Imagine my surprise when I picked up the Daily Pennsylvanian 2 weeks ago to see a proposed Howard Dean and Pat Buchanan debate right on campus. I entered the lottery for tickets, and was fortunate enough to get a pair so one of my roommates and I could attend.
Knowing how far right Buchanan and Dean were, I was expecting an all out debate, but I was mistaken. What I saw was pretty impressive. The men agreed on many points, mainly the mistake of invading Iraq, which both Buchanan and Dean had good explanations of their views. Buchanan is pretty isolationist, and although I am in total contrast to his social positions, I agreed with his view on what we should do in the middle east. (Mainly, convince the Iraqi's that we don't want to be there forever, and get them to fight the terrorists, and eventually pull out all our troops). Dean was a bit more ideological (not as much as the neo conservative movement), but he rationalized it pretty well.
It was nice to listen to two voices who were not being held back by politics, as none are running for office, and I really wish the presidential debates were half as good as this one.
The moderator asked some other questions, regarding the war on terror/domestic issues, although no social ones. Both men were very respectful of each other, with Dean at one point commenting, "I think I've been passed on the left" to the delight of the audience. They each had moments of laughter and thoughtful points. All in all, I really wish these we had nominees more like these two men.
By no means am I a Howard Dean/Pat Buchanan junky, but there was a genuine sincerity about them and about their overall message, that we (students) need to get out and vote that was really quite pleasant.
Have any of you had a chance to see anything like this? What did you think? Please try to keep the flamewar down, and for the record, I'm an independent voting for Kerry.
Conjur/Infohawk/Ntdz/everyotherpersonwhodenouncestheothersidewheneverpossible, please be nice here. I really don't think your "contributions" when they come in the form of hate/lack of decency help too much. I hope you understand my desire to keep this a pretty nonpartisan thread (if that's possible).
:beer:
Knowing how far right Buchanan and Dean were, I was expecting an all out debate, but I was mistaken. What I saw was pretty impressive. The men agreed on many points, mainly the mistake of invading Iraq, which both Buchanan and Dean had good explanations of their views. Buchanan is pretty isolationist, and although I am in total contrast to his social positions, I agreed with his view on what we should do in the middle east. (Mainly, convince the Iraqi's that we don't want to be there forever, and get them to fight the terrorists, and eventually pull out all our troops). Dean was a bit more ideological (not as much as the neo conservative movement), but he rationalized it pretty well.
It was nice to listen to two voices who were not being held back by politics, as none are running for office, and I really wish the presidential debates were half as good as this one.
The moderator asked some other questions, regarding the war on terror/domestic issues, although no social ones. Both men were very respectful of each other, with Dean at one point commenting, "I think I've been passed on the left" to the delight of the audience. They each had moments of laughter and thoughtful points. All in all, I really wish these we had nominees more like these two men.
By no means am I a Howard Dean/Pat Buchanan junky, but there was a genuine sincerity about them and about their overall message, that we (students) need to get out and vote that was really quite pleasant.
Have any of you had a chance to see anything like this? What did you think? Please try to keep the flamewar down, and for the record, I'm an independent voting for Kerry.
Conjur/Infohawk/Ntdz/everyotherpersonwhodenouncestheothersidewheneverpossible, please be nice here. I really don't think your "contributions" when they come in the form of hate/lack of decency help too much. I hope you understand my desire to keep this a pretty nonpartisan thread (if that's possible).
:beer:
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