how should televised political debates be done?

@jb78000 (15139)
August 3, 2010 3:33pm CST
obviously the way they are done at present is useless. unless they are completely incompetent you will have two politicians talking at each other and doing the following: not answering questions they don't want to instead answering the question they wanted to, regardless of whether or not it was asked talking at great length for a long time and using lots of key words but not actually saying anything at all trying to make the other look foolish without appearing to do so deliberately all very boring and gives you no insight into either. no, much better would be if they played a game. but what game - chess, poker, snap, monopoly, pick-up-sticks? which do you think what tell you most about a politician and why?
2 people like this
9 responses
• Canada
3 Aug 10
During the last US presidential elections, elections in Canada were also going on. At one point, both the Canadian and American politicians had their debates on the same night. It was so funny going from one to the other - the American debate was, as you said, boring, useless, and full of fake niceties between two equally vile parties. The Canadian debate involved leaders from the 5 main parties - Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, Green, and Bloc Quebecois. There were absolutely no fake niceties, and much of it was just awesome to watch. The Green leader kept nailing the Conservative leader currently in control, and most of the other leaders got involved for a good ol'Conservative bashing. Of course, not a lot of Canadians watched the debate, but I think that's true for America too. As for what game could give us insight, I'd think mud wrestling and twister are the obvious choices.
2 people like this
@jb78000 (15139)
3 Aug 10
to be honest i have never seen the canadian debates and only bits from the american ones (very good for insomnia i have to say), the british ones were pretty much a waste of time too, although this was the first time we'd had them so maybe things will improve. although i doubt it.
1 person likes this
• Canada
4 Aug 10
Im Canadian and didnt watch any of them. I think its a waste of tv time. We have so many elections here lately that we're all fed up. I say give them truth serum and lets enjoy the show!!!.....but then we might end up with NO politicians at all!!
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
3 Aug 10
Personally I'd like to see the participants in separate rooms where they can't see or hear each other. Then they should both be given the same questions. And without earpieces where some one is queueing them what to say. A second half of the debate can be scheduled immediately after where the two (or more) participants can debate their answers to their hearts content.
@jb78000 (15139)
3 Aug 10
are they allowed notes?
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Aug 10
They always have notes - most of them cannot do it without notes.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
3 Aug 10
I'd rather see no notes. Let them speak from the 'cuff'. Maybe we'd get more than soundbites.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Aug 10
hi jb blue bunny . musical chairs.play music have two chairs, one of them has to get a chair, answer a question from the moderator while running to get the chair, whoever keeps getting the one chair will show that he more phyically fit and more savvy than the other one. they can do this over to give the fatter one a chance too and he gets to answer questions from a moderator but only for ten minutes. either one of them takes more than ten minutes a gag is bound o n his mouth and the question then goes to the opponent. this should show if they are both or either phsically fit or mentally fit or both.And a time limit of forty five minutes should be held on the whole thing. silly I know but I was sort of picturing this in my mind. lol lol lol.
@jb78000 (15139)
3 Aug 10
hilarious. you have really thought this one out haven't you?
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Aug 10
shot left out the moderator has to remove one chair as they are running and the one to get the chair can answer one question but for just ten minutes.When they start the debating they go to separate rooms, no cues, one goes first then the other but must stop after ten minutes tops. the whole thing must be done in forty five minute, including musical chairs.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Aug 10
At least I'm not the only person who has noticed how they manage to get off without actually answering the question. How about Battleship? Do they find a ship and sink it at once? Or do they go looking for other ships and then sink them once they've found them all? And how do they place their own ships? I have no clue what that tells me. lol
@jb78000 (15139)
8 Aug 10
provided it involve REAL ships and they were on these ships then this could work. it wouldn't tell you much but they'd probably all sink each other's ships and drown.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Aug 10
YOu want my idea? Hook them up to eletrods. When one of them goes off topic, talks past the time limit, or slanders the other candidates...shock the crap out of them. that would do wonders to keep the candidates on track and discussing the issues. that or we would get to sit and watch a bunch of politicans get shocked for a hour...which would be enertaining.
• United States
5 Aug 10
Yeah....especially if I get to be the one who gets to push the button that shocks them. LOL.
@jb78000 (15139)
5 Aug 10
that is a brilliant idea
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
4 Aug 10
The idea of putting them into different rooms for answering is good idea.I guess u can put into different section , where one is silent proof room and each of them answer questions separately , then another section where they can have open debate and answer questions from email or audience will be nice. Debate and forum with politician are always nice to see them sweat and talk live, really can see they character and views regardless their answer.By body language,character and the way they answer can really tell their personality.
@jb78000 (15139)
5 Aug 10
that a practical idea, although they probably would continue to not actually answer any questions they didn't want to
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
4 Aug 10
Swords would be fun. But you know what would be even better. Mud wrestling.
@jb78000 (15139)
4 Aug 10
that might be funny but what would it tell you about the participants?
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
4 Aug 10
Truth or Dare. I don't know how much truth will come to light but the dares could be very entertaining.
@jb78000 (15139)
4 Aug 10
they could be. you got any in mind?
• United States
4 Aug 10
We can have all the televised political debates we want to, but what it comes down to is action not talk. All politicians talk a good game, but when they get into office thats when we really get to see what they are all about. But, I do believe that it is good to have televised political debates to get an overview on both parties morals, ethics, and outlook on certain topics. Whether it is boring or not to watch televised political debates; at the end of the day it is very important we choose the right politician to put into office because all the actions and decisions they make while in office will effect us all.
@jb78000 (15139)
4 Aug 10
that's true