My suggestion on the debate

[ashling]

I was thinking of other ways to set up the debate/forums. Does anyone remember the roundtable ethics discussions that used to appear on PBS? - well, that got me thinking of ways to have participant interact with each other and the moderator and NOT play to an audience. I realize there are some unmanageable things and or problems, but I think there are some good concepts here. What does the DU body think?

I respectfully submit this as a way to proceed with the debates primary AND general:

1} All candidates

2) No public audience - suggested format: al candidates seated around a round table, as in a graduate seminar situation.
one moderator/questioner, perhaps also including use of the you tube or pre taped questions shown on in table monitors in front of each participant.

3) to be taped or aired live by C-Span or another reputable party chosen by candidates
to be taped by central camera and/or one in front of each participant a la poker programs that are on TV

4) length: 20 min. (or as agreed) x number of participants

obviously this would be pretty long, and should probably include breaks, making it about 3 hours - its designed to provide meaningful discourse. The length could obviously be adjusted for the generals or as candidates officially withdraw.


could be split into 3 parts, first on domestic, second on foriegn, and third giving candidates opportunity to ask questions of each other. In the third, they could go back and expound upon their answers in part one & two, or ask a question of another candidate.

The point of the forum would be to 1} give each candidate time to give meaningful answers in a more relaxed situation, 2) allow for discourse among candidates to the extent possible, cut down on photo-op-ness.

[Peggy Day]

1. sounds reasonable to me nt