# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=668 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 669 --- ## [Conservative media shooting itself in the foot re: Hillary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-media-shooting-itself-in-the-foot-re-hillary/432710)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-media-shooting-itself-in-the-foot-re-hillary/432710 "2008-01-11T01:09:12Z")
Obama’s current surge and Hillary’s corresponding descent and apparent vulnerability in the primaries seem to have provoked a lot of glee and schadenfreude among conservatives in the media. The Fox News tools are loving … --- ## [Vice-presidential frontrunners](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-frontrunners/432878)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-frontrunners/432878 "2008-01-11T00:31:47Z")
Other than Bill Richardson, who would be likely frontrunners for the two parties to be tapped as the VP candidate? What are matchups you’d love to see? Who is almost guaranteed not to be a VP candidate for anyone? For… --- ## [Latest Tactic in Iraq....anthropology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-tactic-in-iraq-anthropology/432886)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-tactic-in-iraq-anthropology/432886 "2008-01-10T23:56:05Z")
I saw this really cool article on Yahoo! and thought I’d bring it here to debate how effective folks think it will be. It SOUNDS like what we should have been doing all along. However, perhaps there is a window of opp… --- ## [Potential Downside to Having All 50 Primaries/Cauci on the Same Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-downside-to-having-all-50-primaries-cauci-on-the-same-day/432204)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-downside-to-having-all-50-primaries-cauci-on-the-same-day/432204 "2008-01-10T22:03:47Z")
With several states jockeying for position and moving their primaries earlier and earlier, and the fact that the (in the opinion of some) the race for the nomination is over by Super Tuesday (if not by the time New Hamps… --- ## [\*sigh\* . . . OK, once again: How many Iraqis have died because of the war/occupation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-ok-once-again-how-many-iraqis-have-died-because-of-the-war-occupation/432443)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-ok-once-again-how-many-iraqis-have-died-because-of-the-war-occupation/432443 "2008-01-10T20:49:23Z")
I had thought this question was pretty much settled in favor of the Lancet Report (655,000 dead because of the war as of July 2006) but in this thread ManiacMan insists on calling it grossly inflated, so here we go. Pre… --- ## [Is the GOP headed for a 4 way brokered convention?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-gop-headed-for-a-4-way-brokered-convention/432847)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-gop-headed-for-a-4-way-brokered-convention/432847 "2008-01-10T17:33:21Z")
I guess the title says it all. Will we have Huckabee with the southern delegates, McCain and Romney splitting mainstream America, and Guiliani with the large states (Cali, NY, FL) and wheeling and dealing at the convent… --- ## [Why did the industrial revolution happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-industrial-revolution-happen/431484)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-industrial-revolution-happen/431484 "2008-01-10T13:44:08Z")
It seems remarkable that many technological improvements came together in Britain in such a short period of time. The development of the steam engine, the water frame, a real understanding of iron production, large scal… --- ## [My Letter to the Editor, re: "Intelligent" Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-letter-to-the-editor-re-intelligent-design/432731)
**Author:** [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-letter-to-the-editor-re-intelligent-design/432731 "2008-01-10T11:47:28Z")
I am writing to vent my intelligently designed spleen over the recent news that the Godless heathens who call themselves the National Academy of Sciences have published a booklet, “Science, Evolution and Creationism”, wh… --- ## [If Obama becomes POTUS, what can we expect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-becomes-potus-what-can-we-expect/432340)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-becomes-potus-what-can-we-expect/432340 "2008-01-10T07:49:06Z")
I never believed he had a chance until now, but Obama might will be our next president. If he is, what can we expect? His positions are here. Will Obama govern more as a DLC neoliberal like the Clintons, or as a pro… --- ## [Is Pat Robertson a complete fraud?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769)
**Author:** [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769 "2008-01-10T03:47:32Z")
I had always assumed, perhaps naively, that Pat Robertson was sincere in his convictions, or at the very least, believed in God. But, there’s this little problem of his year-end predictions, which he claims come straight… --- ## [I'm voting for POTUS in four weeks?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-voting-for-potus-in-four-weeks/432665)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-voting-for-potus-in-four-weeks/432665 "2008-01-10T03:01:27Z")
I just realized (OK, a couple of days ago) that I’m in a Super Tuesday state. Missouri’s Presidential primaries are on February 5. And since I figure the GOP nom for Prez will have no serious chance in November, that me… --- ## [Clinton finally tears up and almost cracks: What will it do for her campaign?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-finally-tears-up-and-almost-cracks-what-will-it-do-for-her-campaign/432629)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-finally-tears-up-and-almost-cracks-what-will-it-do-for-her-campaign/432629 "2008-01-10T02:43:35Z")
Well, I’m no sadist but someone has to bring it up. Hillary finally broke down today at a roundtable event where a woman in the back asked her how she get’s up and does it everyday. \[meaning campaigning\] I’ll not link t… --- ## [Romney and Obama are everyone's second favorite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-obama-are-everyones-second-favorite/432926)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-obama-are-everyones-second-favorite/432926 "2008-01-10T01:24:39Z")
I was just looking at the Delegate count on CNN.com. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Romney’s poor showing, but he’s as far ahead of Huckabee as Hillary is ahead of Edwards. This election seems to be all about… --- ## [What evidence exists for the statement that the US provides the best health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evidence-exists-for-the-statement-that-the-us-provides-the-best-health-care/432491)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-evidence-exists-for-the-statement-that-the-us-provides-the-best-health-care/432491 "2008-01-10T00:12:38Z")
A common refrain in the Republican debate last night was that US health care, while overly expensive, is nevertheless the best in the world. What evidence is there for this statement? How do we define and measure the q… --- ## [Is a black POTUS really an issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-black-potus-really-an-issue/432312)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-black-potus-really-an-issue/432312 "2008-01-09T23:10:38Z")
Here I asked if the appearance of Morgan Freeman (a black actor for those who haven’t seen him) as POTUS in films may have pre-neutralised the issue of Obama’s blackness. Acsenray suggested that the topic was worthy of a… --- ## [Need help debating a Bible thumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-debating-a-bible-thumper/432832)
**Author:** [@D\_White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_White)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-debating-a-bible-thumper/432832 "2008-01-09T21:54:12Z")
I’ve been debating a theist on another board about theism vs. atheism and I’ve been doing quite well so far I think, but the attention has now shifted to the accuracy of the bible and that’s not really my strong suit. I … --- ## [Find your candidate for 2008 (not really a debate)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-your-candidate-for-2008-not-really-a-debate/432638)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-your-candidate-for-2008-not-really-a-debate/432638 "2008-01-09T21:26:16Z")
Just thought it might be fun if some of the politically oriented 'dopers wanted to take the time to do one of these little internet quizzes and post the results…and how they vary between who the web site picked as your p… --- ## [The Iraq War in retrospect: Victory on almost all fronts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-war-in-retrospect-victory-on-almost-all-fronts/432068)
**Author:** [@Chouan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chouan)\ **Replies:** 302\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraq-war-in-retrospect-victory-on-almost-all-fronts/432068 "2008-01-09T18:23:01Z")
Despite the left’s premature proclamations of failure, all the evidence in recent news reports indicate that the situation in Iraq has vastly improved, especially since the troop surge began last year. Violence is down … --- ## ["Shame Justice"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-justice/432584)
**Author:** [@Sweet\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Mercury)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-justice/432584 "2008-01-09T03:55:22Z")
I’m watching “Taboo” on the “Nat Geo” channel\* and the “Taboo Justice” episode just highlighted a practice in Texas called Shame punishment. The basic concept is that, in lue of jail time or fines, (or maybe along with,… --- ## [What if Obama just squeaks by?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-obama-just-squeaks-by/432750)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-obama-just-squeaks-by/432750 "2008-01-09T00:56:38Z")
Say, hypothetically, the independents all vote on the Pubbie side given that McCain/Romney is expected to be close, and Obama without them just squeaks by. Given that this game is all about expectations, will that be rea… --- ## [Is Hillary adopting Rove politics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-adopting-rove-politics/432622)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-adopting-rove-politics/432622 "2008-01-09T00:15:00Z")
In the last debate, Sen. Clinton declared that Obama is a flip-flopper, saying among other things that he changed his mind on the PATRIOT act. This is a deeply misleading claim. For more info on Obama’s record here, re… --- ## [Does the Iowa primary portend a lopsided Democratic victory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-iowa-primary-portend-a-lopsided-democratic-victory/432276)
**Author:** [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-iowa-primary-portend-a-lopsided-democratic-victory/432276 "2008-01-08T23:12:16Z")
I think it does. I am more staggered by the turnout numbers than Mr Obama’s win. The increase over 2004’s turnout is huge (220K v. 124k, in round numbers). On the Republican side, 114K v 88K in 2004 was significant, b… --- ## [Are the super-rich a good thing for the common person in criminal justice matters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-super-rich-a-good-thing-for-the-common-person-in-criminal-justice-matters/432493)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-super-rich-a-good-thing-for-the-common-person-in-criminal-justice-matters/432493 "2008-01-08T21:18:10Z")
We see the super-rich being able to get off when the common person would not, as the rich can afford the best lawyers, and to crawl though the legal code to find any little crumb. It does give them a unfair advantage bu… --- ## [will we se a terror-attack in USA in 2009?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-se-a-terror-attack-in-usa-in-2009/432725)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-se-a-terror-attack-in-usa-in-2009/432725 "2008-01-08T20:36:31Z")
This is something i’ve been thinking of lately It happen in 1993, the first year when Clinton was president, and in 2001, the first year when Bush was president should we expect a new attack the first year when the new… --- ## [Was The Spanish-American War as Debated as the Iraq War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-spanish-american-war-as-debated-as-the-iraq-war/432494)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-spanish-american-war-as-debated-as-the-iraq-war/432494 "2008-01-08T20:32:17Z")
I suspect that it was-of course, things were different in 1899. But I see a lot of parallelsL -both wars were started under highly questionable premises -both resulted in long wars of attrition (the PI “insurrenction” … --- ## [Post-election death toll in Kenya nears 500](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-election-death-toll-in-kenya-nears-500/432650)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-election-death-toll-in-kenya-nears-500/432650 "2008-01-08T18:03:05Z")
Story here. Citing the violence, opposition leader Odinga has canceled rallies to protest the allegedly fraudulent re-election of President Kibaki. This analysis insists the protests and violence are happening for plai… --- ## [Liars, lying, and lies in Great Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liars-lying-and-lies-in-great-debates/430812)
**Author:** [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liars-lying-and-lies-in-great-debates/430812 "2008-01-08T17:11:19Z")
The misunderstood, (and perhaps, misapplied) rule that the phrase “You are a liar” may be treated as the equivalent of “Your statement is a lie” is hereby suspended. “You are a Liar” will be treated, henceforth, as a pe… --- ## [No direct personal insults or "flaming" in great debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-direct-personal-insults-or-flaming-in-great-debates/210240)
**Author:** [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-direct-personal-insults-or-flaming-in-great-debates/210240 "2008-01-08T17:09:40Z")
Moderator’s Note: Direct personal insults of other posters and “flaming” are not permitted in Great Debates (or, indeed, in any SDMB forum outside of The BBQ Pit). The general rule is to attack the other poster’s argum… --- ## [Should Americans Bow Before Monarchs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-americans-bow-before-monarchs/432067)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-americans-bow-before-monarchs/432067 "2008-01-08T14:11:18Z")
Suppose I am invited to a party, at which the Queen of England is present. I am introduced-should I bow? As an American, I belive that humans are equal, and hence, a monarch is no more worthy of a bow than anyone else. … --- ## [If America had never seceded from Britain, how would slavery have been resolved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-america-had-never-seceded-from-britain-how-would-slavery-have-been-resolved/432663)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2008, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-america-had-never-seceded-from-britain-how-would-slavery-have-been-resolved/432663 "2008-01-08T06:14:45Z")
The alternate-history novel The Two Georges, by Richard Dreyfus and Harry Turtledove, is set in a world where the grievances of the American colonies were settled by negotiation between George III and an American delegat… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=667) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=669)