What good are presidential debates?

Personally, I enjoy watching the debates to get a feel for what the candidates are like and what ideas they want to associate themselves with. You can sometimes begin to see who's reciting the talking points and who actually, genuinely, believes them.

I have to agree with you on this one. When I watch any debate, whether it is a republican or democratic debate, it makes all the candidates look like fools. It always turns into what looks like a circus. And, they all seem to promise the same things with just a little different twist. I look at all of them as liars anyway. Any politician will say whatever they have to in order to get elected. There should just be that each candidate make a video and explain everything they will do and have planned when and if they become president. This way, the people could make up their minds on who they think will be a good enough candidate for president.

Of course good debator or not, if the content of the debate is shallow, then the whole thing is a waste. In most Presidential debates they never get around to the serious questions that would inform the voter. It's all show and political sound bytes. Even if a President cannot debate, he obviously must be able to speak well and think quickly on his feet. Take away his teleprompter and Obama is a good example of what you do not want your President to be. Somebody in his sordid family certainly did teach him how to read.

How interesting. And how funny. This is something that probably no one has ever even noticed or thought about. We do tend to put a lot of stock in how well the candidate can express himself or how charismatic he/she is. I guess we just figure this is the best way to get to know the candidate. The truth is, we have a hard task trying to discern how truthful or how moral or how trustworthy they are from a few minutes on the television and from their practiced platform statements. It's practically impossible.

There's nothing strange about Presidential debates they work for what they're design for to showcase the candidates. Everyone who is awake know that presidential debates are no more than a "Horse and Pony show."... It's just like our capitalist system would you say ParaTed2k. ...