You teach government and I'd like your opinion (0.00 / 0) How do we reform campaigns? Before I can ask for your opinion, some questions must be answered.
1. Do we the people still stand as landlords to the airwaves we have leased and the cable and satellite franchises we have granted, or have we sold them outright?
2. What greater "public service" can the broadcast media provide than "pro bono" or "hidden cost of lease" telecasts of presidential debates.
Teacherken, you seem worried that the candidates did not hit hard on education and I agree BUT, South Carolina has, according to sources I cannot remember, a 50% high school graduation rate. Now Jesus, Allah, Buddah or whatever, why in any God's name are we, an advanced country and perhaps still the greatest nation on earth, OBSESSING over presidential primary results in a state with a 50% high school graduation rate?
What do you, teacherken, think if we change the system to one where, some months before the primaries, the candidates who can get whatever seems to be a fair number of petition signatures to become a candidate, some air and cable/satellite time for one each two to three hour debate in every state of the union moderated by the league of women voters, certainly not by the network annointed Blitzers and the MSNBC crew save Olberman, and no other ads permitted by candidates? This won't stop Mitch McConnell and the 527's successors sure to be approved by the Supreme Court, but it certainly would give the candidates who are "swift-boated" in those ads 30 or more opportunities to reply in live debate.
THEN, and ONLY THEN, we have a republican and democratic primary in each and every state on the same Saturday on which, by law, all athletic events would be prohibited.
Maybe we could cast it in "reality show format" for the younger generation where losing candidates would have to fire their consultants and walk away in shame. I’m nervous about moderators of any stripe. Who moderated the Lincoln-Douglas Debates? Do we need moderators?
I’m not really hip-shooting as I think we could do 50 states with a 2 to 3 hour debate in each state capital televised on all broadcast media free of charge as a public service in a reasonably short time (2 debates per day?)= 3 months or so with days off, a relatively uncontrolled (read moderator stay out of it) with a Bill Moyers or Russ Mitchell or other moderator (and keep the same team in all 50 debates) who are real and not control freaks.BUT, in my less than humble opinion, you have written the best analyses on why you have joined me and others in supporting John Edwards.
I would agree with the Obama and Hillary supporters that we are throwing our votes away ala the Nader voters in 2000 EXCEPT for the fact that Edwards is winning delegates to the Democratic Convention, AND NOT the Green Party Convention.Green Party Guys and Gals, I love you and hold most of what matters to you dear to my heart BUT,Supporting Nader was pissing into the wind and we all got our pants wet. GWB Screwed you and you still have “no clue” on what the energy policy that required confidentiality in its development by the Dick Cheney was whatever it was called.
The Difference with John Edwards is nobody knows what the weather report on the political wind is yet, and while we may get our pants wet if we back Edwards in the next few primaries, maybe they’ll dry out by the time we get to convention. As a kid who grew up in a Steelworkers town way back in the 40’s when television was something you went to see at a neighbor’s house who had one and it came on at 4 PM and went off at 11 PM or so, I watched the conventions and it was as exciting as hell. Made me a life-long democrat and I wouldn’t mind a trip down memory lane to the 2008 convention.
Teacherken, NOW TO YOUR KUDOS: You have written the singular best Diary I have ever read on Raising Kaine. I won’t be insulted if you totally discard my semi-hip-shoot on a federally financed campaign.
Propose one that this blog community can help develop with some synergistic effort among the true progressives.This campaign is going to be expensive, and the media are the reapers of the costs (read Florida and New York Media Markets). How can we make them eat “pro bono publico” the costs and how do we structure the 2012 campaign, given it is too late for 2008?
Finally, Somehow, probably without malice aforethought, we lucked out and got someone with your ability to think, AND MORE Importantly, then to articulate your thoughts into coherent analyses, and when required, arguments. What do we do in 2012?
For 2008, it is Edwards and if he is not the candidate, then the Democrat BECAUSE, say what you will about the economy, Iraq, Immigration.....
IT'S THE SUPREME COURT, STUPID!!!
Many people do not want their shows interrupted by political stuff, which complicates things.
I like the idea of federally funded campaigns to a point, but there are issues of constitutionality to consider. There are examples of states which take a public funding approach (ME, AZ) although they cannot do so for Federal races. It would be interesting to explore the operation of such approaches at a state and local level to determine what we can learn.
It is not my area of expertise, but I agree it is worth exploring.