# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=608 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 609 --- ## [Answer me this, time traveler: would you save Adam Walsh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answer-me-this-time-traveler-would-you-save-adam-walsh/460980)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/answer-me-this-time-traveler-would-you-save-adam-walsh/460980 "2008-09-10T00:08:23Z")
By accident, you travel through time. You find yourself in a Sears store in Hollywood, Florida on July 27, 1981. You see a woman allow her young son to amuse himself at the video game section while she enters the light… --- ## [Resolved: The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-holy-roman-empire-was-neither-holy-nor-roman-nor-an-empire/462299)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-holy-roman-empire-was-neither-holy-nor-roman-nor-an-empire/462299 "2008-09-09T23:38:38Z")
Some people need to get the pump primed. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=10159951 --- ## [The Housing Bailout(s): The reason to pay their mortgages is ...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-bailout-s-the-reason-to-pay-their-mortgages-is/462784)
**Author:** [@groo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groo)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-bailout-s-the-reason-to-pay-their-mortgages-is/462784 "2008-09-09T23:26:54Z")
I’m losing my gruntles here. If you want to skip the next paragraph, I guess I’m just defining “moral hazard.” Several weeks ago, an acquaintance who’s a real estate broker told me he knows “otherwise good, honest peop… --- ## [Would Darth Cheney even have a chance if he ran for President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-darth-cheney-even-have-a-chance-if-he-ran-for-president/462835)
**Author:** [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-darth-cheney-even-have-a-chance-if-he-ran-for-president/462835 "2008-09-09T21:32:46Z")
We knew all along that Cheney had no desire to be President. But what if he did? Would he have a shot in hell after the last eight years? Maybe it’s my lefty bias showing, but I think if he ran the election would end in… --- ## [Can Obama win if he drops below McCain in the polls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-obama-win-if-he-drops-below-mccain-in-the-polls/462154)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-obama-win-if-he-drops-below-mccain-in-the-polls/462154 "2008-09-09T21:30:36Z")
Of course he can, I know that anything’s possible, especially with the Electoral College, but is there a plausible path to do so? I don’t really understand polling on a sophisticated level, but I think I understand the … --- ## [McCain elected, appoints democrats to administration; who?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-elected-appoints-democrats-to-administration-who/462642)
**Author:** [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-elected-appoints-democrats-to-administration-who/462642 "2008-09-09T20:36:08Z")
According to his nomination speach, McCain pledged to appoint the best and brightest to his administration. Who do you think he will call upon? The obvious ones are Kerry, Leiberman, and maybe Biden, all of whom he has… --- ## [The GOP and the Concept of "Big Government"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-the-concept-of-big-government/462693)
**Author:** [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-the-concept-of-big-government/462693 "2008-09-09T19:01:27Z")
I’m hoping that some of you savvy politicos can explain something for me. One of the hallmarks of the Liberal versus Conservative fight is the argument that the federal government should be big versus small. The popular … --- ## [Why is the U.S. press so horrid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-press-so-horrid/462517)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-press-so-horrid/462517 "2008-09-09T18:49:45Z")
Please lets try to avoid the question of whether the press is biased or not and just focus on core competence. What I’m asking is why does the U.S. press do such a poor job of things like reporting issues instead of gos… --- ## [Executive Experience. Who has it, who doesn't, and why does it matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/executive-experience-who-has-it-who-doesnt-and-why-does-it-matter/462558)
**Author:** [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/executive-experience-who-has-it-who-doesnt-and-why-does-it-matter/462558 "2008-09-09T15:15:29Z")
I admit that, as a sprightly 28 year old, my true political awareness goes back only to somewhere in the middle of George H.W. Bush’s term as president, so please take this as a sincere question from someone who is worki… --- ## [Will supersonic aircraft ever be commercially viable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-supersonic-aircraft-ever-be-commercially-viable/462297)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-supersonic-aircraft-ever-be-commercially-viable/462297 "2008-09-09T10:16:55Z")
Concorde has been retired by both British Airways and Air France after long operating at a loss. And yet many, many people fly every year. Many of them are wealthy. Time is money. It’s still a long way from New York … --- ## [So what would happen is the US decided to just zero out its debts overnight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-happen-is-the-us-decided-to-just-zero-out-its-debts-overnight/462386)
**Author:** [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-happen-is-the-us-decided-to-just-zero-out-its-debts-overnight/462386 "2008-09-09T04:12:17Z")
We owe quite a bit of money to people. What would happen if we just gave them a call and said hey we dont owe you that money anymore bye. --- ## [Is Bush saving a pre-election Bin Laden kill/capture to clinch a GOP victory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bush-saving-a-pre-election-bin-laden-kill-capture-to-clinch-a-gop-victory/462387)
**Author:** [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bush-saving-a-pre-election-bin-laden-kill-capture-to-clinch-a-gop-victory/462387 "2008-09-09T02:42:46Z")
I can’t help but think that for some time now US forces have had an excellent idea of where OBL has been hiding out and they have held off from killing or capturing him because it is to our greater advantage to just let … --- ## [Why didn't court ordered busing as part of desegregation mandates work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-court-ordered-busing-as-part-of-desegregation-mandates-work/462479)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-court-ordered-busing-as-part-of-desegregation-mandates-work/462479 "2008-09-09T01:39:16Z")
In reading the wiki on busing the other day and I was surprised to see that busing was considered a more or less a complete failure in terms of it’s effectiveness in improving the academic performance of minority childre… --- ## [Identity vs Issue Politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-vs-issue-politics/462672)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identity-vs-issue-politics/462672 "2008-09-08T22:11:20Z")
I’m an issue voter. I vote for the candidates and parties that I feel will promote the policies I favor. I don’t care about the race, religion, or social group of candidates; that is, the identity. But based on news c… --- ## [Explain to me how police interview tactics are ethical.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-how-police-interview-tactics-are-ethical/462637)
**Author:** [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-how-police-interview-tactics-are-ethical/462637 "2008-09-08T20:21:41Z")
Honestly, this has been an issue I have had a great deal of trouble with the past year. Prior to last September, I had always thought of law enforcement in general as the “good guys.” However, after personally being inte… --- ## [Is being the governor of Alaska significantly relevant experience for US Presidency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-the-governor-of-alaska-significantly-relevant-experience-for-us-presidency/462098)
**Author:** [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-the-governor-of-alaska-significantly-relevant-experience-for-us-presidency/462098 "2008-09-08T19:48:32Z")
A lot of press about how being Governor is relevant experience for the US Presidency. Governorship along with lawyer turned career politician or military seem to be the standard career paths. We’ve got Johnson, Reagan, C… --- ## [Obama v. McCain: Effect on small-to-medium business climate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-v-mccain-effect-on-small-to-medium-business-climate/462211)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-v-mccain-effect-on-small-to-medium-business-climate/462211 "2008-09-08T19:47:10Z")
I recently had a talk with a woman who is about to open her own small clothing factory. She went on and on about the importance of creating jobs for people, and is supporting McCain for that reason, because she thinks O… --- ## [Let's talk seriously about Bristol Palin.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-seriously-about-bristol-palin/461993)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-seriously-about-bristol-palin/461993 "2008-09-08T19:33:27Z")
Here’s the problem I have with this whole mess. The Ford family had to stage an intervention with Betty Ford in the seventies, and her recovery wasn’t complete until the early 1980s. It seems to me, recalling this, tha… --- ## [If Palin is dropped from the ticket, who should McCain replace her with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-palin-is-dropped-from-the-ticket-who-should-mccain-replace-her-with/462490)
**Author:** [@A\_shameful\_cracka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_shameful_cracka)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-palin-is-dropped-from-the-ticket-who-should-mccain-replace-her-with/462490 "2008-09-08T16:54:34Z")
Let’s suppose that Sarah Palin resigns or is dropped from the Republican ticket in the near future - either something scandalous comes up that can’t be denied or something happens in her personal life that makes her deci… --- ## [On right-oriented message boards, do people fear Obama will win?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-right-oriented-message-boards-do-people-fear-obama-will-win/462339)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-right-oriented-message-boards-do-people-fear-obama-will-win/462339 "2008-09-08T16:14:07Z")
A commonly expressed opinion on the SDMB, and on other message boards with a leftward bent, is 'I’m afraid McCain might actually win this election. :(" On venues that lean slightly to the right, do their users expres… --- ## [Is Palin a celebrity now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-palin-a-celebrity-now/462251 "2008-09-08T10:04:47Z")
I think she qualifies as the flavor of the week, if not the month, the fresh new face everyone wants to know better, the hot chick, the exciting voice we all clamor to hear…well, you get where I’m going, I trust. Does t… --- ## [Another study showing vaccines dont cause autism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-study-showing-vaccines-dont-cause-autism/461969)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-study-showing-vaccines-dont-cause-autism/461969 "2008-09-08T05:40:30Z")
While I have great heartfelt sympathy for the loved ones of people with autism, here’s only the latest study to help confirm what most scientists have shown to be the case–mmr vaccine doesn’t raise a kid’s likelihood of … --- ## [Is Sarah Palin a major turning point for McCain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-a-major-turning-point-for-mccain/461754)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-a-major-turning-point-for-mccain/461754 "2008-09-08T05:31:07Z")
A repost of a thread that disappeared during the great reboot. The main Palin thread (600+ posts disappeared forever on Tuesday!) is a lot of talk about Palin’s qualifications for VP (and possibly President), so I thoug… --- ## [Republican National Convention thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-thread/461817)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-national-convention-thread/461817 "2008-09-08T05:11:52Z")
I’m surprised we don’t have one of these yet, but I can understand. It’s been a pretty lackluster affair so far. Laura Bush is not a scintillating speaker. W was as awkward and stilted as ever, but it should be noted tha… --- ## [The Palin Baby Rumor - Proven False?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-palin-baby-rumor-proven-false/461766)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-palin-baby-rumor-proven-false/461766 "2008-09-08T04:54:00Z")
I haven’t heard a peep about the Mother/Grandmother rumor since the daughter’s pregnancy became public knowledge. So…did the leaky flight from Texas to Alaska never happen? Did she really have a baby or did she rush back… --- ## [Will the voter demographics of 2008 be significantly different than before?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-voter-demographics-of-2008-be-significantly-different-than-before/462567)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-voter-demographics-of-2008-be-significantly-different-than-before/462567 "2008-09-08T02:30:35Z")
According to USA Today, in a poll of “most likely voters,” McCain leads Obama by ten points. Now, I’m not very concerned about the numbers or the poll itself - at least not for this thread. What it did make me remember… --- ## [It's all about taxes, isn't it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-taxes-isnt-it/462158)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-taxes-isnt-it/462158 "2008-09-08T01:13:54Z")
If the Republican nominee, for some strange reason, espoused a clear policy of raising taxes, while his Democratic opponent vigorously opposed expanding taxation even a nickel, wouldn’t most people simply swap political … --- ## [Convince an independent. What is the best thing about your candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-an-independent-what-is-the-best-thing-about-your-candidate/462270)
**Author:** [@Thorium\_Indium\_Potassium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thorium_Indium_Potassium)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-an-independent-what-is-the-best-thing-about-your-candidate/462270 "2008-09-08T01:02:18Z")
Imagine you only have 1 sentence with which to convince an independent to vote for your candidate. Don’t waste your sentence stating why not to vote for the candidate that you dislike, use it to sell your candidate as be… --- ## [Convince Bricker that not every Obama supporter is a tool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-bricker-that-not-every-obama-supporter-is-a-tool/462138)
**Author:** [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-bricker-that-not-every-obama-supporter-is-a-tool/462138 "2008-09-07T19:59:34Z")
Bricker posted an incensed thread in the Pit, where he now states he will not vote for Obama after all, because of the low-brow, slimy, sexist attacks some people have made on Palin because of her daughter’s pregnancy, o… --- ## [McCain's reason for running - Inferiority Complex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccains-reason-for-running-inferiority-complex/462313)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccains-reason-for-running-inferiority-complex/462313 "2008-09-07T19:56:19Z")
I’m the type who believes that we all have a deep seated motive for every move we make as human beings. It has long been my opinion that George W. Bush ran for office for 2 main reasons and they are — To avenge what … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=607) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=609)