The 2012 SDMB Presidential Debate--more fun than a barrel full of independents!

Politics & Elections
21

Not so far as I’m aware.

22

OK, so we need at least two candidates.

Tripler
Snowmaster if he ever shows
???
???

Otherwise do the rules agree with you all?

23

Mother of Mercy, is this the end of Rico?

24

I’m fine with the tax weekend date, the rules and our new moderator. And of course I’m gonna show!

25

I am announcing my candidacy for SDMB Presidency.

26

Fuck it, why not? I’m in.

27

All right that gives us four.

Stelios
Sage Rat
Snowmaster
Tripler

So again, our rules:

  1. I ask up to 10 questions. You MUST answer them in 750 words or less.
  2. Non moderators may ask questions and you MAY answer those.
  3. To any answer the other candidate may reply ONCE with 250 words.
  4. I may choose to follow up any answer with a ‘clarification’ question that must be on topic. This is called the ‘That doesn’t really answer my question, Senator’ rule.

Random folks may submit questions for me to consider making ‘official’. PM me those, please.

28

bump

So. . . when do we want to start?

Tripler
Let the hand-wringing begin.

29

OK, I will private message all of the candidates with the rules for sign off since it hasn’t be happening here.

30

I have just sent this private message off to our participants:

I should note that I already have one question from a bystander in the queue. I look forward to seeing how this works out.

31

Ok, so far Sage Rat and Stelios have checked in!

32

Tripler has now checked in. I await only snowmaster

33

You await no more. I stand ready.

34

Indeed I do.

Over the next week I will attempt to drum up questions and interest.

You have until April 10 to select party names and prepare your ending statements. Get cracking.

35

I’m watching for that new thread, chomping at the political bit.

I’ve got my opening pitch all warmed up and ready to go.

. . . but then again, I recall a li’l something I surmised from some of my history lessons: “Only an idiot would run for office.”

Tripler
The lesser of several idiots.

36

Just locking up some promotional work. Be patient, Trip.

37

I guess we may as well use this thread for discussion in order to keep the actual election thread as focused as possible.

Which candidates look best to you guys from their opening statements?

To me it looks like there are two relatively conservative candidates (Tripler and snowmaster), one that will attempt to be independent (Sage Rat) and one that is quite left-wing by US standards (Stelios).

I’d be interested in seeing each of their results on the political compass, if they think it is an accurate measure of political alignment (I think it is biased towards anarchosyndicalism or at least left wing views, since the company that produced it also publishes a newspaper supportive of Obama).

38

Ask, and ye shall receive. :smiley:

39

From an old poll on the forums. I appear to be the only candidate who was present for it.

http://www.1728.org/SD.htm

40

There’s little, if any, doubt which of the four most Dopers will support. stelios sounds very much like what we used to call “moderate Republican.” If that’s now “quite left-wing” I pity America.

Two of the opening statements were so teeming with sweet-sounding but meaningless platitudes (e.g. “genuine positive change that is good for citizens and good for businesses”), I think Moderators should add a Warning for Diabetics to the thread title. What’s their position on Motherhood and Apple Pie?