# Senator Clinton - You Are an Idiot **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 27, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041 "2008-04-27T04:29:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/1 "2008-04-27T04:29:15Z")
Senator Clinton has challenged Senator Obama to a Lincoln-Douglas debate. The only problem is that she does not seem to know what happened at the Lincoln-Douglas debates. > [@](#): > > Just the two of us going for 90 minutes asking and answering questions. We’ll set whatever rules seem fair. I think it would give the people of Indiana – and I assume a few Americans will tune in because nearly 11 million watched the Philadelphia debate, and I think they would like seeing that discussion. Remember that’s what happened during the Lincoln and Douglas debates. No, that is not what happened during the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The format was: one candidate spoke for a one hour the other candidate spoke for an hour and a half the first candidate gave a half hour rejoinder Sure they posed questions to each other in their openings and replies, but it was not the 90-minute mess you are suggesting. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/clinton-chall-2.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/clinton-chall-2.html) [http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/debates.htm](http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/debates.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/2 "2008-04-27T05:07:32Z")
I think that’s unfair. Sure, L-D was less broken-up, but I think the essential characteristic of having the candidates talk to each other instead of having a moderator pose questions is more important. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/3 "2008-04-27T06:57:07Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] I think that’s unfair. Sure, L-D was less broken-up, but I think the essential characteristic of having the candidates talk to each other instead of having a moderator pose questions is more important. [/QUOTE] Completely agreed. It looks to me like Clinton meant her “that’s what happened during the Lincoln-Douglas debates” statement to the general atmosphere of the debates instead of the specific time format. She wants to try a debate without a moderator, and that IS what happened in the L-D debates. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/4 "2008-04-27T08:43:27Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] Completely agreed. It looks to me like Clinton meant her “that’s what happened during the Lincoln-Douglas debates” statement to the general atmosphere of the debates instead of the specific time format. She wants to try a debate without a moderator, and that IS what happened in the L-D debates. [/QUOTE] Well, what the hell’s the matter with her? Charlie Gibson was a great moderator! I keed! I keed! The only way he’d be a great moderator is if you got to see him waterboarded (Remember, it’s _not_ torture if you’re dealing with matters of national security! Sometimes. We think.) every time he asked a stupid question. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/5 "2008-04-27T11:22:31Z")
Any excuse for a bashing, huh? Doesn’t even need to be even vaguely fact-based, not for some people. So, 2.5, any reason you \*wouldn’t \* want to see it? Or think it \*shouldn’t \* happen? ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/6 "2008-04-27T11:39:45Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Well, what the hell’s the matter with her? Charlie Gibson was a great moderator! [/QUOTE] For me to poop on! ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/7 "2008-04-27T12:02:45Z")
Why don’t they run Presidential campaign debates like high school debates? It seems like we have higher standards for high school students. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/8 "2008-04-27T12:46:57Z")
I believe they have already been to 21 debates. Enough already, get on with it. I can’t wait for the whole thing to be over already! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/9 "2008-04-27T20:41:46Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] I believe they have already been to 21 debates. Enough already, get on with it. I can’t wait for the whole thing to be over already! [/QUOTE] But then you have to watch the winner debate McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/10 "2008-04-27T21:25:32Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] I think that’s unfair. Sure, L-D was less broken-up, but I think the essential characteristic of having the candidates talk to each other instead of having a moderator pose questions is more important. [/QUOTE] Lincoln and Douglas did not cross examine each other. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/11 "2008-04-27T21:32:04Z")
So who does Shrillery want to be - Lincoln or Douglas? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/12 "2008-04-27T22:02:25Z")
Who would trust Shrillery\* to abide by the agreed-upon rules? Not me. \*Thanks, **BJMoose**. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/13 "2008-04-27T22:02:55Z")
Obama’s Lincoln. She’s Booth. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/14 "2008-04-27T22:08:49Z")
Good lord, **Two and a Half** , anything to bitch about, eh? Whatever you want to call it, I think Clinton’s idea is sound. This is the kind of debate I would have love to have seen long ago. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/15 "2008-04-27T22:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=atomicbadgerrace] Whatever you want to call it, I think Clinton’s idea is sound. This is the kind of debate I would have love to have seen long ago. [/QUOTE] You mean…a debate where people…debate? Get outta here with your wacky radical notions! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/16 "2008-04-27T22:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] You mean…a debate where people…debate? Get outta here with your wacky radical notions! 😃 [/QUOTE] He’s one of those damned lefties who thinks that an informed voting populace is somehow “good” for the country. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/17 "2008-04-27T22:38:56Z")
Yea, I like the idea. By far the worst thing about the debates have been the moderators, especially the most recent ones. Also the free-for-all thing should make for, if nothing else, good TV. Though without Charlie Gibson, who will bring up such important issues as whether or not Clinton mischaracterized the specifics of a debate that happened a hundred and fifty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/18 "2008-04-27T22:56:23Z")
[QUOTE=atomicbadgerrace] Good lord, **Two and a Half** , anything to bitch about, eh? Whatever you want to call it, I think Clinton’s idea is sound. This is the kind of debate I would have love to have seen long ago. [/QUOTE] The issue is not whether it is a good idea. The issue is whether the debate style suggested by Senator Clinton is “what happened during the Lincoln and Douglas debates.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/19 "2008-04-27T22:58:11Z")
It may be oversimplified, but her proposal is certainly a lot more like those debates than the sorry excuses for such that have been presented lately. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041/20 "2008-04-27T23:13:46Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] It may be oversimplified, but her proposal is certainly a lot more like those debates than the sorry excuses for such that have been presented lately. [/QUOTE] Senator Clinton should either propose a debate format that is like the Lincoln-Douglas debates: Opening Response Rejoinder Or she should leave Lincoln-Douglas out of it. The way she is using Lincoln-Douglas sounds like she is either ignorant or is just using Lincoln-Douglas as meaningless rhetoric. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-clinton-you-are-an-idiot/447041.md?page=2)