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10 Things To Know About The Upcoming Debates

Posted by timothy on from the unconscionable-fraud dept.

jSpectre writes "Connie Rice writes an interesting article about the 'Presidential Debates' found on NPR's web site. Did you know it's illegal for the candidates to debate anywhere other than CPD ('Cloaking-device for Party Deception') officially santioned debates? Read on for her 'Top 10 Secrets They Don't Want You to Know About the Debates.'" Read more CPD criticism at Open Debates.

4 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. I call Bullsh*t by MerlynEmrys67 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    (7.) The secretly negotiated debate contract bars Kerry and Bush from any and all other debates for the entire campaign.

    "Under what I call the Debate Suppression and Monopolization Clause of the contract, it is illegal for the candidates to debate each other anywhere else during the campaign," Rice says. "We need a new criminal law for reckless endangerment of democracy."

    Ok, there is a contract that says you will not do something. This doesn't make doing it Illegal (as in congress passes a law, and an executive signs it) subject to criminal penalties - it is a negotiated term in a contract, that if/when you violate it you are subject to civil penalties specified in the contract.

    I'll agree with the spirit of what is being said in this article - but the author really needs to tone down and report on facts as they are, not as they want them to be

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    I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
    1. Re:I call Bullsh*t by Hard_Code · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Haha... third parties are a much greater threat to the duopoly that the other member of the duopoly. Do you think either party will really risk breaking the rules their duopoly has agreed to, which would lead to opening the debates to other candidates?

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      It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
  2. Umm.... by m0rph3us0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If breaking a contract was legal how would a court impose penalties for doing so?

    The fact that a court can impose a penalty means that it was against the law. If it was not against the law to break the contract there would be no way a court could enforce the document.

  3. Congress wont reform by superascal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Congress will never change the laws regarding the two party duopoly until some thrid party congress members are elected. Same thing with a national initiative or term limits. We're farked.

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    Dalbert