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Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Sometimes you need a break... By the end of the day yesterday, I had a nasty cramp in my neck... I was exhausted... I was starving... basically I was in no mood to go volunteer at the Democratic Headquarters. The only way I could get out of it was to promise I'd go today instead. I needed a quiet evening. I left the office a little after 6. (Mostly because I had found that I could watch a streaming video of Sunday's Governor's 'Debate' at cspan.org. I started watching that a little after 5. Staring at a pixellated 1-1/2 inch square moving image for an hour really didn't help my eyes, I'm sure. 'Wait, was *that* Tom Golisano!?') Then I did a load of laundry... and ended up curling up on the couch to watch the Florida Governor's debate with a 'New York' magazine crossword puzzle in my lap. (I don't know how I stand all the fun.) Then a really great two-hour phone conversation... (I didn't even care that I missed 'Real World.' That speaks volumes.) ... and it was off to bed. My schedule is full this evening, Leslyn had also called yesterday to ask if I would be willing to do some phone calling for Carl McCall. ('For McCall!? Anything!', was my response.) I've recruited Lori to come with me... so... right after work I go to the Democratic Headquarters to put together literature for the Dems... at 6:30 I switch over to making phone calls for McCall and then at 7:30 I walk over to the Unitarian Church for the 'Meet the Candidates Forum' hosted by the Ithaca Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Task Force. I was telling Lori this on the phone today and she said, 'And where is dinner scheduled among all this?' I hadn't really thought abou that. What a sweetheart, she's going to bring me dinner while I'm volunteering. I love my Lori. A few thoughts about 'debates' and debates Last night, Florida's Governor's Debate was moderated by Tim Russert (He also moderated Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio's Senate Debate in 2000). Tim Russert is just about the coolest host ever because he actually asks hard-hitting questions. On his television show (Meet the Press) he badgers guests about facts, and he's always got visual aids and copies of articles and quotes to back his questions up. He's not afraid to point out to candidates that they may have changed their positions on certain things. I love it. Last night, the debate he hosted was very much like his show. It was not a timed response forum, but very much a free-flowing discussion in which both candidates got to state their sides and then have rebuttals and even sometimes just open exchange between the two of them. And once in a while Tim would interject. 'Ok, so how are you going to pay for that?' or 'What taxes will you raise?' And if the candidate didn't really answer the question, Tim Russert would say that. 'Well, that doesn't really answer my question. Where does the money come from?' Basically, he lets politicians get away with much less double-talk and sound bites. So I'm watching this... as a New Yorker. And feeling pretty damned shortchanged about the discussion that's happening between our candidates for Governor... It's really a pity. | private feedback | |
Hey! I'm Shane... a proud gay progressive Democrat who has recently relocated to New York City from Ithaca, NY. As I am no longer in Ithaca, I haven't quite decided the fate of this blog. Drop me a line!
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