I was sorry to see the "Debates" thread get side tracked and degenerate into something ugly. Anyone who has participated in formal debate can only shudder or at least shake their heads at what is foisted onto the public as "debate". There was a good conversation in the first part of that thread.

With regards to the "Presidential Debates" ( a misnomer as it should be the "Presidential Candidates Debate"), I thought it was rather disturbing that Lehere kept trying to get Obama and McCain to talk directly to each other. Obama tried to follow that direction a couple of times and McCain resisted it altogether and rightly so. The TOPIC ought to be addressed, not personalities. This is why formal debate is always in the third person if personage is addressed at all.

I would like to think that Obama also resisted this blatant prodding to "square off" at his opponent. Both men did a fine job in articulating their positions and ideas as well as points of difference. This really was one of the better debates I have watched. You have two very intelligent and articulate gentlemen for candidates.

The BS portion of this forum also has some very freewheeling debate and dialog and that is one of the main reasons, apart form the music, that I keep coming back here. I like the passion and the honesty (in most cases!) of the posters. I AM sorry to see some who, when they run out of wit, resort to viciousness and name calling. That has no place in the debate. And that little bit of information ought to be passed on to Mr. Lehere also.

An after-thought: I also have to recognize that a large percentage of Americans like things like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich and they want to see fireworks and name-calling. That may make great daytime TV but it really has no place in the serious consideration for the selection of the President of this powerful and influential country