Why are some folks bothering to watch these farcical debates?

[MadHound]

Seriously, why do Democrats and liberals bother watching these debates? The fascination of watching a slow motion train wreck? Doing intelligence work on where they stand? Why?

I see no purpose to this. I know all I want or need to know about these fools and frankly I don't want to ruin an evening watching batshit crazy idiots.

I just don't get it.

[LongTomH]

1. I don't!

I just watch the wrap-up coverage on MSNBC.

[TheWraith]

2. For once, you and I agree completely about something.

I would rather light my asscheeks on fire than watch a Republican debate.

[MahayanaLotus]

33. Me Too

:rofl:

[catabryna]

3. I don't watch them either...

But, it certainly provides loads of entertainment around here. When they finally nominate their candidate, then I'll pay closer attention.

[JoePhilly]

4. Cause they are funny.

[teddy51]

5. I only watched a few minutes of it tonight, but sometimes it's just fun to watch

them eat their own. They seemed to be doing that in the brief time I watched tonight.

[quinnox]

6. I enjoy watching debates

Always have, it doesn't matter really whether its republicans or the dems. I guess I'm kind of obsessed with politics in general.

[woo me with science]

10. But they aren't debates.

They are performances. They are empty theater.

They are commercials.

Seriously. You start out with booming patriotic music, followed by the singing of the national anthem. Then a series of rehearsed commercials of one minute max duration, shorter than most commercials for laundry detergents. Then "rebuttals" of thirty seconds.

Then everybody spends an hour oohing and aahing over who was most confrontational and who was jocular, and who looked sharpest.

They should not even be called debates. They are a fluff-fest for the cameras, an excuse for the packaged to claim that they have "debated."

There is no substance here.

[Raine]

7. It's fun to watch them make fools of themselves

I get a good laugh, that's why I watch. :evilgrin:

[polichick]

8. I find them highly entertaining - great for laughs.

[canetoad]

9. I feel much better

Knowing you are above watching opposition debates and taking the time to deride those who do on an internet forum. Leftist politics is surely in good hands.

[MadHound]

12. Wow, who pissed in your Wheaties?

How am I deriding those who watched the debates? I'm simply asking the question why, and offering the reasons why I don't watch the debates.

Or do you just automatically go straight to pissy mode when you see me posting?

[canetoad]

31. I don't know you from a bar of soap

Any history is imagined on your part. Maybe time to think of the blood pressure and take things a little less seriously.

[RKP5637]

11. It's an amazing spectacle. Some in the audience are stranger than the candidates. It's

even more amazing this is the best the republicans can dig up for their primary. They have 14 more to go. I've watched a couple, my endurance is about gone. I've watched some of them because I am curious. I also like to study their faces and reactions.

[madrchsod]

13. i`m watching cream on palladia....

not quite the same as when i saw them in 68 but they were a lot younger.....and so was i

[tnlefty]

14. I'll admit that my husband and I watched a few minutes, and as he

was becoming more aggravated with Bachmann, I stated, ssshhhh, this is comedy. It wasn't long before the fun factor wore off, I must say.

[RKP5637]

20. What was that outfit she had on tonight. I couldn't figure if it was her

drum majorette outfit from HS or if she was dressed in uniform for the WH.

[tnlefty]

21. You didn't like the brass buttons on that white jacket? And the flagpin?

One of my sons made a remark about her makeup, but he and one of his brothers have a negative thing about makeup, especially heavy makeup...they don't like the little that I wear to party events.

At one point before we had to change channels, it was Ms. Drum Majorette, followed by man on dog Santorum, after Newt had said something, he sounds like Kermit the frog...then we had to change the channel as poking fun at the insane isn't nice.:rofl:

[RKP5637]

24. I know what you mean. I almost feel rude because we laugh at them the

entire time. Yep, he sounds like Kermit the frog, and looks like Oscar the Grouch! :rofl:

[Eddie Haskell]

15. The purpose is to Occupy Main Street.

We have a two party system and both parties work for the same bosses. They don't work for us. They want us preoccupied with fighting each other because what they really fear is a third party. We (left and right) need to come together against our common enemy.

It's not left vs. right. It's the haves vs. the have nots.

[City Lights]

16. To each his own.

I'd rather watch paint dry, but it's no skin off my back if someone else chooses to watch.

[EFerrari]

17. Not one second. nt

[TheKentuckian]

18. It is the predictability and the stupidity

As well as the predictability of the stupidity that makes these pointless train wrecks quite boring and pretty damn annoying.

Good luck to any one who has the patience.

[tnlefty]

22. I think we made it for about 10 mins. well after the beginning

the crazy...don't get caught up in it. I'm not that patient.

[ellisonz]

19. Mockery.

[woo me with science]

23. We used to have at least a semblance of real debates

until Ross Perot ran for President and scared the hell out of the two corporate parties.

From the 1970's until Ross Perot ran for office, the League of Women Voters managed the debates, and there was at least some attempt to provide time for actual questions and relatively in-depth answers, direct questioning and response between candidates, and follow-up.

After Ross Perot shook up the system, the RNC and the DNC took immediate steps together to gain control of the debates, including format and qualifications for entrance. The League of Women Voters was aghast and withdrew in disgust, issuing a strongly worded press release:

"The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates...because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public."

The League of Women Voters' sponsorship was replaced with the Commission on Presidential Debates, run by the RNC and the DNC. Talk about a conflict of interest. Now we have a fluff-fest. Sixty-second commercials from each candidate, with thirty-second follow-up, and tight controls to prevent any serious competition by non-approved candidates.

The Commission on Presidential Debates is just one more example of how our election process has been restructured in order to ensure that the corporate-chosen candidates do not face serious scrutiny or challenge. The RNC and the DNC do not want a substantive debate, or challenges to the corporate commercials. Imagine Rick Perry having to conduct himself in a real, three-hour question-and-answer session with real follow-up. Imagine Sarah Palin or George Bush in a real debate format.

We have to reform the entire damned system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_debates

[RKP5637]

28. Exactly! "We have to reform the entire damned system." The way it operates now

it's a sideshow. Often the answers are ridiculous and none really questions the candidates in depth. It's an embarrassing display of antics. As I said in an OP, it's basically a comedy act.

I have no idea how the system is going to be reformed, I think OWS is a step in the right direction, but will that be enough.

[xiamiam]

25. me either..i think its a good question..nt

[Nye Bevan]

26. I used to be more of a political junkie

and I would watch *anything* of political significance. Not so much now, but I understand those who do.

[JI7]

27. because it's entertaining , and it gives a good look at what the other side feels/thinks

how they cheered some guy dying in a previous debate because he may not be able to afford it.

[RKP5637]

29. They seem to love cruelty. The more cruel the more they cheer. n/t

[Kalidurga]

30. I am not watching the debates, but I wish they would have 52 more of them...

the more they talk the more people see them for the crazy train they are...Bachmann is quickly dropping in the polls thus, some of my faith in humanity is restored...

[joshcryer]

32. I would've watched it live if I didn't have other things to do, otherwise I do it for laughs, mainly

I didn't see this go around though.