Massa, Kuhl and debates - the story is the Debate or lack thereof
Just to weigh in here. Exile has this wrapped up either in posts or comments. In all the swirl of the story - let’s not forget this…
We need debates in our races. ALL OF OUR RACES.
We need candidates who can explain why they deserve the job. Let them espouse their record if they are an incumbent. Let them challenge the claims of an incumbent if they are a challenger.
It is not an incumbent right to avoid debates. Debate is part, a critical party of a healthy diet of discourse and leads to an informed citizenry.
So Massa publicly challenged Congressman Randy Kuhl to a debate after the Randy Kuhl avoided any sort of debate committal for an extended period of time. Kuhl’s dismissive response was basically he will schedule one when he gets around to it.
Geez, the Presidential candidates, both of whom are incumbent Senators and touring the country as they run for President , just announced a debate schedule and the first one is September 29th. One one of those Presidential candidates wasn’t the official presumed nominee until June. It is now August and we have scheduled debates. At least both Obama and McCain were working towards making a debate schedule work.
So in the NY-29th, One candidate has been working towards scheduling and that is Eric Massa. Randy Kuhl has been avoiding debate otherwise they could have come up with schedule by now I’m sure.
I mean is Randy Kuhl busier that Barack Obama or John McCain???
So all you media types out there - in my opinion the story is getting two candidates to debate as a right of the American people. Their should be calls for debate and discussion screaming from the tops of op-ed pages.
Debate, Discuss, Discourse
Because if not, you have what we have here - a candidate pressing the case for debate and a vulnerable incumbent choosing not to engage in debate because he perceives it not to his advantage.
Challengers should not have to press their case and incumbents should not be allowed to avoid them. Debates should be expected to happen.
The American voter is entitled to a healthy discourse.
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When a candidate refuses to set a date for a debate, the League of Women Voters or some other non-partisan group should just step in and announce the date for them. Set up two podiums and if only one candidate has the guts to show up, so be it.
“So all you media types out there - in my opinion the story is getting two candidates to debate as a right of the American people. Their should be calls for debate and discussion screaming from the tops of op-ed pages.”
If the media thought that there wouldn’t be debates they would be all over it.
WETM and The Leader have a debate scheduled between the two in late October - I expect they will both show.
Rotten makes a case that it is far too early in the campaign for anything to have a large impact:
http://www.fighting29th.com/2008/08/beach-volleyball.html
It is also too early to be worried about debates.
My opinion is that Eric is getting a little antsy about the way the election might go.
Elmer -
See this was about all candidates and debates not simply Kuhl and Massa.
We have various State Races that fall into this category as well as a County Clerk here in Monroe County.
Our media isn’t actively calling for debates at least not that I’ve seen. Where are the links to the WTEM and the Leader debate dates. You are implying dates and confirmed times if that is indeed true why didnt’ Massa or Kuhl confirm those dates Yesterday?
Re Rotten - I agree with Rotten, I believe the “it” he is discussing is the event of yesterday not whether or not there are or should be debates and when they should occur.
Personally we should have scheduled dates and times by now. August or early September debates are too early in my book but that doesn’t mean we can’t schedule them now.
What exactly is Randy Kuhl waiting for Christmas? I suppose if he has his druthers that seems about right.
Here is a link to the scheduled debate:
http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=0EF82DFC-6DB5-4D35-BE36-0724790586E3&gsa=true
Kuhl hasn’t comitted yet, but it would be politcal suicide not to show.
So again Elmer - why couldn’t Kuhl acknowledge this? He is dodging and doesn’t want a debate.
Heck, I like Massa’s plan on 8 debates on in each county.
At least they are talking about a deabte now.
Oh, what about the link to the Leader?
I have a PDF file of a Leader page from the August 13th edition. The story actually mentions two Kuhl-Massa debates. How do I send it to you?
[...] So color me unsurprised there is a problem when Massa and Kuhl met in public to clear the air and Kuhl insults of Massa’s parents. There is even discussion about street fighters but in the end it is about debate or lack thereof. [...]
[...] want to go back and read this post. It was written in August right after Massa publicly asked Kuhl to debate. As Elmer said - it [...]