Did anyone see Alan Keyes on c-span today?

[Indiana_Dem]

the screen behind him said "opendebates.com". He did a very good job and I think I respect him regarding open debate like I respect Pat Buchanan regarding the Iraq war. Keyes sounded like a Republican Dennis Kucinich! If you didn't see it, try to watch the re-airing sometime if it runs again.

[truebrit71]

1. Alan Keyes is a troglodite...

A homophobe, an anti-woman, anti-progressive, anti-Non-"christian" Uncle-Tom apologist that isn't worthy of drinking my bollock-sweat...

But that's just my opinion...

[Supply Side Jesus]

2. lovely imagery

lol...i'll be thinking of that at the bar.

[Indiana_Dem]

5. You are probably correct--I never follow him much

except that I remember when he ran for president. He just sounded like Kucinich talking about open debates and for all candidates to have the opportunity in the primaries to present new ideas whether right or wrong. He said the people should be the ones to make the decision and not to be dictated to by the 2 major parties.

[JasonBerry]

8. Be careful

"Uncle-Tom apologist"

Not that I disagree with your sentiments, but I think the Uncle Tom name-calling is very racist. It's okay if blacks do not agree with us all the time on everything. To suggest otherwise is very condescending and unreasonable to pigeonhole an entire race and demand conformity, and then calling any who disagree hateful names. Agree with you sentiments - but think the Uncle Tom should disappear. I'm ready to banish all these names once and for all.

[truebrit71]

10. Naturally I disagree... IMO it is no more racist than "white trash"..

I have always understood the term "Uncle Tom" to be used by blacks and whites as one who caved in to the stereotypes foisted upon them by the ruling class...one who played a role knowing that it wasn't the truth and simply did it to ease their own existence..

Understand that there isn't a racist bone in my body, my wife is of a different ethnicity than my own so even the SUGGESTION that I am a racist or that I condone, or infer ANYTHING racist is offensive to me personally....

NOWHERE did I pigeonhole an entire race, nor did I demand conformity, I merely wrote that he is a disgrace to his own culture and history in the same way that white supremacists and holocaust deniars are a disgrace to white folk everywhere...You are entitled to read into it what you will, but the fact remains that Alan Keyes behaves as though he is ashamed of the colour of his skin, and I find that inexcusable...

[ShaneGR]

11. Tell us what you really think

LOL!

[La_Serpiente]

3. I'm listening right now

the ideas sound GREAT!!!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Yes! Great conference

I posted about it in GD with a link to the video. All of them were fantastic...and absolutely correct. We need the debate forum they talked about.

[La_Serpiente]

6. They have great debate ideas

I really like the one set up for the youth! :-)

Format

The Citizens' Debate Commission advocates the following format stipulations for future presidential debates:

Follow-up questions must be permitted in every debate.

1. At least one debate must include candidate-to-candidate questioning.
   
2. At least two debates must include rebuttals and surrebuttals.
   
3. Response times must not be overly restrictive.
   
4. Candidates may only exercise a limited number of vetoes concerning the selection of moderators and panelists.
   

The Citizens' Debate Commission also proposes the following four basic formats for future presidential debates:

1. Two single moderator debates: The single moderator format focuses attention on the candidates, rather than on the questioners. A least one of the single moderator debates would include direct candidate-to-candidate questioning, loose time restrictions and minimal interference from the moderator.
   
2. Authentic town-hall debate: An authentic town-hall debate would be organized that prohibits the screening of questions and includes a representative sampling of Americans in the audience.
   
3. Youth debate: The first-ever youth-run and youth-oriented presidential debate would be established. Young people are increasingly dismayed by and detached from electoral politics. A youth debate could inspire millions of young adults to tune into the presidential debates, raise atypical subject matters for national discourse, and prevent the candidates from anticipating many debate questions.
   
4. Panel debate: Historically, panel debates have allowed educated reporters to question the candidates' policy plans and backgrounds. But rather than the panel consisting exclusively of reporters, the Citizens' Debate Commission would assemble a diverse panel of academic, civic, artistic, religious, media, labor and business leaders to ask questions.
   
   
   http://www.citizensdebate.org/theplan.html
   

[Indiana_Dem]

9. Those sound like really good ideas!

Thanks! I'll bookmark that website.

[robsul82]

7. He was the only candidate who jumped in Michael Moore's mosh pit.

Balls, baby. BIG 'uns!

Later.

RJS

[Renew Deal]

12. Funny

I always said that Kucinich is the democratic Alan Keyes. And like Dennis, Keyes stayed around to annoy Bush and McCain at the debates. (I am not saying DK is annoying anyone.)

[Leilani]

13. It's true

The extreme left & extreme right have a lot in common, because they are all idealists.

They don't agree on any issues, but are true to their beliefs & principles.