NYT: Some Democratic Hopefuls (And Me) Question Value of Debates

The heart of the problem, officials at many of the campaigns say, is that a debate of nine people hobbles candidates from standing out above the amusing wisecracks of stragglers in the polls like, say, the Rev. Al Sharpton. They have so little time that the only way they can win notice is to level a direct, nasty attack — and even that does not always work.

"It's time for the rubber to hit the road," Ms. Brazile said. "It's time for some of the candidates to stay home."

Ms. Braun said she would do no such thing. "The Democratic Party, of all parties, should stand for the big tent for real, and not something determined by how much money you have and how many ads you can buy," she said. "I'm in it to win it." Mr. Kucinich said he was in it for the long haul, too. Mr. Sharpton did not respond to a request for comment, but a spokeswoman, Rachel Noerdlinger, said he had "no intention of withdrawing under any circumstances."

Often, the candidates resort to stylistic nuance as a way to stand out. In the CNN debate, some candidates engaged in an off-camera sleeve-rolling competition during a commercial break. Mr. Edwards, General Clark and Mr. Kucinich folded twice along the cuff. Mr. Gephardt folded his cuff in half and rolled it four times. Howard Dean rolled his sleeves up the highest.

Ultimately, campaign aides said, the problem comes down to too many candidates, too little air time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/25/politics/campaigns/25DEBA.html?ex=1067659200&en=9384c379c19f7951&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

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Not just the presence of competing people tossing off sound-bites. I love watching debates, too, but these hardly qualify.

just no personal insults, please.

Honest, no coaching, no rhetoric, open discourse.

and I wouldn't mind seeing a debate with the big six; Gep, Edwards, Clark, Kerry, Dean, and Lieberman. But I can also see the unfairness in excluding the lower tier candidates, they are spending money and putting themselves on the line too.

I'll hold you to it.

The debates or the "most shrill, conflict-oriented, confrontational voices?" (I wonder to what and to whom he is referring.)

the headline is misleading.

Kerry's a wimp