. She whined about Mississippi getting more recovery dollars than they should have. This incompetent public servant should be fired. There was no team work from our congressional delagation...she was the senior member. Mississippi did a better job from the governor to the senators. We suffered because of her partisan politics! Wake up people. Written by Sid
on 10/15/2008
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U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu did an admirable job during the recovery from all the storms. She did her best. Her best was effective in getting much needed assistance to the citizens of Louisiana. In addition both sitting Senators from Louisiana followed the will of the citizens of Louisiana and voted against the 700 billion dollar bailout scam. Neither one buckled under pressure from special interests or lobbyists to give a huge early Christmas present to the wealthy bankers.
Senator Landrieu is deserving of my vote and she will get it. Written by T Lee Horne III
on 10/15/2008
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The two candidates are both 'tainted canned meat'......... You will get nothing meaningful or possessing anything that can be construed as merit with cause from either one of them........... They are what have been put on the platter by forces or catalysts that are unknown for the common man to decide upon as the representative leader..................... THAT IS WHY WE SUFFER..... IT IS THE BEHIND THE SCENES FACTIONS THAT LIMIT OUR CHOICES IN THE FIRST PLACE............... THERE NEED TO BE LAWS, EVERYONE GETS EQUAL MEDIA EXPOSURE, FROM THE POOREST TO THE RICHEST IN CAMPAIGN FUNDS..................... THAT IS TRUE EQUALITY................................................. THEN THE MEDIA CAN DO ITS JOB WHICH IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THAT IS TO INVESTIGATE, AND REPORT THE FACTS TO THE VIEWERSHIP............ THAT IS WHAT JOURNALISM IS ALL ABOUT.................................................................. WE HAVE NOTHING BUT SHIT FOR SELECTION PURPOSES............................... Written by
on 10/15/2008
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