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If it ducks like a duck... George Says, "Can We Talk?"By Rick Horowitz "He's
concerned about filling the full two-minute answer." No, really -- the governor wants to have debates! If there's one thing the governor enjoys, it's the chance to discuss the issues that really matter to the American people, and to contrast his positions on these issues with Mr. Gore's positions. In fact, the governor is thrilled to have debates, and the sooner the better. Of course, he also has a few suggestions. But he also has his reasons, and they're good reasons. For instance: Suggestion: Instead of having all three presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, the governor would rather have one of the debates on CNN's "Larry King Live" and one of the debates on NBC's "Meet the Press." Reason: The American people deserve to see the candidates in a variety of debate formats. Under the governor's proposal, the candidates would engage in a free-flowing conversation with Larry King, and would also undergo tough questioning from Tim Russert. Suggestion: Instead of having guaranteed coverage of all three debates on all the major networks, the debates would be made "available" to all the major networks. Reason: Just as the government shouldn't be telling the American people which prescription drugs they can have, the debate commission shouldn't be telling the American people which TV programs they can watch. If people don't want to watch debates, they shouldn't have to. And if people want to watch all the debates but don't have cable, they can always go to a neighbor's house, which will make America a much friendlier place. Suggestion: Instead of the debates running 90 minutes apiece, at least two of the debates should run 60 minutes apiece. Reason: If 60 minutes is good enough for "ER," it's good enough for G.W. Suggestion: Instead of having debates in Boston and Winston-Salem and St. Louis, as the debate commission demands, have at least one of the debates somewhere in the West. Reason: The Reagan Library is lovely this time of year. Suggestion: Each of the debates should focus on one broad topic, such as educational reform, or integrity, or educational reform. Reason: The American people like to keep things organized; those debates where anyone can ask questions about anything just confuse them. And watching candidates recite lists of foreign leaders is boring. Suggestion: Each candidate should be allowed to make up to three "lifeline" calls per debate. Reason: A president is part of a team. Allowing the candidates to make "lifeline" calls will allow voters to see the kinds of people the candidates would rely on for advice in the White House itself. Suggestion: Answers to each question should be limited to 45 seconds. Reason: The American people hate showoffs. Suggestion: The debate sponsored by the debate commission should take place at 3 a.m. Eastern. Reason: Don't the citizens of American Samoa have the same rights as anyone else to see a debate in prime time? Suggestion: The candidates should be forbidden from moving around the stage while answering questions. Reason: There's absolutely nothing in the Constitution that says a president has to be able to walk and chew policy at the same time. Posted 9/5/00. You
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Rick Horowitz