I am so disgusted with the whole "debate" process. I turned it off after almost an hour of watching just plain nonsense. The debate is scheduled for 90 minutes, and the first question of substance, about any important issue, came in at 55 minutes. Questions were asked about misstatements by each candidate and how they reconciled them, about past associations and whether the candidate did or did not disavow them, and despite what I perceived as clear responses from each candidate to such really silly questions, Gibson and Stephanopolous wouldn't let them go. Yes, Obama said something stupid a few days ago - and he has apologized for the way he said what he did and tried to explain what he meant. Yes, Clinton made a misstatement a few weeks ago about her trip to Bosnia, contradicting what she had written and said many times previously, and she admitted she had made a misstatement and corrected it. Can we please just move beyond such things and get to the important issues - like the war in Iraq, the economy, health care? But no, 50 minutes out of 90 were spent on instances where each candidate had something stupid, asking them to account for it.

This is the first high-level debate I've tried to watch in years, and I am reminded of why I don't watch them.

I am truly disgusted, and will tell ABC and Gibson and Stephanopolous just that.

By Colette on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 09:22 pm:

I am not voting for either of them, but I am watching the debate now. I missed the first hour though, I guess I didn't miss much.

By Conni on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 09:56 pm:

I didn't watch it...however, I thought I would tell you what my 1st grader said this evening...

Blake: "Mom, are you voting for Obama?"

Me: "Nope"

Blake: "Well, you NEED TO because my friend told me Obama will give us Mondays off of school!!!"

WHY are 1st graders discussing politics on the playground?? LOL I thought that was pretty funny.

By Vicki on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 07:48 am:

I agree that the whole debate process is nothing short of a joke. Sadly though, I do feel that the whole minister thing and trip to Bosnia story are what most people are talking about though, so I wonder if that is why so much time was spent on them. Nothing short of ratings!! They have said time and time again what their health care plans are and their stand on the war etc. I think most people know what they want to do there, so it is more of a ratings grabber to talk about trash!!

By Tsa on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 12:22 pm:

Heck, I'd even vote for Obama if he gave me Mondays off