Debate Bingo - Town Hall Presidential Debate

Watching the debates, I kept wondering how things would be in a world without all the spin and rhetoric, where candidates propose policy which is not 10 years old or developed by the respected national committees. Its hard to tell, in regard to education policy which is more effective, teacher incentives to promote better education or re designing curriculum with more structure/tests?

caitlin

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I also was disappointed that serious education policy was not addressed by the candidates. It seems that issues that affect non-voters are passed over, leaving an even more disenfranchised segment of the population to suffer. I volunteer tutor at a large homeless shelter once per week. Of the 187 residents 20-30% are moms and 70 -80% are children, children who through no fault of their own were born into poverty or who have lived in poverty all their short lives. Hope is not in their backpacks. They begin school in kindergarten not knowing their numbers, not counting, and not understanding that letters have sounds. Where is universal preschool on the presidential agenda? Not being able to read by age 8 predicts dropouts, teen pregnancy, and incarceration. I also have served 20 years on my local school board. The board survives in a hand-to-mouth fashion, much as many middle-class families do. the state has no money; the government has NEVER appropriately funded special ed mandates as they should have. (Between 1/8 and 1/4 of all school budgets goes to special ed.) The annual budget cuts have eliminated summer school and cut fine arts. the gifted program, not extensive, is now gone. And then there's the NCLB, ideal in theory, but with no money to help with expensive testing. Families who are able financially to live in a wealthy district in the suburbs enjoy many opportunities; kids from urban and rural families get only the bare bones. In Europe a majority of countries have universal preschool, and with foreign language, too! Europeans are way ahead of our kids in math, thinking skills, and written/oral expression. Even the immigrants our school district gets from Africa know math better than the majority of the American kids. We need smaller classes for our diverse student population and better teachers. Our children only have one go-round. It must be the best.

I am so grateful that I wasn't a member of the debate's televised audience. At home I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I was very disappointed with the content of the debate. If I was an undecided voter, what I observed last night wouldn't have helped me one bit.

Here's my Presidential Bingo card scoring (which I generously applied):

McCain: 3 (one point for creating jobs and two for health care/Medicare)

Obama: 12 (one point for mentioning that parents want to have more time with their kids, not working multiple jobs, one point for leave to care for new children, eight points for health care and two points for realistic wages)

Moderator Brokaw: 1 point (health care/entitlement programs

Had we been playing a Presidential Debate Drinking Game (thank you Tina Fey), we could have been feeling pretty good if we had taken a drink for every time that McCain said "my friends" and Obama said "middle class".

Unfortunately, our issues are not easy to resolve - no matter what any candidate tells us. It is especially challenging for a political candidate to be a voice for truth and get elected. People want to hear what makes them feel good or reinforces their own beliefs/desires - even if what they hear is untrue. Many Americans are smarter, of course, but we are also very busy with our own lives just trying to survive. It can be difficult to make an informed decision.

I am grateful to be an American and to have a voice, no matter how small. For me, my vote is for the candidate who most embodies compassion and competence.

I think that the debate didn't really touch on any of our concerned subjects, however it was nice to see that they talked about healthcare for a little bit, and in particular healthcare for children! I don't like McCain's ideas. All of that money isn't really intended to help us, some people will be losing their current healthcare, inturn losing the value of what they currently get... that's sick!

I like that Obama brought up education, I believe that he was the only one who did! I think he did well in talking about the economy and what he wants to do to fix it!

Not a bad debate overall, but the bingo card wasn't bursting with points!!

In tonights debate, Sen. Obama clearly showed a depth of understanding not only of the economy, but also on the issues that matter to working moms and dads across this great nation. As a fiscal conservative, I have viewed both candidates economic plans, and Sen. Obama is more in line with my values and that of middle class America! He is not afraid to use the word mammogram, or talk about small businesses struggling to offer healthcare to its employees. My boss just let us know that in January they will no longer offer us healthcare because of rising costs. We currently pay $256.00 every two weeks to keep family coverage...so I am now looking for another job with benefits to care for our 3yr. old son and 2yr. old daughter. Sen. McCain failed to mention that the $5,000.00 tax credit would go to the Insurance companies and NOT to working families, this just can not happen.
Congratulations Sen. Obama, you have our votes! My mother-in-law a life long Republican and regular contributor is also leaning towards Obama...she is 77 years of age and conservative. There is still hope!