Florida Debate

There was another candidate debate last night. This one was in Florida and thankfully NBC chose to go with a non-applause model so those of us, who are actually listening to what candidates are saying instead of gnawing on the raw meat of emotions, could see the success or failure of an argument. Candidate debates should be a spectator sport, just not a gladiator area setup where the crowd is calling for one candidate over another, or even a moderator for that matter, to be put to death.   

                One thing that stands out to me specifically about the debates are the candidate’s willingness to frame their past successes in government as what “we” did and the opposition’s failures as what “they” did. They are very good at playing the “us versus them” game. It seems to me when there is a success or failure in the realm of government there should be shared responsibility. Sure, we have majorities and minorities within government, but until there is a super majority that does not need the other side to pass and change legislation there should be some civility and recognition of the opposition and any help they gave. The end game should be what is best for all, not just what is best for us right now because we control the majority.

                I would not be so against people’s outcry of the President’s opposition to the Canadian pipeline extension if the Republicans would stop talking about sanctions against Iran. They have to see that both: a) Cause oil prices to rise.

b) Hurt job creation

and 

c) Show the cancerous disdain that the two parties have for each other and it leaves the average American in the middle like a child dismissed because mom and dad are fighting.

                Now to my favorite guy, Newton Leroy Gingrich; there is a part of me that wishes I could take a question from someone, a question that either I did not know the answer to or one I simply did not want to answer, and answer that question with a muddle of misdirection and irrelevant facts and boastings of myself that leaves the inquirer’s head spinning and the inability to remember the original question. Of course, there is a large part of me that is glad I cannot. It was truly rewarding to see Romney take the issue of Gingrich’s “lobbying” to the heart of the matter and show that it was in fact lobbying, to Gingrich’s dismay and classic look to Brian Williams, agent of the mainstream media, for hope that the questions could please move on to more pressing issues.