# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=716 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 717 --- ## [Barack and the Battle of MySpace](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-battle-of-myspace/402523)
**Author:** [@Camelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camelot)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-battle-of-myspace/402523 "2007-05-02T23:55:37Z")
Has anyone seen this? Long story short, guy creates a MySpace profile three years ago for Sen. Obama. Campaign comes in at some point and starts working with the guy. At some point, the profile lands tons of media atten… --- ## [Pay to stay. (5 Star Jail)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-stay-5-star-jail/402313)
**Author:** [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-to-stay-5-star-jail/402313 "2007-05-02T20:23:42Z")
A co-worker sent this and I thought “Wow” \<-(that’s me thinking) “somehow that just doesn’t seem right.” I thought about putting this in the pit but figured it would get more productive responses here. For $82 a Day, B… --- ## [Why is the shooting in Seattle last weekend getting so little media attention?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shooting-in-seattle-last-weekend-getting-so-little-media-attention/402521)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shooting-in-seattle-last-weekend-getting-so-little-media-attention/402521 "2007-05-02T20:21:38Z")
would a mod delete this, please? I goofed. --- ## [Theoretical Republican Win in 08?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-republican-win-in-08/402039)
**Author:** [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-republican-win-in-08/402039 "2007-05-02T20:12:17Z")
Assuming that the democratic party is unable to get behind one candidate, and despite the opinions of many many folks (including the majority of the Dopers here), a Republican wins the election in 2008. Other than the i… --- ## [Teaching children to rely on authority teaches helplessness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teaching-children-to-rely-on-authority-teaches-helplessness/401956)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teaching-children-to-rely-on-authority-teaches-helplessness/401956 "2007-05-02T17:57:27Z")
I started this as a pitting of Rubystreak, but WhyNot pointed out that it would be far better served here in GD as she’s too classy to really serve a proper pitting. So I hope she won’t mind that I use her as my focus f… --- ## [Will Al Gore be drafted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-al-gore-be-drafted/402133)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-al-gore-be-drafted/402133 "2007-05-02T17:15:31Z")
Any other Democrats feel that you could support Al Gore far more strongly in 2008 than you did in 2000? (This thread is, of course, open to Republicans, Independants, and Others as an intellectual excercise.) His speech… --- ## [NASA mulls bioethics for longterm space travel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-mulls-bioethics-for-longterm-space-travel/402366)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-mulls-bioethics-for-longterm-space-travel/402366 "2007-05-02T16:33:29Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/05/01/death.in.space.ap/index.html Some interesting questions here. What policies would you suggest? Does the mission always come first? To what extent should Federal laws as to wor… --- ## [Are any neocons going to run in '08?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-neocons-going-to-run-in-08/402052)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-neocons-going-to-run-in-08/402052 "2007-05-02T16:33:09Z")
Is there anybody that has so far announced or is expected to announce candidacy for '08 that could reasonably be considered a “neocon”? For those who want to reflexively respond with “Define necocon”, here’s one definit… --- ## [Demonic Free Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonic-free-will/401701)
**Author:** [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonic-free-will/401701 "2007-05-02T12:01:03Z")
Over in the polytheism thread, I started a bit of a hijack about the free will of demons, which I’d like to take out of there. To sum up: kanicbird claims that demons can only do evil, I say that means they have no fre… --- ## [Would a draft even work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-draft-even-work/402009)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-draft-even-work/402009 "2007-05-02T10:23:18Z")
It’s unlikely in the extreme that the draft will ever be reinstated, but we can still speculate on whether one would work or not. Is conscription even a realistic solution to the Army’s personnel problems? It’s been p… --- ## [Infinite Coincidence vs. Causality: A Provable Difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-coincidence-vs-causality-a-provable-difference/401409)
**Author:** [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-coincidence-vs-causality-a-provable-difference/401409 "2007-05-02T08:29:52Z")
Let’s start with an example (for the sake of illustration): Suppose I walk into a room, find a switch in the wall, turn it to the “ON” position, and the room illuminates. That could be cause-and-effect, but it could al… --- ## [Stop Snitchin' - Is this as bad as it appears to be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-snitchin-is-this-as-bad-as-it-appears-to-be/401587)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-snitchin-is-this-as-bad-as-it-appears-to-be/401587 "2007-05-02T02:04:43Z")
On Anderson Cooper’s show this morning, he did a segment on an apparent willingness in the black community to never snitch – no matter what the crime may be. CNN.com - Transcripts I apologize for posting the rough versi… --- ## [Irans dresscode crackdown, what effects will it have?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-dresscode-crackdown-what-effects-will-it-have/402069)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-dresscode-crackdown-what-effects-will-it-have/402069 "2007-05-02T00:47:51Z")
I’ve just been reading about how the Basiji militia and the Iranian police have been working towards enforcing stricter moral dress codes on the population, even suggesting repeat offenders be exiled to different parts o… --- ## [Bioethics for space travel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioethics-for-space-travel/402365)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioethics-for-space-travel/402365 "2007-05-01T20:15:56Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/05/01/death.in.space.ap/index.html Some interesting questions here. What policies would you suggest? Does the mission always come first? To what extent should Federal laws as to wor… --- ## [Next by Michael Crichton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-by-michael-crichton/401626)
**Author:** [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-by-michael-crichton/401626 "2007-05-01T13:18:03Z")
Not the best of his novels. Can anyone help with with some cites for his claims, or do I have to go and read genetics textbooks to verify his claims? And yes I realise ‘Next’ is a work of fiction. --- ## [Is gay incest right or wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gay-incest-right-or-wrong/401358)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gay-incest-right-or-wrong/401358 "2007-05-01T08:22:41Z")
The following ad appears as a public service announcement on Canadian television. Please see http://adage.com/video/Player.php?s=OjEwNDc6N2VmZjNmMmQ6MQ It got me wondering about gay incest. When gay sex between consen… --- ## [What if Watergate had never happened and Nixon finished his 2nd term?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-watergate-had-never-happened-and-nixon-finished-his-2nd-term/401125)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-watergate-had-never-happened-and-nixon-finished-his-2nd-term/401125 "2007-05-01T08:16:31Z")
What if the Watergate break-in had never been discovered? The story never broke? And Nixon had remained president until January 1977? How would history have gone differently? --- ## [David Broder eviscerates Harry Reid.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-broder-eviscerates-harry-reid/401729)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-broder-eviscerates-harry-reid/401729 "2007-05-01T02:04:56Z")
Calls him "The Democrats’ Gonzales. I agree completely. I believe Harry Reid is trying to use the war to maximize political troubles for the administration, which is despicable. Should we lose, it won’t just be a los… --- ## [No Wonder Gonzales Didn't Seem To Have A Clue!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-gonzales-didnt-seem-to-have-a-clue/402241)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-gonzales-didnt-seem-to-have-a-clue/402241 "2007-05-01T01:33:28Z")
According to Murray Waas: Gonzo put himself ‘out of the loop.’ Dayum. --- ## [In American politics, who has more money to spend -- the right or the left?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-american-politics-who-has-more-money-to-spend-the-right-or-the-left/402081)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-american-politics-who-has-more-money-to-spend-the-right-or-the-left/402081 "2007-05-01T00:54:08Z")
Inspired by this recent Democratic Underground thread about “The Big Soros Lie.” I don’t mean just electoral politics, but the entire networks of political think tanks, organizations and media outlets. David Horowitz’s… --- ## [The American Idol African plight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-idol-african-plight/401738)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-idol-african-plight/401738 "2007-04-30T16:57:49Z")
Can someone explain the typical African problem that exsists over there. It seems much bigger than: disease is rampant, not enough clean water, food, and schools. AI Solution: Get enough money to feed them, cure diseas… --- ## [Purity Balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purity-balls/396189)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purity-balls/396189 "2007-04-30T13:50:08Z")
Matt Lauer is doing a piece on Purity Balls. Aside from the obvious locker room humor derived by the name of these events, I find the whole concept just so skin-crawlingly creepy. They also said 88% of “pledgers” got dow… --- ## [Huzzah! A tunnel under the Bering Strait!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huzzah-a-tunnel-under-the-bering-strait/401499)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huzzah-a-tunnel-under-the-bering-strait/401499 "2007-04-30T08:46:19Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/24/russia.alaska.tunnel.ap/index.html Well… not just yet. Someday, maybe? Or is this forever doomed as a pipedream? --- ## [Will there ever be another world war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-ever-be-another-world-war/401177)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-ever-be-another-world-war/401177 "2007-04-30T07:23:15Z")
And if so where do you think it’s most likely to start? I had a debate with my cousin over this last night. He claimed that the world economy is too interdependent nowadays and that no major economic/military power woul… --- ## [House to subpoena Condi Rice; will she ever testify?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-to-subpoena-condi-rice-will-she-ever-testify/401653)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-to-subpoena-condi-rice-will-she-ever-testify/401653 "2007-04-30T01:22:43Z")
Story here. Mainly about that Niger yellowcake, but also about possible attempts to circumvent the Presidential Records Act by relying on the RNC server for Admin e-mails, and using federal agencies to conduct partisan … --- ## [Bush fudging Iraq numbers, Iraq government hiding them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-fudging-iraq-numbers-iraq-government-hiding-them/401732)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-fudging-iraq-numbers-iraq-government-hiding-them/401732 "2007-04-30T01:09:41Z")
Thank you, McClatchy (the chain formerly known as Knight Ridder): That’s one way to do it: just exclude discouraging numbers. You gotta love this. I guess we should stop counting anything in Iraq, in case it shows t… --- ## [John McCain announces intention to announce . . . on David Letterman . . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mccain-announces-intention-to-announce-on-david-letterman/394155)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mccain-announces-intention-to-announce-on-david-letterman/394155 "2007-04-30T00:46:58Z")
Story here. The usual issues: Is McCain nominable? Is he electable? What kind of POTUS would he make? --- ## [Monica Goodling has gotten immunity, but if, in her testimony...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monica-goodling-has-gotten-immunity-but-if-in-her-testimony/401671)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monica-goodling-has-gotten-immunity-but-if-in-her-testimony/401671 "2007-04-29T18:51:32Z")
…she is compelled to admit to criminal behavior, could the ABA revoke her license to practice law? If that’s a likely possibility, might she still be able to invoke the Fifth on the grounds that her financial stability… --- ## [Boris Yeltsin has died. What is his legacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boris-yeltsin-has-died-what-is-his-legacy/401313)
**Author:** [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boris-yeltsin-has-died-what-is-his-legacy/401313 "2007-04-29T12:36:52Z")
CNN.com link I don’t know too much about the man, but being the first President of Russia, he’ll surely have a controversial legacy. On the one hand, Communism was A Bad Thing, and Yeltsin played a big role in ending i… --- ## [What IS the Bush admin.'s plan for our too-stretched military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bush-admin-s-plan-for-our-too-stretched-military/401829)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2007, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-bush-admin-s-plan-for-our-too-stretched-military/401829 "2007-04-29T06:05:02Z")
As I watch our servicefolk being called back to multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Guard and Reserve forces being deployed multiple times, Navy and Air Force troops being diverted to do Army duties, new recruits bei… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=715) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=717)