Presidential Debates

Ah, it happens once every four years: Presidential debates. Every time I tell myself I’m not going to watch yet every four years there I am parked in front of the TV watching the debates. The thing I don’t like about the debates is the lack of any real debating. The candidates basically give one stock answer after another and NO MATTER WHAT the guy you’re pulling for always wins.

I’d like to see the debates expanded, I’d like to see longer answers and I’d like to see harder questions. With the way the debates are structured currently the debaters get a question address it every so briefly and then deftly change the subject so they can move on to one their more populist positions. For example, if I were a moderator and a question about, say, congested federal waterways (I just made that up, it seems obscure enough) you can bet the answer would be along these lines:
“Federal Inland Waterway congestion is a serious issue. During my administration we outlined a plan/Senate tenure I introduced a bill to significantly reduce congestion by passing out tax dollars/passing out tax dollars resulting in a .2% decrease in federal inland water way congestion by 2050. But one thing that remains certain I will not allow terrorists to take advantage/jobs to move to foreign countries because of federal waterway congestion.

I guess the problem is that by the time a particular individual has campaigned long enough to be a viable Presidential option they’ve got a pretty good idea of what works. It may be an unpopular thing but these are professional politicians, they’re not really so much about ideology as they are about getting elected. They crave the power and attention that comes with the office. A good example of this is Jimmy Carter. If there has ever been a more moral, honest and hardworking President I don’t know who it might be. Of course his actual governance was less than spectacular. In any event when President Carter was running for Governor of Georgia he did a radio ad where he said he wasn’t after the “block” vote. Thing is he kind of mumbled or slurred the word “block” so if you weren’t paying attention you heard that President Carter wasn’t interested in the BLACK vote.

I’m sure politicians justify these fudges by rationalizing that once they are in office they’ll do what’s actually best for the country. My big hope, whomever gets elected, is that they remember they aren’t just governing the Americans that voted for them, they are governing the entire country. An especially important thought when the election is likely to be very divisive.

All that stuff scares me. Scares me badly. Why, it reminds that Halloween is coming up and gives me the perfect opportunity to present:

Specialized Stuart’s Serene Sequence of Spurious Serendipity

Everyone knows that Nate Eaton is a serious Kush supporter. I’m not certain if his support is purely financial or if it involves door to door campaigning. In any event with this link Nate can waste all his spare time:
Weird New Jersey
Now you might be wondering just how a collection of the bizarre provides any time wasting stuff. Well other than the time it takes to read the page. Thing is that these are legends, ripe for investigation. Nate was/is a serious journalist (as opposed to a serious hack such as myself) he could get a lot of mileage out of checking into this stuff.

What am I talking about? Well just check this out for one fine example of investigative journalism:
Haunted Boy
This is the investigation into the Exorcist legend. As most of us recall the Exorcist was “based” on a true story. I, myself was once in a room at Wash U that supposedly once housed the posessed child. I remain unimpressed. In any event the author does a great job, highly recommeded.

But that’s not all! Heck no, How could I forget:
Ted the Caver
I know how the story ends

Not odd, just funny:
Lawyer Ad

Bailey sent me a link. It’s a great link. I’d share the link but Bailey says if I post it I have to pay him two hundred dollars. Ah well, for you folks no problem:
Computer Jokes

Late breaking link of interest:
Wonderbread Bankrupt!

Tridiot rating: Suspended until the pipe bomb shows up