The US Presidential debate...

[Blue Meanie]

Just started watching, and a quetion plucked out of the air landed inside my head. Now, I know there are independent candidates for the presidential race out there... There must be. Who are they? Why are they not in the debate? Surely democracy should include all the candidates, if there are independents... Anyone know?

[Blue Meanie]

The moderator is annoying me already...

[bobthemonkey]

http://www.debates.org/pages/candsel2008.html

[Blue Meanie]

bobthemonkey said:

http://www.debates.org/pages/candsel2008.html

Cheers

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

I wonder why they aren't involved?

[bobthemonkey]

Blue Meanie said:

bobthemonkey said:

http://www.debates.org/pages/candsel2008.html

Cheers

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

I wonder why they aren't involved?

1) Not on enough state ballots to get 270 electoral college votes
2) Supported by less than 15% of voting population

[Blue Meanie]

bobthemonkey said:

Blue Meanie said:

bobthemonkey said:

http://www.debates.org/pages/candsel2008.html

Cheers

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

I wonder why they aren't involved?

1) Not on enough state ballots to get 270 electoral college votes
2) Supported by less than 15% of voting population

I read that, but it seems funny that in supposedly the 'greatest' democracy in the world, they merely cater for the top 2... The fact they are the top 2 is purely down to media coverage, money, and so on, and so forth. How many american know about the others?

[bobthemonkey]

Blue Meanie said:

bobthemonkey said:

Blue Meanie said:

bobthemonkey said:

http://www.debates.org/pages/candsel2008.html

Cheers

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

I wonder why they aren't involved?

1) Not on enough state ballots to get 270 electoral college votes
2) Supported by less than 15% of voting population

I read that, but it seems funny that in supposedly the 'greatest' democracy in the world, they merely cater for the top 2... The fact they are the top 2 is purely down to media coverage, money, and so on, and so forth. How many american know about the others?

How many Londoners knew of all 27 mayoral candidates?

Most in the USA will know of Nader; closest thing they have to te LibDems.

[Blue Meanie]

I'm sure they don't, but then again, Joe Public only knows what they see on TV or in the newspapers. The problem is that money talks, and money gets the top bunch on TV. Money drives who is known, and who isn't... It's a sucky system.

[Fishtigua]

McCain sortta stuttered like a granpa, Obamha just sounded like a slick politico. They just drew 1 and 1, but I'm sure both will grow as the next few months go on.

[Joecooool]

Blue Meanie said:

Just started watching, and a question plucked out of the air landed inside my head. Now, I know there are independent candidates for the presidential race out there... There must be. Who are they? Why are they not in the debate? Surely democracy should include all the candidates, if there are independents... Anyone know?

Because independents have no shot at winning and to have them there answering questions takes away from the two who actually have a chance.

Keep in mind that here in the US anyone can be president. We can write in who we want on our votes. While it would take some sort of cataclysmic event, if enough Americans wrote in Tom Hanks for example, he would be the next president.

Back to the subject of the debates, I didn't hear anything I hadn't heard before except for maybe McCain's spending freeze comment.

I don't think democrats or republicans will be swayed either way, they already have their minds made up. Its the independents that the debates are really for.

Having said that I think Obama came across as more intellectual offering up ideas for change that could affect the economy and world opinion of America while McCain had more of a cut and dry, like it or leave it attitude.

It will be interesting to see the poll numbers out tomorrow of the independents.

I can't wait until next week when we have Senator misstep up against Governor air head. I think that one might actually be embarrassing to watch.

[Blue Meanie]

I think Obama came across better.

[PaulHogan]

It's like picking between 5hit and 5hite