26 Democratic primary debates in 2008. Ask yourself why so few now.

[L0oniX]

5.1 April 26, 2007 – Orangeburg, South Carolina, South Carolina State University
5.2 June 3, 2007 - CNN 7:00pm EDT - Goffstown, New Hampshire, Saint Anselm College
5.3 June 28, 2007 - PBS - Washington, D.C., Howard University
5.4 July 12, 2007–Detroit, Michigan
5.5 July 23, 2007 - CNN - Charleston, South Carolina, The Citadel military college
5.6 August 4, 2007 – Chicago, Illinois
5.7 August 7, 2007 – Chicago, Illinois
5.8 August 9, 2007 – Los Angeles, California
5.9 August 19, 2007 – Des Moines, Iowa
5.10 September 9, 2007 – Coral Gables, Florida, University of Miami
5.11 September 12, 2007
5.12 September 20, 2007 – Davenport, Iowa
5.13 September 26, 2007 – Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth College
5.14 October 30, 2007 - NBC 9:00pm EDT - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University
5.15 November 15, 2007 - CNN - Las Vegas, Nevada
5.16 December 4, 2007 - NPR (radio only) - Des Moines, Iowa
5.17 December 13, 2007 – Johnston, Iowa
5.18 January 5, 2008 - ABC 8:45pm EST - Goffstown, New Hampshire, Saint Anselm College
5.19 January 15, 2008 - MSNBC 6:00pm PST - Las Vegas, Nevada, College of Southern Nevada
5.20 January 21, 2008 - CNN 8:00pm EST - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
5.21 January 31, 2008 - CNN 5:00pm PDT - Hollywood, California
5.22 February 2, 2008 - MTV 6:00pm EST - MTV Myspace Debate
5.23 February 21, 2008 - CNN 7:00pm CST - Austin, Texas, University of Texas at Austin
5.24 February 26, 2008 - MSNBC 9:00pm EST - Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland State University
5.25 April 13, 2008 - CNN 8:00pm EDT - Grantham, Pennsylvania, Messiah College
5.26 April 16, 2008 - ABC 8:00pm EDT - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_presidential_debates,_2008

[winter is coming]

1. It's not for our benefit, that's for damned sure. They're protecting Hillary.

A candidate who needs to be "protected" is a weak candidate.

[Uncle Joe]

2. That's a good question, I believe it's because

the powers that be in the Democratic Party believed in the power of their ideas in 2008.

Thanks for the thread, L0oniX.

[cyberswede]

3. And people forget that our debates don't only reach Democratic primary voters...

All those "undecided" folks watch the debates from both the Rs and the Ds, to help them decide. The more we can get the D message out, the better.

[Fearless]

4. When Hillary talks people run away.

[brooklynite]

14. Yes, it wouldn't be an anti-Hillary thread without a gratuitous insult.

[Fearless]

17. Nor would it be a joke without a killjoy.

[brooklynite]

22. If it makes you feel better, I wouldn't lob a joke at Bernie Sanders either...

[Fearless]

27. Go for it!

[Renew Deal]

5. There were basically no announced candidates on April 1.

And I mean none that were fully running. Some had exploratory committees. So that pushed everything back a little. But there is no reason we couldn't have August debates.

[nashville_brook]

6. the whole DNC is chicken.

is that sexist of me?

[NCTraveler]

9. I don't see how. Why would it be?

[DirkGently]

13. Is it ... a female chicken?

I guess you can't really have a male chicken -- wouldn't that be a rooster?


BWAWK!

[nashville_brook]

34. i guess i could give you a hen..t

[L0oniX]

47. Uhm that would be a hen. Right?

[DirkGently]

53. Eggsackly.

[awoke_in_2003]

54. Don't get cocky

[Kip Humphrey]

29. it is very poultry of you!

[nashville_brook]

35. i know, i've been cooped up all day!

[RobertEarl]

7. Embarrassing

I have hardly ever been so embarrassed of the DNC as I am now.

Their action to limit democracy is shameful and anyone who supports that decision should be likewise ashamed.

[WillyT]

8. K & R !!!

[Go Vols]

10. K&R

[Spazito]

11. On May 16, 2007, the DNC announced the SIX sanctioned debates...

PRESS RELEASES from the Democratic National Committee
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2007

Contact: Karen Finney, Stacie Paxton

DNC ANNOUNCES DATES, MEDIA SPONSORS AND LOCATIONS FOR SANCTIONED DEBATES

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee in partnership with six state parties today announced the dates, media sponsors and cities for the six DNC sanctioned debates. Additional details regarding specifics for the individual debates including additional media partners and logistics will be announced at a later time. The DNC sanctioned debate schedule will be:

DNC SANCTIONED DEBATES:

July 23, 2007: YouTube/Google and CNN* in Charleston, SC

August 19, 2007: ABC in Des Moines, IA

September 26, 2007: NBC News/MSNBC** in Hanover, NH

October 30, 2007: NBC News/MSNBC** in Philadelphia, PA

November 15, 2007: CNN* in Las Vegas, NV

December 10, 2007: CBS in Los Angeles, CA

"Our strong field of Democratic candidates have been working hard, talking about the issues the American people care about and laying out a positive vision for America’s future," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "We are grateful to the media sponsors and our state parties for their role in providing important, diverse settings for the American people to hear directly from our candidates."

*Debate will be simulcast on CNN en Espanol.
**Telemundo will re-broadcast both debates.



http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/primdeb08/dnc040507pr.html


I believe that is the same number announced for this primary as well.

[bunnies]

15. There was no exclusivity clause last time.

Candidates could debate as much as they chose. The DNC wasnt trying to force the candidates not to debate. Thanks for bringing that up.

[Spazito]

16. Interesting, debates have been limited but forums have not...

a gaping loophole I am sure will be used. I do find the exclusivity clause, such as it is, to be ridiculous and serving no one including the candidates.

"There is a loophole, of sorts. While the extra debates are forbidden, the DNC’s rules welcome additional candidate forums, where contenders speak back-to-back from the same stage, but do not engage directly with each other.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of other forums for the candidates to make their case to voters, and that they will make the most out of every opportunity,” the DNC’s Schulman said. The party will happily facilitate those type of events, but is prepared to crack down on unofficial events."

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/liberal-group-latest-call-more-democratic-debates

[bunnies]

18. So the purpose then, is to strictly limit the candidates interaction with one another?

That makes the whole thing even more absurd. I really dont understand what theyre trying to accomplish.

[Spazito]

20. Forums do have their place as well...

There are less 'fireworks' to be sure as they are more issue oriented rather than personality oriented. I like both formats for different reasons and a good mix of both is of benefit, imo.

The candidates will be interacting with each other on six 'sanctioned' debates so there is that, whether that will be enough, it's too early to tell, imo.

I think the DNC is making a mistake re having an exclusivity clause even though they have also written in the big loophole along with it.

[bunnies]

21. I agree with you re: the exclusivity clause.

Why in the world should they care if the candidates want to debate more than 6 times? And sadly, only 4 will come before IA and NH. Its pretty pathetic really.

I would *love* it if all the candidates said "to hell with the sanctioned debates". And attended as many debates, sponsored by whomever, whenever they wanted. I'd be willing to bet Sanders and O'Malley would do it. The others... I'd guess not so much.

[Spazito]

23. It's too early to tell who will do what when, imo...

It is, after all, the silly season and will remain so for a while yet.

[retrowire]

12. all to protect the anointed one, that's why. n/t

[frylock]

19. Because Debbie Waterboy is looking for a sweet cabinet position.

[Cherry Creek Native]

24. ...

.....which she will never get. She will be either primaried or put in a much lesser role after Bernie's victory.

[L0oniX]

49. I wish I could post my LMMFAO to cascadiance's post below.

[ellisonz]

25. Some people thought there were too many then.

[Motown_Johnny]

26. Hillary lost, she wants to win.

So instead of lots of debates, we have almost none.

[Broward]

30. Gotta protect the moneyed interests.

With Hillary as the nominee, they can't lose.

[HFRN]

31. why have a debate...just so people can *question* what is entitled to Hillary?

the nerve of some people....just don't know their place

[MaggieD]

37. Oddly, it is only Bernie supporters who claim that

I have never heard an HRC say anything even remotely like that. Why the strawman?

[HFRN]

38. 'I have never heard an HRC say anything even remotely like that'

no, she leaves that to her supporters

[MaggieD]

39. Link?

Because like I said, I have never seen any HRC supporter say anything remotely like that. Why the strawman?

[HFRN]

42. ?

[MaggieD]

44. So you claimed somebody said she is entitled, but you can't reference where?

The strawman is yours, I am afraid.

[HFRN]

45. !

[BlueStateLib]

32. people didn't start watching till very end of 2007

and 2007 there were 11 democratic primary candidates, 2015 is a three person race.

[winter is coming]

33. That might be an argument for only sanctioning 6 debates. It's not an argument

for the exclusivity rule.

[MaggieD]

36. This is your second thread today on this topic

.... so I will just repeat. 6 is plenty.

[Ed Suspicious]

40. So you said. 6 is not enough. See how this works?

[okasha]

46. Six is probably at least 2 more than anyone will watch.

If Hillary performs in the first couple like she did at the Iowa dinner, it won't be her supporters who'll be calling for a halt.

[L0oniX]

50. Someone should put you in charge of stopping any possible second threads on a simular topic...

but they haven't.

[Zorra]

41. If Bernie is nominated, the DNC will support the republican nominee,

They would rather see Donald Trump in the WH than Bernie Sanders.

Because Trump will assist them in maintaining oligarchy, and maintaining oligarchy is clearly the primary function of the DNC.

[MaggieD]

43. There is a lot of daylight...,

Between Oligarchy and Socialism. Most of us would prefer neither. That's why Clinton is the best choice.

[L0oniX]

51. LMFAO ...that may not be far from the truth. How much power & control would they have if Bernie wins

[SidDithers]

55. ...

Comedy gold.

Sid

[cyberswede]

48. There were 9 already by this time in 2007.

[6chars]

52. i sort of stopped watching after #23

[Autumn]

56. Hillary doesn't do well in debates. That's the reason for 6 debates.

Off the cuff speaking is difficult for her sometimes and that's where she screws up.