Presidential Debates

[CRAZY-HORSE]

it is good to have a few minor parties because they can and do at times "keep the bastards honest"...that was the motto of the Australian Democrats backin the 1970s.... shame theyve forgot that over the decades and become part of the problem!, same as the Greens.

[SteveO]

Good insight Crazy mate ! Canbada was held ransome with no concrete business being resolved until the Conservatives got a majority last year and the NDP (close to Labour Party) came in second as the official opposition. The Liberals were nearly wiped out.

I think generations shift their voting preferences. Befdore the election in 2011, it was total chaos as the Conservatives had two minority governments and the opposition - NDP (New Democratic Party) , Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois ( main goal separation from Canada) controlled Parliament . WE had an election every two years and it took over a decade for the populus to get fed up and give Tories a majority and go with NDP thus avoiding the old Grits (Liberals).

In this case a lot of fringe parties equals a disfunctional government !

go ahead and rant all you like, as long as it doesnt get personal or the like i dont think anyone will be offended by it.

sure 'little parties' are good for democracy Penny....but out here they tend to end up alligning themselves with either Liberal or Labor,end up in bed with them to ensure they get elected then ultimately hold the large party to ransom ie: do what we say or we wont pass this legislation or that legislation etc etc...

i have no time for them personally as they not only hold the other parties to rensom but also the country as a whole

[SteveO]

^ sorry for the type os above but I can't edit ! Canabad should read CANADA !!!!...lol...

[Music Head]

In this case a lot of fringe parties equals a disfunctional government !

we only have the 2 parties, and still most would say a disfunctional government
in my case, most of the time I don't mind that
I prefer local government

[PennyLane]

We were warned against a two party system, we did not listen. Probably because people like groups. I want a moderate and moderates get pushed into a group depending on whether they are an inch to the left of center or an inch to the right. Which would be fine, if they stayed moderate but they end up trying to appease the party or the people they can get more votes from. Politics is a funny game.

Also, personally, I believe in referendum voting type system. None of this campaigning. Like that would ever happen.

I think that people, especially those of my generation don't bother to look at the candidates or to dissect them , they see red and blue and they pick the side they want. I guess for my generation it would be mostly blue.

[Jerome]

A two party system is like a wild out of control youth who suddenly coverts to some religion and then starts shoving that down everyone's throat. Two extremes. There's no middle ground and that's a dangerous thing. There has to be a mediator.

[TraceNspace]

Well, I watched the debates and I was not impressed with either candidate last night. I have been impressed with Obama in the past but I guess he's out of practice where debating is concerned. He's used to an audience these days instead. I think he had some missed opportunities to drill Romney on what his specific plans are. Also I feel like Mitt Romney who has been pandering to an extremist group of Republicans for most of his campaign turned on them last night and magically came out looking moderate. I think they will stick with him though. They (the media) are saying Mitt won and I agree but we won't really know for a few more days how the polls will be affected.

[SteveO]

Romney stood out more than Obama . The economy would be his forte since he is a successful businessman, Next debate will address foreign policy ...should be very interesting ! Romney may have impressed the undecided voters . Other than that I don't think debates in general really affect the partisan voter.

Many pundits are saying that the President was lacklustre and not his usual boisterous self ! ( maybe his mind was on Michelle and his next cigarette !...lol)

[CRAZY-HORSE]

winning or losing debates does not mean a win or a loss at the ballot box people!!!!!!!

our pollies do those stupid debates here also, so often the one who wins them ends up losing the election.

the only poll that really counts is the one on election day.

love 'em or loathe 'em you cant knock people for entering politics as initially they have good motives(like cops) then they ultimately get bogged down in the politics of it all.

and instead of bickering between eachother, they should all put their heads together and come to a 'whats best for the country' mentality instead of trying to appease their own factions of minority groups or even the voting public to just vote for them.

[TraceNspace]

[quote=CRAZY-HORSE]winning or losing debates does not mean a win or a loss at the ballot box people!!!!!!!

QUOTE]

No it doesn't but I'm still watching tonight's debate. Obama is really dropping the ball with his campaign in my opinion. For example.....I gave to his campaign and I just today got my 'Women for Obama' sticker in the mail. Why even bother to put it on my car at this point? So I can get egged? I'm surrounded by Romney signs in yards up and down my block as far as the eyes can see lol