[FredZarguna]

The Lincoln-Douglas question is one of the few difficult ones. Both men made moral arguments, and Lincoln made specific objections to slavery on moral grounds. But it was not primarily a debate about morality. The key thing to know is that they were actual debates -- unlike the two-candidate press conferences we have now -- on the question of who the legislature would pick for the Senate. Knowing that, you know they were probably debating more of a political question with [some] moral arguments.

[rlmorel]

I have always wondered why we do not have any real debates...but I think I know the answer...one candidate is always going to be inferior to another (one guess as to the usual party affiliation) and won’t agree unless structured a certain way.

I frikking HATE watching the “debates”, mostly a waste of time, although they are occasionally interesting in spots as was the case with Dukakis back in 1988...