Debates
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I applaud George W. Bush’s efforts to get different debates than the bipartisan commission debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates format has made most of the debates a mockery. Nearly 100% of the time, the candidates simply repeat prepackaged, sound-bite answers no matter what the question. The debates allow no back and forth directly between the candidates or detailed questions and extensive follow-up by the moderator.
The issues really aren’t discussed; they are just parroted. The debates have actually boiled down to one thing--looking for that major mistake by one candidate or that zinging rejoinder by another.
MICHAEL CREGAN
Santa Barbara
* Bush’s pussyfooting and equivocation about the debates is troubling. If he is trying to minimize any expected damage to his chances from the debates, then how will he handle people like Jiang Zemin, Vladimir Putin and other tough cookies once in office? He likes to brag that he is a “leader.” So lead already.
MARTIN ELKORT
Los Angeles
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