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Segami

(14,923 posts)
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 04:42 PM Jun 2015

Bernie Sanders Unveils 3 AMAZING IDEAS That Would Improve Democratic Presidential DEBATES




In a letter to DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) laid out three ideas that he felt would improve the Democratic presidential debates. In his letter, Sanders suggested earlier debates, “In recent weeks, as I have traveled around the country, I have been hearing concerns from voters about the need for vigorous candidate debate. The people of this country are tired of political gossip, personal attacks, and ugly 30-second ads. They want the candidates to engage in serious discussion about the very serious issues facing our country today. In my view, the candidates for President should engage in a series of debates beginning this summer.”


His second idea was inter-party debates, “I believe we should be open to a less traditional form of debating by welcoming the opportunity to debate not only amongst members of the Democratic Party but also having debates between Democratic and Republican candidates during the primary process. I believe that these inter-party debates would put in dramatic focus the shallow and at times ridiculous policies and proposals being advocated by the Republican candidates and by their party’s platform. It would also serve to engage large numbers of voters who typically do not pay attention to the process until much later when the general election begins to come into focus. By engaging these voters early and raising the stakes around the election, I believe we can get people to participate at higher levels which will undoubtedly benefit Democrats up and down the ticket.”


Sen. Sanders’ third idea was to hold debates all across the country, not just in early primary states, “I also think it is important for us to debate not only in the early states but also in many states which currently do not have much Democratic presidential campaign activity. While a number of these non-target states have not in the past had much-organized campaign presence, I believe it is critical for the Democratic Party and progressive forces in America to engage voters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. By expanding the scope geographically of
debates beyond the early calendar states we can begin to awaken activism at the grassroots level in those states and signal to Democrats and progressives in places like Texas, Mississippi, Utah, and Wyoming that their states are not forgotten by the Democratic Party.”


If two of the Sanders ideas were adopted, they would transform the Democratic debates. The idea of inter-party debates is bound to turn some people off. These same people probably also hate interleague play in Major League Baseball, but the idea of Democratic candidates being able to challenge the unpopular positions that the Republican Party has adopted is appealing.




cont'

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/01/bernie-sanders-unveils-3-amazing-ideas-improve-democratic-presidential-debates.html
35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bernie Sanders Unveils 3 AMAZING IDEAS That Would Improve Democratic Presidential DEBATES (Original Post) Segami Jun 2015 OP
There should certainly be more than 6 debates, considering all the serious issues facing the country Cheese Sandwich Jun 2015 #1
Bingo, a handful of major primetime debates.... daleanime Jun 2015 #2
Hell, Lincoln and Douglas held seven lengthy debates on one major issue. peecoolyour Jun 2015 #10
That's true but DWS and HRC. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #13
I'd like to see The League of Women Voters take them on again. Cerridwen Jun 2015 #3
+1 an entire shit load. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #12
I'll raise it to fuck load. Fantastic Anarchist Jun 2015 #32
+ another shit load! calimary Jun 2015 #20
+ a lot lovemydog Jun 2015 #22
+1 LWolf Jun 2015 #24
Indeed. /nt think Jun 2015 #26
The Conservative-Dems won't like that at all. nm rhett o rick Jun 2015 #29
Too bad. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #35
Battleground states Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Colorado should be hosts for debates 4139 Jun 2015 #4
But that would be too democratic. Gregorian Jun 2015 #5
There you go again Fumesucker Jun 2015 #6
"The Party" will not agree to any sadoldgirl Jun 2015 #7
Why not? ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #9
I think these three ideas are good ideas ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #8
You shame them into accepting inter-party debates. Fantastic Anarchist Jun 2015 #33
Yeah? How's that going to work ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #34
Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #11
There goes Bernie again with...ideas! SoapBox Jun 2015 #14
Seems unlikely that the DNC/Third Way is interested in getting more people to the polls. Scuba Jun 2015 #15
The DNC will do everything they can to keep it a Beauty Contest whatchamacallit Jun 2015 #16
They already turned down all of his requests. nt peecoolyour Jun 2015 #19
I remember when The League Of Women Voters sponsored debates instead of Exxon/Mobil. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2015 #17
How about a National Primary day? Delmette Jun 2015 #18
That's a great idea! nt. druidity33 Jun 2015 #28
A great idea! CrispyQ Jun 2015 #31
To suggest only 6 debates speaks to their huge ignorance of the problems that need to be addressed. L0oniX Jun 2015 #21
Why should some Democratic candidates fear debating Democrats and Republicans? Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2015 #23
Those whose positions make them vulnerable LWolf Jun 2015 #25
Yep. High priced, pretty, commercials are more reliable as screw-up (or honesty) prevention. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2015 #27
K&R Katashi_itto Jun 2015 #30

daleanime

(17,796 posts)
2. Bingo, a handful of major primetime debates....
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 05:08 PM
Jun 2015

and a ton of small ones. Hell, put the candidates at a lunch counter and film the result.

 

peecoolyour

(336 posts)
10. Hell, Lincoln and Douglas held seven lengthy debates on one major issue.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:29 PM
Jun 2015

No one who has anything of value to say should run away from a debate.

Cerridwen

(13,260 posts)
3. I'd like to see The League of Women Voters take them on again.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 05:16 PM
Jun 2015

I'd like to see The League of Women Voters take them on again.

I have no hope they will, unfortunately.

http://lwv.org/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud

[center]LEAGUE REFUSES TO "HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD"

WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE[/center]

<snip>



"It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and honest answers to tough questions," Neuman said. "The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public."

Neuman said that the campaigns presented the League with their debate agreement on
September 28, two weeks before the scheduled debate. The campaigns' agreement was negotiated "behind closed doors" and vas presented to the League as "a done deal," she said, its 16 pages of conditions not subject to negotiation.

Most objectionable to the League, Neuman said, were conditions in the agreement that gave the campaigns unprecedented control over the proceedings. Neuman called "outrageous" the campaigns' demands that they control the selection of questioners, the composition of the audience, hall access for the press and other issues.

"The campaigns' agreement is a closed-door masterpiece," Neuman said. "Never in the history of the League of Women Voters have two candidates' organizations come to us with such stringent, unyielding and self-serving demands."

Neuman said she and the League regretted that the American people have had no real opportunities to judge the presidential nominees outside of campaign-controlled environments.


Read full story at link.

Oh, I'd also like more than just 2 major parties. But, I'm weird that way.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
5. But that would be too democratic.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:10 PM
Jun 2015

The corporations wouldn't approve.

I think the people just might demand it. Thanks Bernie!

sadoldgirl

(3,431 posts)
7. "The Party" will not agree to any
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:20 PM
Jun 2015

of those ideas. I think DC has chosen its candidate already
and will not endanger her by an unruly "democratization"
of its conditions. We have to remember that the "democratic
party" is not democratic at all. People are chosen from the
top down, not from the bottom up.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
9. Why not? ...
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:25 PM
Jun 2015

The first and the last proposal only strengthen the Party; but the 2nd proposal has NO chance of happening.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
8. I think these three ideas are good ideas ...
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:21 PM
Jun 2015

However, I seriously doubt that the gop will agree to engage in pre-General Election, inter-party debate ... Why would they agree to do so (for exactly the reason Sanders indicates ... the republicans will be shown, by whatever Democratic opponent to be shallow and ridiculous).

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
34. Yeah? How's that going to work ...
Tue Jun 2, 2015, 03:50 PM
Jun 2015

say what you will, the republicans are far more accomplished at maintain party and messaging discipline ... probably because the gop doesn't give a good crap (or bad fart) what people, let alone Democrats, or their non-rabid base thinks about them.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
11. Kicked and recommended to the Max!
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 06:40 PM
Jun 2015

But, Bernie, you know Debbie Wasserman Schultz isn't interested in fairness or anything but getting Hillary the noimination.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
15. Seems unlikely that the DNC/Third Way is interested in getting more people to the polls.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 07:02 PM
Jun 2015

Especially if those people might vote for anyone other than Hillary.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
16. The DNC will do everything they can to keep it a Beauty Contest
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 07:05 PM
Jun 2015

and many "democrats" will support the effort.

Delmette

(522 posts)
18. How about a National Primary day?
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 07:34 PM
Jun 2015

I live in Montana and our primary votes just don't count because candidates have dropped out. I'm worn out listening to all the primary information, choosing who I want to vote for, and then knowing it doesn't matter.

 

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)
21. To suggest only 6 debates speaks to their huge ignorance of the problems that need to be addressed.
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 07:58 PM
Jun 2015
 

Tierra_y_Libertad

(50,414 posts)
23. Why should some Democratic candidates fear debating Democrats and Republicans?
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 09:02 PM
Jun 2015

Why do they the fear the people scrutinizing the candidates?

Why do they fear what amounts to free advertising?

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