Here is a bit of FYI.
Presidential Debates
The Commission on Presidential Debates will host three presidential and one vice presidential debate.
The first, on Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi, will focus on foreign policy and national security, and McCain and Obama will answer questions from moderator Jim Lehrer while standing at podiums. (from here)
Virginia Senate Race Debates
Gov Jim Gilmore and Gov Mark Warner have agreed to a third debate.
U.S. Senate rivals Jim Gilmore and Mark R. Warner have agreed to a third debate — and the first to be broadcast statewide.
They will face off Oct. 3 from 7 to 8 p.m.
The debate will originate from WSLS-NBC 10, a Roanoke television station owned by Media General Inc., parent company of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. (from here)
They just completed a debate on the 18th. A complete video of that debate is available here.
NoVA Congressional Debates
Congressional Debate to be Aired
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area and the Fairfax Community Access Channel are co-sponsoring televised debates between candidates for this fall’s Northern Virginia congressional district elections. The debates will be broadcast live on Fairfax channel 10 and online. Incumbent U.S. Rep. James Moran (D-8th) and challengers Mark Ellmore (R) and J. Ron Fisher (IG) will face off from 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22. The debate between Gerald Connolly (D), Keith Fimian (R) and Joseph Oddo (IG), candidates for the 11th district, will be held at the same time on Oct. 6. The debate scheduled for the 10th district candidates was canceled after Rep. Frank Wolf declined to participate. Representatives of the media will pose questions of the candidates, and viewers can submit questions until the mid-point of the broadcast by calling 571-749-1166 or e-mailing debate@FCAC.org. Questions must be directed to all candidates and will be posed by the moderator. FCAC (channel 10) will provide copies of the debate broadcasts for replay by Cox Cable in Reston. (from here)
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is a 501 c(3) that is jointly run by the Democrats and Republicans. The CPD systematically excludes worthy candidates such as Bob Barr and Ralph Nader from the debates that they hold. As a consequence, the citizens will only see the two major party views and the two major party candidates will not challenged by any non-standard views.
As long as the CDP controls the debates, the citizens will only hear the standard scripted drivel from both the Republican and Democratic sides.
Perhaps some national entity will sponsor a series of debates among the alternative party candidates. At least then, the citizens could hear some real debates on some real ideas and proposed solutions.
AMEN, Sir Ballance! The two-party system is one thing that has served to divide us. They give us few options. They make any vote a real crap shoot, no matter how many debates we listen to.
Figures the incumbent in the 10th refused to debate. We have an Independent on the ballot there as well.
Regarding the presidential – there are four other candidates on enough ballots this year to mathematically earn enough Electoral College votes for a victory. Therefore all six candidates should be in a series of debates. Of course the big two will not allow it, are afraid to participate, leaving the four to stage their own with two empty chairs.
However no major media will agree to cover it, considering these same corporate owners have all their holdings tied up in only two parties – which to true independents they are really just one.
Joseph Oddo – BTW, I forgot to mention this earlier. Frank Wolf will debate. The Prince William Committee of 100 arranged it.
10th Congressional District Candidates Forum
Judy Feder (D) and Frank Wolf (R)
Thursday, October 16
Four Points by Sheraton
6:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet
7:00 p.m. – Dinner
7:45 p.m. – Program begins
I guess they are afraid to debate the independents like me who are ready to represent the people over the party. I have contacted the Manassas debate committee, but have not heard anything back yet. I believe that there is also a debate in Winchester by the NARFE. I expect to be on that one.
Neeraj Nigam
nnigam@nigamforcongress.org
http://www.nigamforcongress.org
Mr. Migam, have you contacted the Committe 100 and the League of Women Voters? Both arrange debates. Personally, I’d love to hear what you have to say!
If Feder was half the candidate that Wolf is she might legitimately have a chance.