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The Tea Party Right and GOP MUST Take OWNERSHIP of the Debate Format and Subject Matter: Suggestions
Vanity ^ | 9/17/2015 | Self

Posted on 09/17/2015 12:57:56 PM PDT by Jim W N

Hopefully there won’t be another mock “debate” until the candidates INSIST on taking OWNERSHIP of the debate format and subjectmatter.

What happened - last night, this year, four, eight, twelve, etc. years ago - is what continues to happen when you let the Left run a “debate” for the Right. It wasn't a debate. It was an elementary-school “Show and Tell” session with the commentators acting as provocateurs and hecklers.

It is obvious that CNN’s marching orders were to keep the candidates fighting amongst each other - that way the real issues remain unexamined. The same old Leftist MSM gameplan like Lucy AGAIN getting Charlie Brown to run and kick the football that he KNOWS will not be there for him to kick. In the same way, the GOP continues to give the Left the ball (charge of the format and the subjectmatter) and the Left continues to pull the ball at the last minute (distract and confuse) and the Right goes flying AGAIN. How long until “ENOUGH”?

The Left keeps the GOP candidates and thus the public distracted from discussing and understanding the real issues at hand: the tyranny of the mostly unconstitutional $4 trillion federal government, abortion and unconscionable treatment of the unborn, economic disaster because of minimum ware, regulations, unions, and taxes (talked a little about that). And keep the focus off the disaster of Obama and Clinton.

When will somebody on the Right have the guts to say ENOUGH of letting the Leftist MSM run OUR show and debate format? Whatever it takes, somebody somewhere has got to buy the needed airtime to have control over the format and the subjectmatter and have an actual, meaningful debate.

An actual debate format:

1) Ground rules: a) Moderators are in the background b) ALL candidates will have the opportunity to address the SAME issue.

2) Relevant and substantive subjects are chosen by a) the candidates themselves and maybe b) a poll of Americans. The top six or seven subjects with the highest votes are VERIFIED and chosen.

3) If a three-hour session, probably the top five or six relevant and substantive subjects. Somewhere along the line, these subjects should include: 1) the size of the federal government and what portion is unconstitutional 2) defense of the U.S. 3) immigration and secure borders 4) the economy: what is hurting the economy and what are the solutions.

4) First two hours: a) one subject at a time, probably 15-20 minutes per subject b) give each candidate a 30-second introductory statement at the beginning of the next subject about where they stand c) open up the discussion on that subject to all candidates d) moderators step in if a yelling match ensues or if one guy is not allowing others to speak.

5) Third Hour: moderators (or maybe other candidates or even the audience) ask a candidate a question about what they said in the debate. Each candidate has equal time to be asked and answer a question about what they said in the actual debate.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: cnn; debates
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1 posted on 09/17/2015 12:57:56 PM PDT by Jim W N
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To: Jim 0216

Parliamentary style. One on one. If not that break them into smaller groups. Host alternative debates and only invite the ones that matter.


2 posted on 09/17/2015 1:02:09 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Spriiingtime for islam, and tyranny. Winter for US and frieeends. . .)
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To: Jim 0216

Well, since they lack standing in the party as well as a broadcast or cable TV network. That might be kind of difficult.


3 posted on 09/17/2015 1:02:12 PM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: Jim 0216

Trim buys two hours of TV time Sells it to sponsors. Puts some logical informed experienced interviewed in there. Ask Ted Cruz for advice on debate format and we get the country back

Just take it


4 posted on 09/17/2015 1:04:04 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Jim 0216

Musical chairs.


5 posted on 09/17/2015 1:05:47 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Jim 0216
Have someone from Breitbart or the Heritage Foundation (preferably Jim DeMint) as moderator and question writer. If NewsMax can't carry the debate, stream it on The Blaze.
Or lets have a conservative debate and a Republican Debate. I don't need to waste my time with the latter
6 posted on 09/17/2015 1:07:09 PM PDT by 4everontheRight (And the story began with..."Once there was a great nation......")
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To: Jim 0216

FWIW, I thought last night went pretty well. Eventually, debates will be streamed on demand at the polling place.
7 posted on 09/17/2015 1:10:36 PM PDT by SunLakesJeff (Life)
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To: Jim 0216
The problem is with more than two people, they're not debates. They're glorified press conferences.

Unless candidates have unlimited time to state their case, you're going to wind up with focus-group approved sound bites* that (probably) have nothing to do with how the person running for office really feels.

* With the exception of The Donald, of course.

8 posted on 09/17/2015 1:10:49 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: Jim 0216
I say, chess timers controlling microphones. Each candidate gets an equal allotment of time; whenever all microphones are off, time ticks down on all chess timers, but at a rate proportionate to how much time remains on each timer - so those who haven’t spoken yet have the most incentive to break silence.

NO moderator.

Coverage: whoever wants to broadcast. Plus online access, live and memorex.

Optional: each candidate is sponsored with $5 donations; initial microphone time allotted to each candidate according to number of individual donors who sponsor.


9 posted on 09/17/2015 1:10:51 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion ('Liberalism' is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
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To: 4everontheRight

“a conservative debate”

Start by asking each what they thing a “conservative” is. Few seem to have much of an idea. Have someone on the side draw a composite picture or diagram from the answers. What a howl that would be.


10 posted on 09/17/2015 1:12:47 PM PDT by Jim W N
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To: Jim 0216

Sure. I have one. Stop empowering GOPe altogether and let them die of natural causes - AKA No voters. They have no intention of listening and while it is thraputic to blow off some steam fantasizing about what the GOP should do, accept they will do the opposite of the right/smart/correct thing. That time is better used working to get a replacement party up, running and viable.

If the GOP wants to kill itself, let it. When a replacement forms/is formed, THEN we can deal with formats.


11 posted on 09/17/2015 1:13:27 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart ("The road is long...and I must poop." - Volarian Lionheart/Hero of the people)
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To: 4everontheRight
The ultimate debate would be moderated solely by Our Jim. He alone is the one man with the savvy to ask penetrating questions and reveal those candidates who spout Conservative talking points but are, in fact, liberal. As the innovator who created the premiere Conservative site, pro-God, pro-life, pro-gun Patriot Mr. Robinson is uniquely qualified for this essential role.


12 posted on 09/17/2015 1:13:35 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
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To: Jim 0216

How about all questions collected beforehand and read clearly and efficiently by a BBC news reader?


13 posted on 09/17/2015 1:17:12 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: who_would_fardels_bear
How about all questions collected beforehand and read clearly and efficiently by a BBC news reader?

The BBC is controlled by communists. It's even worse than the CBC of Canada, the communist Broadcasting Counsel.

14 posted on 09/17/2015 1:26:00 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP - that's what I like about Texas)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Agree with everything you said, minus the ability to buy more time with donations. That introduces the means to game the system and silence the little known candidates. There are only so many minutes in the debate ... and they could all be purchased.


15 posted on 09/17/2015 1:30:37 PM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: Jim 0216
A different suggestion:

40 or so questions will be prepared and widely distributed to the candidates and published in the media a week ahead of the debates. A random drawing of two candidates are selected immediately followed by a random pick of one of the questions, maybe by using numbered ping pong balls. Then the 2 candidates are given 2 minutes each to provide their answer to the question. This is followed by a 30 second rebuttal of their opponent and then a 30 second close. Total time around six minutes and then to the next pair. At the next debate the same pair cannot face off again and neither can address the same question.

16 posted on 09/17/2015 1:37:39 PM PDT by DaveyB (Live free or die!)
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To: Jim 0216

I won’t even bother watching these debates. Its just leftists asking questions leftists want answers too.


17 posted on 09/17/2015 1:43:13 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: Jim 0216

Good idea Jim, but haven’t you posted this, like, 50 times?


18 posted on 09/17/2015 1:48:17 PM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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To: All
Two candidates for 90 minutes, one topic.
Each night for 60 nights.
Two different speakers each night.
No moderator.
One on one conversations.
Filmed in its entirety for the world to see and judge.
19 posted on 09/17/2015 1:53:42 PM PDT by tenger (It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for. . .)
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To: LS

No, maybe about seven times but mostly in the 4000+ post thread, but I’ve made some correction and additions which you probably didn’t notice if you didn’t actually read it.


20 posted on 09/17/2015 1:59:52 PM PDT by Jim W N
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