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YouTube to Host Presidential Debate

skotte writes "Wired is reporting that July 23 at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, Anderson Cooper will host presidential debates in which debaters are asked 20-30 questions culled from a specially designated section of YouTube, where the voting populace can post questions directly. You and I (assuming you're American, probably) can ask questions ourselves, not just a reporter in a crowd. Candidates won't know which questions they are being asked, and the video selection process will remain a complete secret. Interesting, but also the slightest bit scary."

10 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Re:It'll just get reposted by mastropiero · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And the questions will be spammed out into oblivion with posts like: "In 1923 a little girl called mary was found dead with the word yram in her back. You have been cursed now. Now your daddy will get clamydia unless you repost this in 74 more videos"

  2. Just a nit or two... by HellYeahAutomaton · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It absolutely annoys me in the mainstream (Democratic and Republican) debates that all of the candidates don't get to answer the same question.

    During the Rep. debate that just occurred, but was also annoying was that the candidates were not self-policing their own timers, as well as talking over the moderator who wanted to interrupt them. This makes both the moderator and the candidates look like amateurs. Perhaps the idea is to shut off their microphones when they run out of time.

    Please people, get your point across, and do it in a timely manner.

    1. Re:Just a nit or two... by Adult+film+producer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, it seems to me that there are too many candidates on the stage (for both parties.) There were 10? at the last republican debate... 8 IIRC at the democratic debate. The moderator uses up 35-40% of the official time of 90 minutes asking questions .. all of the candidates are in a frenzy to make their trademark soundbites before the buzzer.. it's a fucking gameshow.

      Luckily it's still early but some of these guys like Gravel, Tancredo, Thompson have all gotta go, just get them off the stage.

    2. Re:Just a nit or two... by eln · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Perhaps the idea is to shut off their microphones when they run out of time.

      Electrical shocks. Send them steadily more powerful electrical shocks until they shut up. At the very least, it will make the debates more entertaining.

  3. Not looking forward to this by Guanine · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Has anyone read the comments on YouTube? I've never seen a more putrid cesspool of thoughtless idiocy. Why does anyone expect the questions for the candidates from the community to be any better in quality than the comments?

  4. Re:Been done before by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The moderator person should ask "Was that a yes or no on the previous question.".

    The canadate should have 4 choices:
    yes
    no
    refuse to answer
    leave

    But it must be exactly on of those, nothing else.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  5. Re:Been done before by stinerman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's quite obvious why they don't answer the question directly. They aren't sure which side of the issue 50%+1 of the populace is on. Furthermore, if you don't answer the question directly, you don't run the risk of alienating some people who might vote for you.

    This is one reason I like Ron Paul. He and I don't agree on everything, but he's not afraid to say what he thinks. He's authentic, and I think that is why people are gravitating toward him. They know that no one wants to abolish the Depts. of Education, Homeland Security, etc. because he thinks it's going to get him votes. He does so because that is what he truly believes.

    I'll take a true believer that I disagree with on some substantive issues over someone that can't decide if they are for or against something until they see the polls.

  6. Re:Been done before by griffjon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    American politics has been stripped of the shades of gray enough as it is - how would a moderate republican who supports abortion in cases of rape, incest or the health of the mother respond to an "Abortion: Yes or no?" question adequately? Fine, require a "straight" answer of yes or no, but don't prohibit explanations of why they hold that position.

    --
    Returned Peace Corps IT Volunteer
  7. Re:Been done before by kabocox · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The canadate should have 4 choices:
    yes
    no
    refuse to answer
    leave

    But it must be exactly on of those, nothing else.


    Um, that wouldn't be very good no one would ever show up for a "debate" if they only allowed 4 canned answers. A debate should be a bit more indepth than yes, no, i don't know, or I don't really have a position on that subject.

  8. Re:Been done before by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A straight answer from a presidential candidate. The sound of my jaw dropping could be heard for several blocks.

    Yeah, and we all saw what the media did to him. The reason we don't have have straight-answer-type pols is because the media's decided they're silly. Sort out the media, and you'll be good to go.

    --
    Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!